nurse rights

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I have a question. I am a home care nurse. our name tags have our first names only for our safety. Does an employer or coworkers have to right to give a patient my full name? Main issue is we just switched computer programs and now all in network doctor offices and hospitals print visit plans and they list our full name as pts casemanager. I have concerns for my safety, as pts can now google me and obtain my home address and phone number. I practive in Illinois.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

Good question. If my patients ask me my last name I just chuckle and say "oh you'll never be able to pronounce it." Truth is any English speaking person could pronounce it. I just don't want people knowing my last name much less my real first name.. so I go by my nickname at work that can pass for a real name.(My name actually isn't jenni or anything related. Its my dogs name when I was a child). We as nurses have rights too and I don't give my name out. Lots of weirdos in the hospitals (I'm sorry). Some patients/families I get close with ill give them my full name if they ask. One asked me so she could write me a letter. I ADORED this lady aorta I just face her my address at work with my full name. So to me it depends, but we should have the right to keep that private when we feel we need to.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Nursetana, your employer has the right to know your last name for the practical point that they write out your checks. Most states allow patients to view their own medical record, which will contain your last name for legal documentation.

The HIPAA laws were created to protect patients from the scenario you described involving EMR, but if a patient knows a first name in my state they can go to the BON website, type in your first name and get a list of full names from that.

A while back California proposed actually printing out the home addresses of nurses (I know, can you believe that?) but they haven't done it yet. You can probably find out more from asking your BON what a patient has the right to know about the nurse taking care of them, and from that you can derive the info you're asking for. It's unfortunate but the system is skewed toward the consumer.

As nurses we have to be proactive about our own safety, especially in home care. That means being hyper-vigilant and not ignoring any potential threat from the client, family or other people you encounter in the home.

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Specializes in ER trauma, ICU - trauma, neuro surgical.

I never give my last name. As said before, I also have my own rights and safety. 9 times out of 10, they are asking it during a fit of anger. Someone else set them off, or they have some ridiculous request and they want someone to pay. If a family member really wants to have my last name from the medical records, then it probably is something that is warranted and they have that right, but I am not going give out my last name because you got mad that I didn't fetch you coffee within 15 seconds. We had last names removed from our badges hospital wide. If there is a real complaint, the charge nurse and nurse manager will know about it first.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

We had our originally printed on our badges. People would put tape over it. Then the hospital gave in and gave us new badges with first names only.

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My patients have the right to know my full name; I'm providing intimate care and sure as heck I'D want to at least be ABLE to know the full names of anyone doing the same for me.

My name (and each of my staff's) is on their chart, legally available for them to view. Some of the paperwork that a patient leaves with also has nurse's name(s) on them. I fail to see why this is a problem; in the 17 years our facility has been open, haven't had a single issue in this regard.

Perhaps it's more of an issue depending on the are of the public you serve, your client base, if you will.

Then again, I know that depending on the State, the actual ID tag you wear might just require your full name anyway. Sometimes the State requirement is a photo taken within the last four years.

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i find it interesting how some nurses react to this. in most professions customers /clients do seek out first and last names and education. i look for that for doctors and will ask them where they did their residencies etc most hospitals post it anyway. i would be leery of a lawyer or accountant who felt the need to hide his or her last name . as others have said your name is in their chart which pt has legal right to know. i did enjoy my jobs as a waitress when i could make up a name and no one cared! lol also, tons of info is available online or a low cost. do a search of yourself and it may suprise you what you can find. things like relatives, where you have lived, ages etc ......

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If you and your coworkers have a problem c this, why not write a policy about it and present it to management? Hint: "We don't like it" isn't enough of a rationale. Dig for some research on how other states handle this, see what your state nursing association position is on it, betcha they have one-- but don't be too surprised if you find no legislation or regulation about it.

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Although I understand why a nurse would be uncomfortable displaying the or full name on a ID badge, it is true that patients have the right to know the full name of any licensed person providing care. (Im not sure about UAP)

Part of the point of licensure is that we are held accountable for our practice. It's a guarantee to the public that we are competent. Our full name and license number must be a matter of public record by definition of being a licensed healthcare provider.

We would all agree that a MD must display his full name to the public. How is a nurse any different?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Pennsylvania passed legislation regarding identification badges of health care workers.

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2009&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=1482&pn=4370

Specifically:

(2) The last name of the employee may be omitted or

concealed when delivering direct care to a consumer whoexhibits symptoms of irrationality or violence.

Hence, why only staff in the ER and psych are the only ones without their last name on their badges.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.
Although I understand why a nurse would be uncomfortable displaying the or full name on a ID badge, it is true that patients have the right to know the full name of any licensed person providing care. (Im not sure about UAP)

Part of the point of licensure is that we are held accountable for our practice. It's a guarantee to the public that we are competent. Our full name and license number must be a matter of public record by definition of being a licensed healthcare provider.

We would all agree that a MD must display his full name to the public. How is a nurse any different?

If they are curious they can figure it out themselves. I have rights too. Just because I'm a nurse does not mean I get my rights to privacy taken away from me. I didn't sign up for that. Plus a lot of creepers out there that look for you outside of the hospital. No thank you!! Our nurse patient "relationship " ends the second you walk out the door and the discharge papers are signed. I do not want visits,calls,letters...nothing!

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In this day and age, I'd say the general public as a whole exhibits symptoms of irrationality and violence.

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