Our admin is adamant that our last names be visible on our name badges. We've all done the cover-it-up-with-tape thing, but she has us remove the tape. Last night made me really think about this policy.
Had a just released inmate from prison who flipped because he couldn't smoke. He started throwing things and we had to call security. Three of us were holding him down while we waited (and waited) for security. He let loose a string of threats that I will try to tone down...to the effect of 'I'm gonna rape you, you f-ing whores, I'll rape you in your *** and afterward I'll bash your brains in, you'll find out what pain really is...blah blah'...this went on for about five minutes, MUCH more graphic than the above.
Now I for one, have an unusual name--there is only one of me in this town. What else can I do besides go unlisted in the phonebook? He could even look me up by name under Florida's Nursing Board, too I think. I hate to over-react, but I'd hate to be sorry later.
But, what I would humbly like you to examine is this: WHY do docs get treated differently?
Why do the situations not bear comparison?
I'll submit that it's not just because of not using last names. But, that IS a symptom of the disease.
We have to own our profession. You cannot do that by being relatively anonymous.
Many in the threads here say that nurses will only come into our own when we become independent contractors. Tell me, how can you bill separately if you cannot put your name on the bill?
"Speak truth to power".
~faith,
Timothy.
I don't think putting a last name on a badge is going to improve the quality of a nurses working life. Also, half the time, the patients don't know the full name of the various docs that come in to see them during the day so I don't agree that thats why they get more respect. The fact is this: we still live in a society that values "masculine" pursuits the most-the vast majority of nurses are female and a large number of docs are male. I believe this will change and is in the process of improving everyday but on a practical level, I can see why a nurse would not want his/her full name on a badge. The "owning your profession" idea sounds great on paper but on a day to day survival basis, it's not one of my main concerns. Safety would be, particularly if I worked in the ER. Thankfully, I work in the OR-where the patients are zonked and the families are in the waiting room(where they belong, IMHO!)
I've been a psych nurse for >20 years, both in major urban areas working with inmates, etc., and in rural areas where everyone knew exactly who I was and where I lived whether I wore a badge or not. I've always used my last name on my badge (and introduced myself to clients with my last name) -- and I, too, have an unusual last name and am typically the only person by that name in the city -- and have always been listed in the telephone book; and I've never had a problem. I've also never encountered another psych nurse who had actually had personal experience with a client seeking her/him out outside of the workplace. I'm sure it does happen once in a while, but I also believe that the "urban legend" factor plays a big part in people's fears about this.
i do have a friend who had threatening phone calls from a psych patient gone even more psych - she now has a unlisted number and nothing further happened but she said it was scary and weird. living in a small area name or not on badge most of everyone knows everyone - so they would easily have found her Addy but it never went beyond the threatening phone calls. sure makes one think though doesn't it? only takes one weirdo to do something bad.
Yikes, that sounds awfully elitist. We have plenty of doctors who are called "Dr. Bob" or "Dr. Sue", and of course there is always "Dr. Phil", who certainly has never been mistaken for a Walmart Cashier.
I do see your point though, that a patient could find a nurse if he/she were ambitious enough, regardless of knowing the last name. The patients learn our schedules, what time we leave, and once discharged, could simply wait outside for us to walk out (for me, that's midnight). OR they could call the unit and get a slack employee who tells them if the nurse is there that day.
However, I daresay that judges and lawyers and doctors (being traditionally male dominated professions, but that's a whole 'nother rant) generally earn more than we nurses (traditionally female of course), and have the means to take higher security measures than many of us. Judges have often had bodyguards when they are threatened...their workplaces have metal detectors and law enforcement personelle at hand, they can afford fancy security systems at home...all elements of security that we nurses are generally not privvy to have.
Thanks for your input, Zash!
wow - in all the yrs i have met one doc who went by Dr. ed - and that was only cause he was a foreigner and no one could spell or pronounce his last name even though his badge had it on it lol. didn't realize there were so may docs out there that went that route. ( out in public - being a small place we will and do address them as Dr jean or Dr Carolyn - if we know them well personally - at least i do lol - just to give that added respect to the personal aspect but never in a work setting.
Timothy I respectfully have to disagree. I am sure you know of experiential testimony?
I have been called at midnight by a patient's family member who didn't want to bother the doctor with a fever of 99.9, or who was angry about something that happened at the hospital. I got called once about a bill someone got from my hospital and asked could I take care of it. I have an ususual last name too.
We might also investigate if males have the same problems as females. I've been kicked, hit, spat on *in* the hospital. But when you get heavy breathers on the phone, or someone following you down a dark street when you leave the building at 07:30, you have to believe that it is not just coincidence.
