Professional name vs. legal name?

[Justabitoff]

I have a question that I think I know the answer to, but I want to double check because I can't seem to find a straight answer online.

Right now, I work as a diabetes writer. I have been writing for 10 years and I use my maiden name as my professional name because I have been writing before I got married.

When I got married last summer, I changed my name legally so that my last name is my husband's name. I did this because I want my last name to be the same as my future children's last name, and I want their last name to be the same as my husband's last name.

I am now pursuing a degree in nursing. I know that when I graduate and get my license, the license has to be under my legal name. Which at this point would be my married name. However, I plan to continue writing diabetes articles when I am a nurse and eventually a diabetes educator, and the whole reason I use my maiden name is for continuity.

My question is: is it possible to be licensed under my married name but have my professional name be my maiden name so that my patients know that these articles are from me? Or is that a legal / HR nightmare that would never be allowed.

Obviously I don't work in an environment where this is a problem. People publish under different names all the time, and my company knows that my legal HR name and my writing name are different. Would this be acceptable at a hospital / clinic, or should I get used to the idea of having to pick one name over the other?

[lisa sykes, LPN]

So, I have basically same question. I have had same nurse on my nursing license since 1988. Yes I remarried years ago and there was no problem at my work place.  Well recently the company I work for was sold so per staffing person she was told to tell me I had to change my license to the name on my driver license. I prefer to keep my same name on my license because I had it for so long and never desired to change it. I don't live in the state I got divorced in and it would be very difficult to go through the battle of obtaining all the new information. Can your employer legally make you change you name on you license. I have never received an written letter telling me I had to do this.  I feel I am a little old to go through this now. 

[chare]

18 minutes ago, lisa sykes said:

... Can your employer legally make you change you name on you license. I have never received an written letter telling me I had to do this.  I feel I am a little old to go through this now. 

I don't know whether your employer can legally make you do this, but if they verify your license status themselves I understand why they would want you to do this.  However, I think the more important question is what does your state's Board of Nursing say about this.

Best wishes.

[amoLucia]

Check with your BON, but I might just pay a lawyer for 'professional' advice. Rather than just guessing here on AN, altho folk here mean well with good intentions. I'd postulate that Family Court attorneys deal with name changes freq. 

Get it done right, and hopefully no HR shmuck can give one a hard time!

[lisa sykes, LPN]

Thanks for input on this.  I really appreciate it.