Putting RN on license plate???

catlady, BSN, 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.

Good thing he teaches CPR and not law.

I could put MD on my license plate, but that neither makes me an MD nor creates a duty to respond. As others have said, should you choose to respond, you have a responsibility to perform as a reasonably prudent RN would perform in that situation, which will keep you protected under the Good Samaritan laws. You work under a nursing license, not a license plate.

Imagine what kind of responsibility I'd pick up if I had them put "God" on my license plate. But seriously, a license plate is an identification marker for your car, nothing more. The letters are not magic, and they don't mean a thing. You could even get RN as part of a random combination assigned by the DMV. It means nothing.

My dad's first two initials were RN, and my mother's were BB. They had a vanity plate that said RNBB. Bet they didn't feel they had to stop for accidents.

SharonH, RN · Jul 31, 2006

Name "Richard Speck" ring any bells?

No, never heard of him.

I assume he must have killed some nurses. What's the deal?

rn/writer, RN · Jul 31, 2006

In 1966 Richard Speck killed eight student nurses in a brutal enough fashion to turn the stomachs of veteran Chicago cops. He narrowly missed killing a ninth student who was able to get out a window and hide on a ledge until she could call for help (the other girls were dead by then).

He was convicted, sentenced to death, and had his sentence commuted to life (because of a Supreme Court ruling that was already in the works and didn't pertain to him specifically). He died in prison 19 years into a 300 year sentence, a depraved and disgusting individual.

He may in fact have been a serial killer as well as a mass murderer. There is evidence to suggest that he was involved with as many as a dozen murders in the three months prior to killing the nurses. There is also a strong suspicion that he targeted these girls and had been watching them.

In prison interviews, he said he didn't feel anything when he killed the nursing students--the hallmark of a true sociopath.

*********

I wouldn't put RN on a license plate nor did I use EMT when I was one. Such designations attract attention and you have no way to predetermine or choose whether that attention will be positive or negative. As others have mentioned, there are those who will approach, hoping you have drugs or needles to steal. And some are drawn, for nefarious reasons, to the caring nature they associate with nurses.

As for "special privileges" involved with stopping at an accident, I've done so about half a dozen times, more for my EMT abilities than nursing skills. My husband (also an EMT) was with me for most of the incidents and we carried a small kit with us. We applied the ABCs and in one case inserted an OP airway and bagged a man while waiting for help. We were sent letters of commendation from the department in whose jurisdiction the accident took place.

We didn't need special privileges, nor did we do anything beyond our scope of practice as EMTs. In fact, I identified myself as an EMT rather than a nurse to the fire department officer we connected with at the scene.

It's great to take pride in your accomplishments, but you have to balance the warm fuzzy feelings with the vulnerability you invite by advertising your status.

Melina · Jul 31, 2006

Imagine what kind of responsibility I'd pick up if I had them put "God" on my license plate.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

SharonH, RN · Aug 1, 2006

In 1966 Richard Speck killed eight student nurses in a brutal enough fashion to turn the stomachs of veteran Chicago cops. He narrowly missed killing a ninth student who was able to get out a window and hide on a ledge until she could call for help (the other girls were dead by then).
He was convicted, sentenced to death, and had his sentence commuted to life (because of a Supreme Court ruling that was already in the works and didn't pertain to him specifically). He died in prison 19 years into a 300 year sentence, a depraved and disgusting individual.
He may in fact have been a serial killer as well as a mass murderer. There is evidence to suggest that he was involved with as many as a dozen murders in the three months prior to killing the nurses. There is also a strong suspicion that he targeted these girls and had been watching them.
In prison interviews, he said he didn't feel anything when he killed the nursing students--the hallmark of a true sociopath.
*********

Thanks for the info Miranda. What a truly horrific story. I wonder if he targeted them because they were nursing students?

It doesn't really change my original point. There are any number of ways a potential sociopath could identify his victims if he had a thing for nurses, i.e. following you home from your place of employment, looking you up online(addresses public here in GA), watching uniform supply stores. I still do not feel the paranoia over personalized license plates is warranted as expressed in this thread.

Personally I'm not interested in them but it is not because I think someone will "get" me.