Ownership bah-humbug. Tell that to the nurse who was stalked by the homeless man or the respiratory therapist who was hit by a car belonging to the widow of a man who'd died in ICU. The RT was riding his bike out of the parking lot.
There are few doctors compared with the many, many other members of the health care team. THEY get to park in the big garage, escorted to the Drs lounge etc. We have to find our own space, sometimes pay for it, and then get to walk half mile in the cold/heat to get in the building. Security? Ha they say they have cameras monitoring, but who monitors the cameras? *I* have ownership of my name and use it proudly, BUT I want to have control over who has access to its use. Oh and I also have a bunch of alphabetics after my name when I choose to, but usually defer to plain old P_RN.
some have pointed out using an unlisted number - however if you wish to not do that there is great technology these days in caller id! and even though a person could call with a blocked number you can also have any locked number NOT get through alspo - our phone does not accept anycalls that do not have a listed name and number. just an idea.
I am sorry to hear about your ordeal, but in the same breath, I'm glad I'm not alone.
I have had similar experiences, however, none so severe. Recently a family member in which I spoke with briefly over the phone (I was transferring the call to the nurse for her husband), reported me for being "uncaring, rude" and did not want me "caring for her husband". Then few weeks went by and I was assigned to her husband. Directly from report I went into the room to great the patient. The wife was there. I was friendly and as soon as she heard my name, she yelled at me to "get out of the room!" and went to administration to have a different nurse assigned to her husbands' care.
This type of thing goes on all the time where I work, but not just with me. So tell me why, the worst of nurses get so much praise from patients and families like this? I saw an employee who talked rudely to patients, were ruff with them, were not timely with their pain medication and frankly had an "I don't care attitude" get employee of the month nominated by numerous of these types of families and patients. Oh, I went as far as doing a little investigation (like I have nothing else better to do) and found out the nominations were genuine. This "honor" does not mean that much to me as to stoop to their level and give up what scruples I have.
Since I worked here, I have seen nurses being harassed by strangers in the parking lot, stalked and harassed by employees. These nurses ended up quitting. The lighted parking garage is for visitors, doctors and handicapped only. Other employees must park beyond the garage which is not lit up. Yes, we have security, but they are not there if you leave few minutes late. Security does not carry weapons and have not intervened when there were problems before.
We are required to wear name badges, but many do not. Mine always got in the way when I bent over a patient or fell off in a contaminated area. So, I quit wearing it and I quit identifying myself on the phone. All of this to prevent previous experiences. But is this what nursing has succumbed too? Unprofessional and "rude" behavior?
Don't have time to read all the posts but when I used to do bill collecting I found it was totally legal to use a false name- provided you always used this false name and did not continually change it. This was to protect the collections experts from angry debtors with good reason I might add!
Say my name was Mary Stone- I would use Mary Stratham or something like that. Keep the initals right. You can even change your first name, but harder when you are not on a phone system.
It is totally legal to use a pseudonym and personally I think a great idea for safety. I used to have a unique last name- only 6 in the US that we know of so I can understand your concern. My only saving grace would have been that NOBODY could spell it, lol!
Don't have time to read all the posts but when I used to do bill collecting I found it was totally legal to use a false name- provided you always used this false name and did not continually change it. This was to protect the collections experts from angry debtors with good reason I might add!
Say my name was Mary Stone- I would use Mary Stratham or something like that. Keep the initals right. You can even change your first name, but harder when you are not on a phone system.
It is totally legal to use a pseudonym and personally I think a great idea for safety. I used to have a unique last name- only 6 in the US that we know of so I can understand your concern. My only saving grace would have been that NOBODY could spell it, lol!
Again, I ask:
When do professionals use pseudonyms? When was the last time we saw a judge, lawyer, or physician call themselves by a false name?
Do nurses really want to be considered professionals? Because if we want that, and if we want to have a place in the healthcare system, this is a no-brainer. We use our full names. We take accountability for our actions and our practice. If we don't, we are nothing more than technicians who perform factory-like functions in healthcare facilities.
If we wonder why hospitals treat us badly, here is a clue.
If we wonder why it is difficult to be taken seriously as professionals, read this thread.
Professionalism starts with using our names. Hospitals that let you -- or even force you -- to use a nametag that reads "Suzy G." or "Joe S." are doing so because it serves their -- not your -- purpose. You have become a cog. Don't be shocked when they then pay you like a cog, treat you like a cog, and show you all the respect they would show a cog.
I'm curious about something....why are nurses so much more concerned about patients knowing the families last names for safety reasons, when all doctors go by last names almost exclusively?
Are nurses subject to being attacked off-duty more than the average citizen? Do people just believe that or is their cases to actually back this up.
It just seems that it's going overboard. Inmates in prisons know the first and last names of all of the guards and warden's, same with attorney's, judges, police officers, etc.
ortess1971
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