Putting RN on license plate???

Danielle RN · May 27, 2006

It's so funny that you should ask that! My mother, who is also an RN, has the RN professional license plate. She had recently asked me if I would get one, and I said that I was afraid that I'd have to stop at accidents and such. It's not that I don't want to help, because I do ... but I'm afraid of being by myself and not knowing whether I'd be endangering myself. There are a lot of weirdos out there.

I'd love to know the answer to your question myself.

barbyann · May 27, 2006

I attended an inservice training on personal protection and the police warned against this practice. They sited a history of violence against nurses. They warned us not to hang our stethoscopes from the rearview mirror and not to identify ourselves as nurses on the car. They also said to NEVER stop and pull over if someone tells us we have a flat tire or hit us from behind. They said to drive to the nearest police station. Evidently nurses are preyed upon by criminals, and they specifically mentioned the 3-11p shift nurses being at most risk because they are driving home in the dark. Something to consider.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · May 27, 2006

A successful malpractice lawsuit has to have 4 key elements:

1. You have to have a duty/relationship with the pt.

2. That duty must involve a standard of care.

3. You fail to live up to that standard of care.

4. Harm results as a direct relationship of that failure.

Having "RN" on your license plate does not create a duty to everybody on the road.

So, no, you would not be required to stop and render aid.

~faith,

Timothy.

PamUK · May 27, 2006

Why would anyone would want to do this? Whats the point?

DusktilDawn · May 27, 2006

Each state should have their own legistlature in regards to a Good Samaritan Act. For instance, here's some info for Michigan's:

http://www.cprinstructor.com/MI-GS.htm

http://www.securitymanagement.com/library/PA173.html

When you stop at the scene of an accident, than you are legally responsible for the care you provide. Good Samaritan Laws were designed to encourage bystanders to render assistance without fear of being sued:

Public Act 17 of 1963, known as the "Good Samaritan" law, provides immunity from civil liability to certain authorized medical personnel who in good faith render medical aid in emergency situations, except where an act or omission amounts to gross negligence or wilful and wanton misconduct

Gross negligence would be if you deviated from a standard that a reasonable person with your education level should not under the same circumstances.

Willful and wanton misconduct would be an act committed with the intent to due harm.

You have a legal obligation to follow through in regards to care WHEN you stop and initiate assistance that ends only when care is transferred to the appropriate person.

There is no legal obligation for anyone to stop at the scene of an accident. There IS A DIFFERENCE between what one perceives as an ethical/moral obligation and what your legal obligation may be in any given circumstance.

Gennaver, MSN · May 27, 2006

I attended an inservice training on personal protection and the police warned against this practice. They sited a history of violence against nurses. They warned us not to hang our stethoscopes from the rearview mirror and not to identify ourselves as nurses on the car. They also said to NEVER stop and pull over if someone tells us we have a flat tire or hit us from behind. They said to drive to the nearest police station. Evidently nurses are preyed upon by criminals, and they specifically mentioned the 3-11p shift nurses being at most risk because they are driving home in the dark. Something to consider.

Hello,

I agree with what you have said and have also been told not to leave "girlie" things around in your car such as hair clips, make-up or so on. Hey,why give an opportunistic predator or sociopath any exuse to single you out.

In regards to stethoscopes hanging on rear view mirrors...they just seem too risky because they could become "projectiles" into your head or face during and auto collison!! That goes for anything dangling from your rear view mirror, (let alone that it takes away from your own windsheild visual.

Gen

Jo Dirt · May 27, 2006

Sure, we work hard for our license and while it may be tempting to broadcast it to the world, it just doesn't seem like a very good thing to do.

Nurses, home health nurses, in particular are more at risk for being preyed upon by criminals. When junkies see a nurse, they think this nurse possesses or has easy access to drugs.

Just opening yourself up to unwanted attention, I say.

PANurseRN1 · May 27, 2006

No, for the reasons already stated. Plus, it just looks to me like someone trying to show off. I feel the same way about MD tags.

PANurseRN1 · May 27, 2006

I did see a plate a doc, who was an anesthesiologist, had that highly amused me: I-NTUB8

CuttingEdgeRN · May 27, 2006

Will get you out of many a ticket though Police usually feel a kindred spirit with nurses. Over worked, under paid, public servant, scheduled 24/7.......

Jolie, BSN · May 27, 2006

Will get you out of many a ticket though Police usually feel a kindred spirit with nurses. Over worked, under paid, public servant, scheduled 24/7.......

My friend's hubby, a state trooper, suggested that if an RN is ever pulled over for a minor traffic violation, s/he should hand the wallet copy of their nursing license along with their driver's license to the cop.

He says it is true that cops don't like to hassle nurses (or doctors) over minor violations, and will often let them go with a warning. What cop wants to come into the ER with a gunshot wound and look up into the faces of doctors and nurses who s/he has ticketed?

But don't ever try it for something serious, like wreckless driving or DUI.

BTW, I agree that putting RN on your license jplates is probably not the best idea. Not so much because of liability issues, more so for safety reasons as others have stated.