Jo Dirt · Aug 1, 2006

I'm not as muchafraid someone will get me as I just think vanity plates are silly and arrogant, and frankly, immature. When I see someone speeding by with "so-and-soRN" I immediately think of a new grad who thinks they have hit the bigtime and everyone should be impressed because they are a nurse. Most recently, I saw a Camaro pass me on the interstate with the plates 'THNKS4LPN.' About the only thing that plate did to impress me was how easy it would be to remember if someone decided to call the highway patrol to report it driving recklessly, which it was doing.

I saw one person fly by in a brand new Dodge Durango (most any nurse salary with not put you comfortably in a brand new Dodge Durango, anyway...hey, just because you can get the loan doesn't mean you can afford it!)) and with a giant window sticker on the back that said RN with the emblem underneath it.

Oh brother.

Yes, I'm certain there are perfectly good people who choose to get vanity plates for one reason or another, but since we are talking about opinions here I wanted to insert mine.

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 1, 2006

For Sharon:

http://crime.about.com/od/serial/p/speck.htm

ONE EVIL MAN.

LeahJet, ASN, RN · Aug 1, 2006

I'm not as muchafraid someone will get me as I just think vanity plates are silly and arrogant, and frankly, immature. When I see someone speeding by with "so-and-soRN" I immediately think of a new grad who thinks they have hit the bigtime and everyone should be impressed because they are a nurse. Most recently, I saw a Camaro pass me on the interstate with the plates 'THNKS4LPN.' About the only thing that plate did to impress me was how easy it would be to remember if someone decided to call the highway patrol to report it driving recklessly, which it was doing.
I saw one person fly by in a brand new Dodge Durango (most any nurse salary with not put you comfortably in a brand new Dodge Durango, anyway...hey, just because you can get the loan doesn't mean you can afford it!)) and with a giant window sticker on the back that said RN with the emblem underneath it.
Oh brother.
Yes, I'm certain there are perfectly good people who choose to get vanity plates for one reason or another, but since we are talking about opinions here I wanted to insert mine.

You and I are on the same page, I think....:)

Lurksalot, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 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.

:wink2: You know where I'm from, fellow jersey girl. :)

I have to admit, before my husband became a cop, it really didn't cross my mind to think about dangers like this. Pre-hubby, I'd even been followed home off the highway by a guy wanting my number, and I'd been stalked/followed to my home in the boondocks by a guy who saw me at the gym, who tried to pry open my window to gain access for god-knows what. But I probably am kinda paranoid, maybe it's the too-much-info syndrome. I even thought I lived in a very nice quite town until hubby was hired here....and when he joined the county SWAT team my ideas were shattered even more.

My mom likes to tease me that I am better off not knowing, she's probably right.

As for the license plate thing, for me it's any kind of identifying marks. I see lots of road rage on the 76, I-295, I-95 roads, and just look at being low-key as an additional safety measure. :)

pedinurse05 · Aug 1, 2006

Monday morning I saw this plate (it was a plate frame around the license plate)...ER trauma RN (top of the frame) saving a** not kissing or wiping a** (bottome of the frame)...rather silly in my opinion.

DONERRN · Dec 1, 2007

I just came across these forums today; and while I don't think NJ has RN plates (I've never seen one) I don't think there's anything wrong with them if you want one; just getting through the 'obstacle' of nursing school should get you some recognition. For some of us, it's who we are, not just what we do. As a rather large guy, I'm not really in fear of being attacked just because I'm a nurse. And my life is never so busy that I can't stop and help in an emergency, a few of my minutes could mean a very big difference in someone else's life, and I've got the time to spare.

Surgical_RN08 · Aug 5, 2008

hmmm interesting thread,

well in my opinion if you are proud of what you do then i have no problem with displaying you are a nurse. as a matter of fact i have had the first in nursing nc plate for about 3 years now which is for a charitable fund which helped me though school btw. (non-nurses can purchase this plate also). so my reason for the plate is not an ego thing. when i was computer analyst (yes i switched fields). i was proud of that also. i havent been hassled ever but i am a tough girl and many people dont cross me anyways. i was raised in a rough neighborhood (as many people call the hood or the ghetto) and i have dealt with the crazies on regular basis. if a sociopath is going to get you then all he/she has to do is go to the hospital and follow you. some of the guys from my old neighborhood says that they harass the "preppies" because they sense or know that they are afraid. i will not put my name on it however because thats too personal. but as one reader said before my husband drives the car most of the time and i drive the truck. he is 6ft 3 275 lbs. i guess people think he is one big tough nurse lol! as for the tickets! just drive safe and you wont get one.