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.
Will I choose to use my last name just to be looking more professional? Or would I choose to use my first name, and an initial on my badge? I guess it depends on your self image. I do not need the trappings. I would rather be alive, with just a first name on my badge than dead, but looking professional with my last name printed. Sorry, but I guess appearances are not that important to me. Reality has to prevail in the end. Why make it easy for someone to track me? Yes, they still can. But, my responsibilty to myself and my family, is to be aware that we don't live in a perfect world. There are people who are looking for victims. I try to be safe, and I believe, it is just good sense to protect your privacy at all costs. That means, a private phone number, not giving out private info at the cash register, screening my phone calls, etc. We live in an increasingly invasive to privacy world.
My professional image is demonstrated by my demeanor, and how I perform in my work. It has nothing to do with private information that no one needs to know to communicate with me. We protect patient privacy. We need to be mindful of our own. There are good reasons for it. We are exposed at times to people who have no boundaries, and some who are sociopaths. I would rather be safe and alive than dead and politically correct or viewed as the ultimate professional. I am not trying to compete with other professions. We all have our own risks.
I never gave a thought to this issue until I read this thread. Our name tags only have our first names on them, but I never gave it another thought. Then just yesterday a patient was trying to fish around and find out my last name. That had never happened before. Weird.
It made me glad I'd been reading about this. I might have told him my last name and not thought anything about it. Now after reading this I realize that he might have made the effort to try and "find" me. He was very flirtatious and as much as I tried to discourage him, he was just that much more persistent.
I'm grateful that I had read this thread. It gives me pause.
Just Wanted to update you all on the situation: HOMELAND SECURITY was on the unit investigating the threats (to the go'vt office, not the threats to me of course). The pt is being d/c'd tomorrow..apparently to the street. He whispered to me tonight "If someone named Kevin calls you, it's ME, I need to talk to you"....Weird and creepy.
Would you use a doctor that was afraid to tell you their last name?
I agree with others, while the threat of stalking might indeed be real, not having your last name on your badge is of little value in preventing it. IN fact, if anything, it might lead to a false sense of security.
What it DOES is rob us of our professionlism.
Somebody said eloquently on this site once: only pets and children don't have last names.
i am a rn who works in a large state psych facility. i work with forensic evals, sex offenders and violent perps pretty much on a daily basis. i will not share any personal information with this population including my last name.
i will not put a bullseye on my back - not even for the sake of professionalism....
i am a rn who works in a large state psych facility. i work with forensic evals, sex offenders and violent perps pretty much on a daily basis. i will not share any personal information with this population including my last name.
i will not put a bullseye on my back - not even for the sake of professionalism....
ah, but that's just it.
you do share that information, your last name, at least, everytime you sign a chart that they have a legal right to see. . .
so, you're trading your professionlism for naught.
Those are YOUR words: "not even for the sake of professionalism."
But let me apologize if you thought that a general discussion was intended to be a personal remark. It wasn't. You was meant at a general you; not a personal YOU.
I understand WHY some nurses disagree w/ last names on badges. I just don't think it's the safety net that you believe it to be. If someone is THAT fixated on you, your name not being on your badge is NO impediment to finding out who you are.
And really, the people we are talking about are people JUST that fixated. As a psych nurse, you should know the heights of manipulation some people will go to in order to get what they want.
In the meantime, I think not going by our last names DOES put us in the ranks of wal-mart cashiers and NOT doctors, et. al: professionals.
Specializes in School Nurse-ran away from med-surg fast.
I think the last name thing is just something we focus on that doesn't really mean much. If he really wants to rape you, he knows where you work. He just has to wait and follow you. I've always had my last name on my badge (to me, it just seems unprofessional to not have it).
While you have a good point, these type of people will find a way to do what they want. However, would you leave your car unlocked with the keys in the ignition? Would you leave your front door open at night? It is one thing for a patient to follow me into the hospital parking lot. What would be far worse for me is for him to come to my home where my daughter is present. I had a patient last week who is a frequent flyer on our floor. he had previously been in prison for rape. I would flip my badge over when i entered the room. He knew my first name, I gave him good nursing care that day...that is all he needed. I see no reason for him to know my last name. He would casually ask me what part of town I lived in, whether I owned my house. Of course I did not answer these questions. What if I would have, plus he had my last name??? Med-surg can be more dangerous than a psych unit if you ask me. At least in psych you know up front these patient's issues and are trained on how to handle it!
Specializes in School Nurse-ran away from med-surg fast.
i am a rn who works in a large state psych facility. i work with forensic evals, sex offenders and violent perps pretty much on a daily basis. i will not share any personal information with this population including my last name.
i will not put a bullseye on my back - not even for the sake of professionalism....
i applaud you! professionalism must be balanced with your personal safety and that of your family. isn't it the level of care you give that makes you a professional?
Those are YOUR words: "not even for the sake of professionalism."
But let me apologize if you thought that a general discussion was intended to be a personal remark. It wasn't. You was meant at a general you; not a personal YOU.
I understand WHY some nurses disagree w/ last names on badges. I just don't think it's the safety net that you believe it to be. If someone is THAT fixated on you, your name not being on your badge is NO impediment to finding out who you are.
And really, the people we are talking about are people JUST that fixated. As a psych nurse, you should know the heights of manipulation some people will go to in order to get what they want.
In the meantime, I think not going by our last names DOES put us in the ranks of wal-mart cashiers and NOT doctors, et. al: professionals.
~faith,
Timothy.
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.
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indigo girl
5,173 Posts
Will I choose to use my last name just to be looking more professional? Or would I choose to use my first name, and an initial on my badge? I guess it depends on your self image. I do not need the trappings. I would rather be alive, with just a first name on my badge than dead, but looking professional with my last name printed. Sorry, but I guess appearances are not that important to me. Reality has to prevail in the end. Why make it easy for someone to track me? Yes, they still can. But, my responsibilty to myself and my family, is to be aware that we don't live in a perfect world. There are people who are looking for victims. I try to be safe, and I believe, it is just good sense to protect your privacy at all costs. That means, a private phone number, not giving out private info at the cash register, screening my phone calls, etc. We live in an increasingly invasive to privacy world.
My professional image is demonstrated by my demeanor, and how I perform in my work. It has nothing to do with private information that no one needs to know to communicate with me. We protect patient privacy. We need to be mindful of our own. There are good reasons for it. We are exposed at times to people who have no boundaries, and some who are sociopaths. I would rather be safe and alive than dead and politically correct or viewed as the ultimate professional. I am not trying to compete with other professions. We all have our own risks.