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.
Another vote for removing the last name. Perhaps only an initial for the last name. But as many have said, there's no advantage to having last names on badges.
Do some research and present it to your boss. My understanding is that it is the industry standard NOT to have last names on badges for health care workers, at least in acute care. If it were me I'd be looking for another job.
Not all states have this law to protect nurses. Montana state board of nursing requires all nurses even ER an Psych to wear their full name (including middle initial) and title (not RN, but the full registered nurse) on thier badges at all times. I worked there as a travel nurse for 16 weeks and I will never go back. Even as a travel nurse with my apartment in the company name and my physical address in another state, a crazy ER Pt tracked me down to my apartment complex by my last name (i had cable installed and apparently that is a public record occurance). He was really scary, thank god my husband travels with me and he was at home when the guy showed up. I will never work in another state that requires my last name on my badge ever again. How dum can the board be????????
All residents and Pts have the right to know who their medical staff is.
Sorry for your troubles.
Yes but in NC the law states the facility can remove the last name if it feels the removal is in the best interest and safety of the staff, Montana does not allow the same provision. My initial licensure was in NC, that is my home state, and we never worn last names in the ED. It is too criticalof an environment and pts and family are under too much stress, during which they could make bad decisions. Yes they can get a copy of the chart later and find our names but at least it is not durin gthe heat of the moment, in a critical situation or time fo rthe fmaily or pt.
I agree. If people choose to focus on being afraid of clients, that's your choice, but it's going to affect your clinical practice and your interaction with clients, and not in a good way. If you look at the literature (not that there is much; I'm including a couple links at the end of this post) you'll see that the few studies done on the subject of mental health clinicians being stalked by clients show that the rate of stalking is somewhere between (depending on which study you're looking at) 6 - 11%. Guess what? That's about the same rate of stalking of members of the general public -- so you have about the same risk of being stalked by someone who has nothing to do with your employment as you do of being stalked by a client. The literature also reports that pychiatrists and psychologists are much more likely to be stalked by clients than mental health nurses. The literature also talks about all the interventions/steps/training that can (should) be provided to staff to help minimize the risk of stalking that have nothing to do with name tags.
You are much more likely to be assaulted at work, on the unit. You are much more likely to have any number of awful things happen to you than being stalked by a client. To me, it's the same phenomenon as people who are perfectly comfortable riding in cars but are scared to death to fly because they're afraid of dying in a plane crash. We all know (or should, anyway) that we're much more likely, statistically, to be injured or killed in a MVA (or in our own bathtub/shower, for that matter) than a plane crash -- but it's the dramatic, rare, unlikely risks that people are scared of. Please note, I'm not saying that plane crashes don't happen and people don't die in them -- just that the risk is much less than any number of "normal," everyday risks to which we never give a second thought ...
To me, the whole "client stalking me" thing is the same kind of issue. The risk is so much lower than other risks I take every day that I don't worry about it, beyond being safe and alert in my practice. I'm also quite confident that, of all the factors that might play into whether I'm ever stalked by a client, what my name tag says will be the least significant issue ...
85 % of all violence in hospitals is from family, so having family who can view last names is the problem not the pts.(Warchol, 1998). Most violence is directed at nurses who follow hospital policy so since most hospitals have a policy to remove disruptive family, I would also mention that removal of family is the main cause of the violence against staff, and negates any option you have to press charges because the situation becomes aggravated. Within the medical profession, nurses are more likely to be victims of workplace violence than any other staff worker (Warchol, 1998). A study of emergency room (ER) nurses in two hospitals reveal that eighty two percent (82%) of nurses report having been assaulted during their career. Within the past year, fifty six percent (56%) of ER nurses reported being assaulted. Surprisingly, the majority of ER nurses (73%) view being assaulted as "goes with the job" (Caroll & Morin, 1998). So we are subjecting ourselves to higher risk rates thatnthe average person.
Carroll, V., Morin, K. H. (September/October 1998). "Workplace violence affects one-third of nurses." American Nurse.
Emergency Nurses Association. (1999). The 1998 survey on prevalence of violence in U.S. emergency departments. Des Moines, IL.
Warchol, Greg. (1998). Workplace Violence, 1992-1996. Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice.
I'll always vote for privacy. I think my family would prefer me alive, with my first name, and RN on my badge vs dead, but really professional looking with full name on my badge. I'm sorry but no one needs to know my last name at work. I am secure enough in my professionalism that I don't need to try to be like other disciplines that display last names. Yes, it's only a layer of privacy and may not deter a determined stalker, but why make it easier?
I've had enough near misses in my lifetime to always be aware of who is around me, and between me and the door. Some of that comes from years of working in inner city neighborhoods as a home health nurse and in LTC's and hospitals in those same neighborhoods. And, when I get a warning feeling from my gut about a patient or family member, I listen to it and act on it.
If enough staff in a facility complain about safety concerns, and you take it to your DNS and adminstration, you may be able to effect some changes. I would keep pushing the issue, until you feel that you have been heard. Talk to anyone that matters about it, security, risk management etc. Don't let them brush you off. Safely for patients as well as staff should always be the number one concern. I would even go so far as to ask that they hire someone to give staff pointers on how to remain safe on the job. That would make a sensible and timely inservice. Why not? Get vocal, and organize. Be proactive for your own safety if your facility is not taking this seriously. And, if you don't feel safe, and nothing changes, quit. Make sure the facility knows why you are leaving.
