"Alphabet Soup" After Nurses' Name?

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Nov 12, 2011

What bothered me in my last job was the vp in charge of clinical affairs. He had plenty of initials after his name but had never worked a day on the floor. He was clueless about real life nursing.

leslie :-D · Nov 12, 2011

What bothered me in my last job was the vp in charge of clinical affairs. He had plenty of initials after his name but had never worked a day on the floor. He was clueless about real life nursing.

that is the pits, for sure.

i've had bosses who had mgmt experience and the applicable degrees, but wth they were doing in nsg, i'll never know.

i've received direct orders that were clearly contraindicated within my sop, yet he didn't want to hear it.

or giving orders that were physically impossible (i.e., get to pts a,b,c, and pt b's son NOW) warranted an eyeroll or two.

this guy had absolutely no knowledge or respect for what nurses did.

that shouldn't be allowed...esp in nursing.

leslie

belgarion · Nov 12, 2011

In my previous career I could have put the following after my name - BSME, MSMM, EIT, CMfgE, CQE, and Six Sigma Black Belt. First, why would I want all of that following me around and second, who the HE!! would have cared?

My cards and e-mail signature said Belgarion, Senior Project Engineer.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Nov 12, 2011

My take? Those extra letters after people's names are the product of blood, sweat, and tears, usually while working as an RN full time. The certifications themselves require many hours of bedside nursing in the specialty of choice in order to earn them. More importantly, the certifications mean that the nurse has something extra to bring to the bedside, either directly or indirectly.

I've spoken with nurses certified in various specialties, and those guys know their stuff. I had the privilege of shadowing a wound care nurse during my clinical experiences in school, and the patients were saying that the nurses were better at healing wounds than any doctor was. Doctors were referring them to the nurse-run wound clinic, and some of the patients said, "I wouldn't go anywhere else for this."

Certified diabetic educators are the same way. They often know the abilities and knowledge of the patients they are referred to (some of which are frequent fliers) and are partners in care to those patients. (Our diabetic educator is on a first-name basis with some of the patients!) She is also more than happy to provide support to a newbie like me who knocks on her door with questions.

I see "certified" on a name badge, and I make a mental note of who to go to if I have a specific question in that specialty. Maybe it's time we stop seeing the letters after the name as a chest-pounding display of superiority and start valuing what these certified nurses bring to patient care.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Nov 12, 2011

On my name tag its That Guy, RN

Emails are signed That Guy.

Short, simple, to the point.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 12, 2011

I could sign my name a number of ways... but unless I'm writing something scholarly or I have a need to show all my academic credentials, licenses, and certifications, I'll just sign my name with the "current" role that I'm filling, so if I'm in my clinicals, I'll just add "SN" to my name. No need to confuse anyone with everything else I'm capable of (which is outside my role as as Student Nurse anyway).

Whispera, MSN, RN · Nov 12, 2011

Your instructor might prefer not to have the "Ms." part on her gift.

I have lots of alphabet soup but don't use much of it on my badge....just the most recent. One time I put EIEIO on my badge...

BrandybunsRN · Nov 12, 2011

In my first job as a nurse, there was a nurse one unit over who used to answer the phone "Jane Doe-RN-BSN-Charge Nurse, can I help you?" Although she may have worked hard for her RN and BSN, she came off sounding "snooty" and no one appreciated hearing it every single time they called.

I think it's one thing to list your titles, etc on your business card or your lab jacket .... but another to sign your name with all of that or answer the phone with all of it. Just my 2 cents :)

miss81, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2011

Nobody says a word about the lawyers, doctors, profs/instructors and other professionals that have these credentials on their name tags, but when it's a nurse we "eat our own". Geez, be proud of how far our profession has come! If you don't want to write it than that's up to you, but anyone who has worked hard for that education deserves to be acknowledged for the extra knowledge they have accrued!

My 2 cents...

Miss81 RN, BN, MN(s) ... hehe

Healing Soul · Nov 12, 2011

Hello,

I worked as a nursing assistant but had earned both a bachelors and master's degree during that time. I remember feeling the need to share my accomplishments or at least tell people that I was engaged in academic pursuits usually to my detriment. Since I have left nursing, I work as a complete equal with my coworkers who all have different backgrounds. Also, my job is very empowering with alot of discretion in decision making. However,there is little to no distinction between tittles or even departments. I still say to each their own, but I no longer feel the need to share or use alphabet soup and just love going to work everyday being part of something I truly believe in.

Healing Soul · Nov 12, 2011

One other thing, we only have first names on our name tags with no titles at all. However, I do realize in nursing the patient needs to know who is who. I am only saying that I personally quit feeling the need to seperate myself or stand out when I left nursing.

Biffbradford · Nov 12, 2011

Biffbradford BSN RN BLS ACLS IABP LVAD TAH CVVH ECMO IVTPN BEDPAN !