Putting RN on license plate???

Nurses General Nursing

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Can anyone tell me if you are legally or ethically bound to stop at an accident scene if you put RN on your plates? I stop when I can but I don't stop if it is just me and my 5 year old in the car. I would like to personalize my plates as long as there isn't any legal implication tied into it. Any links would be much appreciated.

Specializes in ER.

Congrats on your upcoming pinning. My father is a police officer also. He has told me from day one of getting a car to NEVER personalize your plates...in any aspect. You should be proud that you made it through the craziness of nursing school, but don't leave yourself open to the human craziness! Best of luck! TJ

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/CVICU/ED/HS.

Mine are personalized...Personal preference...No regrets...HEE RN. But...I am 5'10" and a little over 200 pounds, willing to stop at accidents IF no one else (EMS) is there. GOD BLESS!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

I'm all for pride in your profession! But....! I'm more for personal safety. I also believe the less attention that one draws, the safer one is. This is a personal matter.

Question? Obligated to provide care/stop?

No, not legally. But there are a LOT of folks out there that may agree - it would be the right thing to do????

Everyone quips, "Oh, the good Samaritan Law will protect me." Don't count on it! Many are unconstitutional and even defending a harmless action can cost plenty! Most folks that I have known that have stopped at scenes, without any supplies/authority are fairly traumatized by the experience.

I figure, why invite trouble --- it usually just barges right through the door!

You would have never been able to tell from my POV that I was a firefighter, paramedic or nurse - just a safety issue with me. I skipped the lights, sirens, stickers, license plates, decals, etc.

Be proud! Excel in professional matters, resolve to constantly improve your clinical practice! Take advanced classes and work toward certification in your speciality! Just be careful with advertising your "position" to the world!

Stay SAFE!

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I wouldn't do it, but it's got nothing to do with stopping at wrecks. I think it's important to remember that you are an RN, but being an RN can't be your whole identity and your whole life, 24/7. Research into healthcare provider stress has shown that it's best to try to leave work at work. Some people even change out of their work uniforms for no other reason than to create a dividing line between work and home life. One license plate, t-shirt or bumper sticker isn't going to send you to the funny farm, but it's these things that make it hard for us to ever 'come down' from being a nurse.

Then again, what do I do when I'm off? I come to allnurses.com and post almost 600 messages in 6 months. :confused:

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Why would anyone would want to do this? Whats the point?

Pride

:D

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
I wouldn't do it, but it's got nothing to do with stopping at wrecks. I think it's important to remember that you are an RN, but being an RN can't be your whole identity and your whole life, 24/7. Research into healthcare provider stress has shown that it's best to try to leave work at work. Some people even change out of their work uniforms for no other reason than to create a dividing line between work and home life. One license plate, t-shirt or bumper sticker isn't going to send you to the funny farm, but it's these things that make it hard for us to ever 'come down' from being a nurse.

Then again, what do I do when I'm off? I come to allnurses.com and post almost 600 messages in 6 months. :confused:

I'm an active duty member of the Army Nurse Corps 24/7/365 :nuke:

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Mine are personalized...Personal preference...No regrets...HEE RN. But...I am 5'10" and a little over 200 pounds, willing to stop at accidents IF no one else (EMS) is there. GOD BLESS!!!!!!!

Good for you!

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Congrats on your upcoming pinning. My father is a police officer also. He has told me from day one of getting a car to NEVER personalize your plates...in any aspect. You should be proud that you made it through the craziness of nursing school, but don't leave yourself open to the human craziness! Best of luck! TJ

IMHO, personalized plates are cool!

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The color of my Corvette is GM Magnetic Red II.

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Specializes in Float.

It's really funny a couple weeks ago my husband and I commuted together (we live 50 miles from work/school) He was sort of weaving in and out a lot... he is an impatient driver which I often gripe at him for..but anyway, we were driving along with the flow of traffic and we got pulled over. Apparently he was going like 60 in a 45, I wasn't really paying attention as we were talking away and traffic in general was going that speed. The officer went OFF on him for speeding and weaving. I mean you had better just be saying Yes Sir No Sir the way he was going on and on! I was in shock lol. Anyway, I was REALLY in shock at the end when he said "Now you need to slow down and be more patient.. that way you'll get your wife or whoever she is to school safely and yourself to work safely. Any time you were making up speeding you just lost by me pulling you over. Now have a good day!" and NO TICKET... the way he was going on I was SURE it was gonna be ticket mania.

I was so in disbelief..but I wondered if he let us off as I had my Pediatric Nursing book in my lap and it was really in plain view from his angle. Now I really wonder if that is why he didn't ticket him. Interesting...

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
It's really funny a couple weeks ago my husband and I commuted together (we live 50 miles from work/school) He was sort of weaving in and out a lot... he is an impatient driver which I often gripe at him for..but anyway, we were driving along with the flow of traffic and we got pulled over. Apparently he was going like 60 in a 45, I wasn't really paying attention as we were talking away and traffic in general was going that speed. The officer went OFF on him for speeding and weaving. I mean you had better just be saying Yes Sir No Sir the way he was going on and on! I was in shock lol. Anyway, I was REALLY in shock at the end when he said "Now you need to slow down and be more patient.. that way you'll get your wife or whoever she is to school safely and yourself to work safely. Any time you were making up speeding you just lost by me pulling you over. Now have a good day!" and NO TICKET... the way he was going on I was SURE it was gonna be ticket mania.

I was so in disbelief..but I wondered if he let us off as I had my Pediatric Nursing book in my lap and it was really in plain view from his angle. Now I really wonder if that is why he didn't ticket him. Interesting...

I've been told a LEO [Law Enforcement Officer] already has mind made up regards to writing out a traffic violation ticket before they step out of the car.

My drivers license & military ID are together in a bi-fold clear section of my wallet. So, whenever a LEO ask for my DL I make a point to have my military ID in plain sight. It seems like I've gotten several verbal warnings, too, from LEOs. BTW, I have an ANC ornament [similar to my avatar] that hangs from rear view mirror. If I could find a similar small window sticker I'd put such on my windshield, too. I already pay extra for one peronalized license plate, so no RN plate for me. I might go with ANC on a plate someday, though.

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Specializes in NICN.

Thank you for all of your input. I never thought about the safety thing in regards to having RN on my plates, for me safety is always an issue when you stop no matter who you are. That alone is the reason why I will not stop if my five year old is in the car with me. I am glad to know that there is not a legal obligation to stop. For the record, I do stop and will continue to stop at every accident that I come across if it is in a public area. Otherwise I will call the authorities and make certain help is on the way.

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I've been told a LEO [Law Enforcement Officer] already has mind made up regards to writing out a traffic violation ticket before they step out of the car.

Not always. If the LEO is part of a specialized traffic unit and their whole existence is based on the paperwork they generate, then maybe. But the guys (and gals) in patrol have a lot more flexibility with discretion.

As for me, nurses have a special place in my heart so I am always easy on them. I could reduce the mph over the limit on the ticket so as to lighten the fine, not write multiple citations, maybe write a warning if possible, or even a verbal. Unless there is an attitude that needs adjustment. Attitude is everything on a traffic stop. I have always thought that the stethoscope over the rearview was a bit ostentatious though, of course I never wrote anybody because of it.

I just wish medical people were as kind to me as a cop. I could tell some stories there! I would start a thread but I would get flamed big time.

Hey, I like your tag on your Corvette. For a couple of years I had a custom plate on my C4 that read SHT-HOT. Finally someone at the tag agency figgered it out and denied me renewal. :scrying:

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