Putting RN on license plate???

LeahJet, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2006

Talk about hostility on the boards, I am not getting some of the anger here shown by people who've chosen not to get personalized plates.

I'm not really picking up on any hostility here. I just see people with difference of opinion. What some think is cool, others think is silly. That makes the world more interesting.

azhiker96, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2006

Wow I can't believe the overwhelming paranoia I'm reading. I really had no idea people felt this way. Perhaps I'm sheltered living in NJ.

Not all fears are unfounded. When we lived in Austin, my wife worked as a case manager for hospice. There were areas of town where her employer encouraged a police escort for her visits. Apparently the local druggies know when people are on hospice and they think the nurses might be carrying narcotics. A personalized RN plate in some areas could be a target.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 31, 2006

I would never do it (Nor would I hang a stethoscope on my rear-view mirror), for the safety/security reasons mentioned here. Don't "give 'em a reason" to rape or rob you!

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 31, 2006

I agree. It must be a big, bad scary world for some of you. If someone is going to "get" me, they're going to get me because of the right circumstances, mainly opportunity. I just try to be prudent and cautious when I'm out and about, I feel no need to hide my professional identity for the sake of safety, I've never heard of a serial killer who targeted nurses.

Name "Richard Speck" ring any bells?

catlady, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2006

Name "Richard Speck" ring any bells?

He was a mass killer, not a serial killer.

Not that it made much difference to those poor young ladies...

redX · Jul 31, 2006

i think that putting RN would be good, because if medical practitioners can have the insignia on their car, they get special treatments in case of emergencies. where help can be provided fast and by a professional i dnt think that there shuold be any delay.but there must be some grund rules to it, like first thing on an accident or casualty site would be to get police assistance.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2006

Interesting thread. Well, I decided to buy a t-shirt that says "Be Kind to Nurses. We Keep Drs From Accidentally Killing You" as a graduation gift to myself, lol!

Other than that, though, I tend to be pretty low key on the advertising. I'm immensely proud of this achievement, but when I saw a catalog selling beach towels that said "OFF DUTY NURSE" I had to draw the line! Can you imagine, laying there, and having someone come to you and say "I know you're off duty, but can you answer a question for me?" LOL

I see LOTS of personalized products to wear or carry, actually. Some are cute, and others are, well....dorky. If my husband came home with a package that contained oven mitts that said "Nurses are HOT" (actual product) I'd probably kill him.

No, I don't think I'd get the plates. I can't competently explain why, since I'm not actually AFRAID of anything happening (and I have a little yellow smile-face ball with a cap on my antennae--grad gift). Yet, somehow, that's too much for me. I can tell you I'd NEVER put my last name on my car OR my mailbox: that has been known to be dangerous.

NoWaNrN, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2006

I dont think I would, I have never had to stop at an accident before. I've only been a nurse a couple months but my husband is always very adimit about me not stopping because the kind of people there are, alot of the time it is just me and my 2yo son in the car so I wouldnt feel safe. THere are times if it the accident would look really serious I would help with no problem. If my hubbies in the car sure I'll stop.

mjm1979 · Jul 31, 2006

I just finished my CPR class last week and one of the first things the instructor said was to never put RN, etc on your liscense plate or a sticker. He said that if you drive by an accident without stopping to help and someone sees the RN or other on your lisence plate and reports you that you'd be in real trouble. This is in Ohio, and I have not checked the legalities of this to back up his claim... but it was actually one of the very first things he said during the eight hour class. He is an EMT by profession.

gitterbug · Jul 31, 2006

I never advertise the fact that I am a nurse except at work and other work related functions. Too scarey. I have been warned by police not to even wear scrubs home if possible. Seems some people actually think we can just get drugs and/or needles anytime or place we happen to be.

NJNursing, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2006

I just finished my CPR class last week and one of the first things the instructor said was to never put RN, etc on your liscense plate or a sticker. He said that if you drive by an accident without stopping to help and someone sees the RN or other on your lisence plate and reports you that you'd be in real trouble. This is in Ohio, and I have not checked the legalities of this to back up his claim... but it was actually one of the very first things he said during the eight hour class. He is an EMT by profession.

That's got to be impossible. What if it's not you driving your car? They're going to pull over some random person because OMG RN is on your car? It's presumtive. What if it's someone's initials? What if it means something else?

WindyhillBSN · Jul 31, 2006

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.

I agree. Why do I have to brag to the whole world when I become a doctor or a lawyer, or rub in people's faces that I drive a Mercedes, and they don't. Does it make me better than them?