FULL NAME required on name tag???

allevi · Jul 24, 2002

We don't have to have a last name on our name tags. ER nurses especially don't want it , about the stalking thing, but they sign the discharge papers and the last name is on it then.

LasVegasRN · Jul 24, 2002

Always had first and last name on my ID tags. Always had my phone number and address unlisted as a result.

2MagnoliaTrees · Jul 24, 2002

with covering the last name. A patient doesn't have the right to know that much information about their caregiver. In today's scary world whatever helps keep us safe.

Mattigan, RN · Jul 24, 2002

We have first name and title only. Too many problems the other way. I had a scary incident resulting from me turning a family over to Child Protective Services. They made a lot of threats and did a lot of harrassing. My phone went to unlisted because of it, also. At the time our name badfge had both names but it was recently changed but as one poster mentioned it's on the discharge instructions anyway so it's not like they can't get it.

Mama Val, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2002

Our name tags have our first and last name, date of birth and height and weight on them. I have pins covering the important stuff. All I need is for one of the rapists we have is to get my last name and get on the internet and check out our state licensing website, they post your name and address. This is why I always use a PO Box and keep my phone unlisted. One of the other nurses I worked with has had a detox client show up drunk at her front door (3 in the morning) and another one show up and follow her around at work (her other job) and back to her home, this is a single mom with 3 little girls.

labornurse · Jul 25, 2002

At my hospital we are given a choice of whether we want our full name or not. Some do have the full name (mostly upper management), but most have opted to have only the first name.

mopsi · Jul 25, 2002

I've maintained unlisted phone service forever..Just cuz I've been a single mom and didn't want that out there..Plus every bad guy figured out that listings like M. Jones or K. Breeze were single women anyway..unless you tried to get cute and put Jr. after it.....M. Jones,Jr...As far as work goes I think some formality is needed to infuse the nursing profession with a little more Professionalism..Now just mull this concept over before you all pounce on me..The doctors are addreses as just that ...Doctor Patel, Doctor Stein, Doctor Mc Laughlin...Not Amad,Hymie and Scotty.....Back in the previous century..LOL..It was common place to address nurses in two forms...Mrs. Robinson, Miss Tingle, Mr Parker ....or....Nurse Robinson, Nurse Parker ect...Patients still call out to you as nurse..."Nurse, can you help in here?" The military are the masters of Rank and order..Titles are important and you fall into a pattern of respect when you address people more formally..I am not friends with my patients..I am not friends with the doctors...and I am certainly not friends with administration..I give up some of my power and and loose professional ground when the lines are crossed and I am addressed in familar terms verus the formal..Think about it...A judge is addressed as Your Honor..a politician..Senator...a policeman ..Officer..a teacher continues to prefer Miss or Mrs or Mr......These are their professional titles and they uphold their professionalism from the begining, by the form in whick you address them...All public people long ago found the need for privacy or personal annonimity a valued preference..A trend towards more formal salutation may suprisingly reap more needed repsect in our professional roles...Are you getting butterflies just envisioning the response at work if you dared to be "Different" and requested a formal title...No more Suzys or Tashas or Joes...but..Nurse Jones or Mr. Anderson...I think the deranged would have a harder time stalking you if they didn't even know your first name, let alone be less inclined to feel so familar with you that you wouldn't mind a phone call or home visit..Trust me on this too...It's much harder for administration to belittle you when the have to call you Mrs. or Mr. or Nurse...Rethink those name tags...NURSE ANDERSON, R.N. MISS KINGSLEY, L.P.N.

MR. PRITCHARD, RN-C picture a nasty patient tring to yell at you but for starters its Nurse Anderson not Suzy...It really would make a difference..Ok exiting soapbox...FEEDBACK????

kathkrn · Jul 25, 2002

While working in a downtown Toronto hospital, we were required to have both names visible on our tags. We were not 'permitted' to cover our last names. At the ER that I am employed at now, our tags only have our first names/given names visible. I am a great deal more comfortable with this, as I am no longer required to have an unlisted number.

suzannasue · Jul 25, 2002

Have always had first and last name displayed and have always had an unlisted, unpublished phone number...

Several years ago,the public relations person decided nurses should leave a "card" at the pt's bedside stating " Hello,my name is ___________ and I will caring for you/your loved one today. If you have any questions about the treatment plan I have followed, please call me at_____(hosp number) or at home ______. Needless to say,this effort to make us accessible 24/7 was shotdown within 2 seconds of its presentation...

I have even had family members of certain pts call the hospital and pretend they were my family members from out out of town or former classmates, trying to find out personal information about me. Lots of sickos out there...

allthingsbright · Jul 25, 2002

At the icu/pcu unit I work in, everyone covers their *last* name with yellow tape, and I was instructed to do the same when I began working there. I think this is a good safety precaution, and I plan to keep my last name covered until someone makes it a law that I cannot.

Amy

-jt · Jul 25, 2002

I agree. Everyone who works at my hospital from the CEO & healthcare professionals to the building services guys all have the same thing on their IDs - first initial, last name, title, and department. I never saw anybody covering up the last name on their IDs here. Not even in the ED. At another hospital down the road, everyones IDs show only the last name, title & department in bold print. The first initial is beneath that in very small print.

LasVegasRN · Jul 25, 2002

Originally posted by Mama Val
...This is why I always use a PO Box and keep my phone unlisted.

Same here - nothing official or stored on a server somewhere has my home address. All PO Box.