Name Badges Worn Backwards

[westieluv]

Am I the only one that is bothered by this? I see so many healthcare professionals, nurses, aides, etc. who, either intentionally or unintentionally, wear their name badges backwards. It bothers me both as a co-worker and when I am the patient. I know that some people do it because they don't want people knowing their names, but honestly, how are you supposed to work with someone or be cared for by someone who you don't even know by name? I don't think that last names should be displayed on a name badge, especially in this crazy world that we live in today, but I think that to display your first name, job title, and photo ID should be required. In most facilities, this technically is a requirement, yet still, half the employees will have their name badge on backwards. Call me paranoid, but if someone comes into my room when I'm the patient and wants to do a procedure on me, I want to be able to tell right away who they are and what their job title is. Ditto when a co-worker shows up to take one of my patients somewhere or to assist me with the patient's care.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

to fix this problem we have two ID badges, back to back, so that regardless how the badge is turned the ID shows.

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

Sometimes it's hard to keep my badge forward facing. But every time I notice it, I flip it around until it flips back again. One thing I do is cover-up my last name. I don't have a very common name, so people can easily find me if they want to.

[westieluv]

I like the double-sided name badge idea. Just like whichone'spink, I also have a problem with my badge flipping around sometimes, which is annoying. I would also cover up my last name if it was required to be on the badge. There are a lot of crazy people in this world, and it is really easy in this electronic age to find out anything about anyone. Scary!

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

I get very frustrated by this issue. I do not use lanyards or extending badge holders mainly because they annoy me, but also because they allow one's badge to flip around.

Regarding not showing one's last name. . .

I think nurses are a little paranoid. There are many jobs where employees deal with the public where they show their last names and we would be a little suspicious if they didn't. Police officers, school teachers, paramedics, accountants, psychiatrists, secretaries, social workers, okay I'm getting a little random, but you get my gist here. In some of those jobs one may not necessarily wear a badge but one's last name would be easily obtainable and considered a reasonable response.

For those who have kids, let's say your child is having a medical procedure. Which of your child's caregivers do you want to not be able to know their full name? People receiving healthcare feel vulnerable, they should be able to know the full identity of their caregivers. Prisoners (who are a much higher risk group than general hospital patients) get to know the last names of their jailers. I might understand in a true psychiatric hospital but otherwise I think we as nurses have gotten a little defensive about this.

I'm not downplaying how easy it is to obtain inappropriately extensive information about people online but I'm just saying how would you like to be restricted from knowing the full names of so many people you deal with in the public?

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

My husbands doctors office they don't even wear any name tags. Sheesh!

[Blackcat99]

I wear a name badge on my lanyard but it chooses to always turn around in the opposite direction. When I am aware that it is on backwards I will fix it. I think having ID on both sides is the best solution.

[RunninOnCoffee]

I like the idea of double sided name tags. Our name badge is also our door key card and every door in the hospital and our clock card too. Since it feels like I swipe it 100 times a day I have it on an extendable holder. Everytime I lean forward it feels like it flops over. I fix it if I notice it, but it does happen a lot. There was a few days when the string broke before I could get a new one and I think I lost it on average about 5 times a day between going for meds/supply room etc.

[Elladora]

My daughter had surgery Monday and I noticed this. A lot of times the back of the badge had pictures of children and/or pets. I'm all for having pride in your children/pets/whatever, but as others have said, I want to know the name of who I'm dealing with. (Biggest reason for this? I'm HUGE on giving thanks/praise/positive feedback where it's due. To do that, I need to know your name).

[sharpeimom]

I have worked in two psych hospitals where we wore polo shirts and khakis (state hospital) and jeans (private) and

the company that supplied our shirts, embroidered the hospital's name, first name, and RN, or Aide or whatever, on

each shirt. That seemed to work well.

In a non-psych setting, I wouldn't object to having my last name also, but there are too many wingnuts in psych, including

family members.

[roseonye]

sometimes its an honest mistake. the thing that hold the name tag with the string tends to rotate. it happens sometimes

[pookyp, LPN]

I get very frustrated by this issue. I do not use lanyards or extending badge holders mainly because they annoy me, but also because they allow one's badge to flip around.

Regarding not showing one's last name. . .

I think nurses are a little paranoid. There are many jobs where employees deal with the public where they show their last names and we would be a little suspicious if they didn't. Police officers, school teachers, paramedics, accountants, psychiatrists, secretaries, social workers, okay I'm getting a little random, but you get my gist here. In some of those jobs one may not necessarily wear a badge but one's last name would be easily obtainable and considered a reasonable response.

For those who have kids, let's say your child is having a medical procedure. Which of your child's caregivers do you want to not be able to know their full name? People receiving healthcare feel vulnerable, they should be able to know the full identity of their caregivers. Prisoners (who are a much higher risk group than general hospital patients) get to know the last names of their jailers. I might understand in a true psychiatric hospital but otherwise I think we as nurses have gotten a little defensive about this.

I'm not downplaying how easy it is to obtain inappropriately extensive information about people online but I'm just saying how would you like to be restricted from knowing the full names of so many people you deal with in the public?

So true.