Name issues--legal issue?

[CherryRed23]

Everyone calls me Jane but that's not my real name. It's not short for anything. In fact it's not even close to my real name. It's also not my legal name. So how will this work after I become a nurse? Will I be able to go by the name everyone calls me and then sign everything with my legal name. Or should I just go by my real name at work?

[BackfromRetirement]

The name on your social security number must match the name on your license. As for other names, many have nick names and its ok, to introduce yourself as "....." but I have always been called "...." Any signature must match the name on the license to practice.

[nicole109]

I used to work with many nurses from the Philippines, and they never used their real names...they had an American name that staff and patients would call them by, most of them even had their American name printed on their badge to avoid patient confusion, because we switched to only having first names and last initials printed on our badges. When they signed their notes, they normally signed with first initials and full last names, so that when other staff were reading it, we would know who wrote it.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

I have a co-worker who goes by a name other than her "legal" name ,she has a name she despises and does not fit her at all, Brunhilda. She goes by her nickname her parents always called her, lets say Grace. She signs all her documentation and anything requiring a signature with her legal name. Now Grace is no way part of her legal name of Brunhilda Hadewig Baumgaertner, its just a nickname.

Our name badges have in large letters our first name, underneath in smaller letters it has our first and last name and title. Mine reads:

CT

CT Pixie, LPN

hers reads

Grace

Brunhilda "Grace" Baumgaertner, LPN