85 % of all violence in hospitals is from family, so having family who can view last names is the problem not the pts.(Warchol, 1998). Most violence is directed at nurses who follow hospital policy so since most hospitals have a policy to remove disruptive family, I would also mention that removal of family is the main cause of the violence against staff, and negates any option you have to press charges because the situation becomes aggravated. Within the medical profession, nurses are more likely to be victims of workplace violence than any other staff worker (Warchol, 1998). A study of emergency room (ER) nurses in two hospitals reveal that eighty two percent (82%) of nurses report having been assaulted during their career. Within the past year, fifty six percent (56%) of ER nurses reported being assaulted. Surprisingly, the majority of ER nurses (73%) view being assaulted as "goes with the job" (Caroll & Morin, 1998). So we are subjecting ourselves to higher risk rates thatnthe average person.
The original question related to name badges in psych settings specifically, which is why the info I cited was all related to psych professionals and settings, not other settings within the hospital. Emergency departments are an entirely different matter. Also, your sources appear to be talking about violence/assault in the workplace, which is completely different from stalking outside the workplace. There is no question that ED nurses are at a higher risk of being assaulted at work than the general public; but how does that correlate to what's on a name badge? Does not having a last name on a badge make someone less likely to take a swing at you in the ED? And how does that correlate to being stalked and/or assaulted out in the community? As a psych nurse for >20 years, I've had plenty of out-of-control clients hit, kick, spit on me, etc. on the unit(s) -- and those incidents would have occurred regardless of what was on my badge! -- but I've never been stalked outside of work. These are two entirely separate issues.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I won't take chances. We see so many weirdo's in OB and some I think would love to "get theirs" in certain cases (when DHS becomes involved, say). I see the other side, too however. As professionals, like those DHS social workers I mention, we should be putting full names and credentials on our badges. The public deserves to know with whom they deal....
But I chicken out. In the end, I only put last name initial on mine, and my phone number and addy are unlisted. I live in a smaller town, easy enough to find me w/o making it even simpler. JMO seeing both sides of this hot issue.
Just another Update...pulled in yesterday to the parking lot...We get to park in the spots right up by the entrance on 3-11 shift, and guess who is cruising out the door? Yep, Mr. Sociopath. So he starts in on me, being charming and what-not, saying I'm beautiful, blah blah blah blah he wants to take me to the beach yadda yadda, so I get away as fast as I can and into the hosp. Except now he KNOWS what car I drive. JUST my luck! When I left however that night, I had no problems, so maybe he's just full of hot air.
Just another Update...pulled in yesterday to the parking lot...We get to park in the spots right up by the entrance on 3-11 shift, and guess who is cruising out the door? Yep, Mr. Sociopath. So he starts in on me, being charming and what-not, saying I'm beautiful, blah blah blah blah he wants to take me to the beach yadda yadda, so I get away as fast as I can and into the hosp. Except now he KNOWS what car I drive. JUST my luck! When I left however that night, I had no problems, so maybe he's just full of hot air.
Dang Meerkat,
This can not be comfortable for you. Talk to security in your building and get them to walk you to your car. I think I would be looking at pepper spray or a personal weapon by now. Do not let your guard down. Really, please be careful. Do you have any BIG, mean looking male friends who can hang around you for a few days or something? I think you should trust your gut, talk to your family about this if they can help. Even talk to the police at the station. They may have some good advice for you.
I thought we were talking about last names on badges -- I'm not aware that anyone in this discussion has suggested that we have a professional responsibility to advertise our home addresses and 'phone numbers ... Where did that come from??
I obviously didn't make myself very clear
Everyone knows doctors last names BUT in the phone book I have yet to come across a doctor with a listed phone number or home address in the local phone book. You can get their office phone number or address but NOT home addresses.
We, as nurses for the most part have listed phone numbers with our addresses. THAT is the difference I was trying to make with NOT having our last names on our badges..................
Everyone knows doctors last names BUT in the phone book I have yet to come across a doctor with a listed phone number or home address in the local phone book. You can get their office phone number or address but NOT home addresses.
We, as nurses for the most part have listed phone numbers with our addresses. THAT is the difference I was trying to make with NOT having our last names on our badges..................
Thank you, that explanation makes your earlier comment clearer -- but no one makes nurses have a listed home address and telephone number; we are just as free as anyone else to have an unlisted number if we choose. Most of the psych colleagues I've worked with over the years have done just that (had unlisted home 'phones), as do most all professionals (physicians, lawyers, social workers, etc.) -- but they don't think about withholding their last names from clients.
Count me among those who would prefer to be alive without my last name on my badge, than professional with it and risk being stalked/raped/etc. My professionalism shows not on a square of plastic on my scrubs, but in my actions and skill. There are only about a dozen people in this country with my last name, and finding my personal information is already too easy via Yahoo's People Search.
Doctors go by their last names, but how many of them are looked at by the general public as willing sex objects? None. How many of my male patients have made inappropriate sexual comments to me? More than I can count.
As far as a patient being able to read my last name on the charting, I doubt it. It's a scribble (so much of one that my manager once approached me with a reminder from the quality improvement comittee telling me my name had to be legible. Ummm... They figured out it was me in the end didn't they?). And my facility doesn't use any type of computerized charting, so that's that.
mingez
238 Posts
Another vote for removing the last name. Perhaps only an initial for the last name. But as many have said, there's no advantage to having last names on badges.