My supervisor told me tonight that HR was getting complaints from patients stating, "The BSN nurse gave better care than the non-BSN nurse." End result, only RN will go on namebadge.
I do not want to debate whether BSN nurses are better or worse. What I would like feedback on is:
1.) Can a hospital legally take away your title of RN, BSN or RN MSN, etc.?
2.) I personally feel that is a "slap" in the face and demoralizes nursing and education! Am I the only one who feels like this?
I have earned my BSN but only list Name, RN . I sign that way as well, it is not important to me that others know my educational background. (I also have a Master's degree in History- only my family knows about that degree.)
I don't think there is a wrong or right way to list your name, as long as your clinical position is indicated, clearly.
If your employer permits alphabet soup on name bages and you feel compelled to share your educational background on your name badge, then so be it.
I don't think any more or less of those who have every degree listed on their badge--that's their choice. It is important that we don't confuse the value and competency of a person with the number of letters after their name or NOT after their name.
The need or desire to list your educational background as a nurse on a name badge is fine with me; as my sister says "If you like it, I love it."
I don't think anyone should mock the person who posted this. There should be a differentiation for more education as there is in teaching. We get NOTHING for going for a BSN, and some people want at least some recognition. I don't think it belongs on a nametag but I don't think it is funny either.
The trick to humor is that you have to be willing to laugh...
So here's a question...There is enough information out there (and on here) for most people to get a general understanding of what earning a BSN will realistically afford them as their careers progress. Knowing that you "get NOTHING" for going for a BSN, why would you pay thousands of dollars for some recognition?
The trick to humor is that you have to be willing to laugh...
So here's a question...There is enough information out there (and on here) for most people to get a general understanding of what earning a BSN will realistically afford them as their careers progress. Knowing that you "get NOTHING" for going for a BSN, why would you pay thousands of dollars for some recognition?
I don't think any of us went back to school for recognition. I did it because:
A. I wanted to learn more
B. It opens job opportunities
C. I was told at that time that soon it would be the expected entry level for nurses (1980s- ha! they were wrong)
I would never expect recognition, you usually only get resentment from others who don't have a BSN. But there should be a pay differential, I am sorry but there should be. Teachers get more money when they have a level 2 teaching certificate and more when they get a MEd. Does it mean they are better teachers? Not necessarily, but they are "highly qualified", and they do have more knowledge to bring to the table. Would I prefer my child have a highly qualified teacher? Yes, I would. Even if my taxes are higher as a result.
Clinically I had a great education with my ADN. That prepared me to be a bedside nurse. My BSN program enhanced my knowledge - I had community health nursing, advanced med-surg, and my electives which I chose included management classes. I had other non-nursing classes to such as statistics. Am I a better nurse since my BSN? I have to say yes. Am I worth more to my employer? Again, yes. I have skills and knowledge that I did not have before.
Because we don't get that from our employer I think it is understandable that the poster would be hurt that they are taking away one small thing, the only differentiation she has that shows that she worked longer to get more education, the BSN letters on her name tag. I am not saying I agree, only that I understand where she is coming from and I respect her. Anyone who has worked their butt off to go through any kind of schooling should recognize what others who went even longer must have gone through.
In my first class in my RN- to BSN program my tracher spent the whole time explaining how nurses aren't viewed as professionals because the entry level is not BSN.
She says that it will become the minimum before long.
I disagree.
This has been debated since the A.D.N was created in the 50s. A nurse is a nurse is a nurse.
Your mangement should want your patients to see the extra qualifications ou have and not ask you to remove them. I think that is absurd. Surely there are not multiple people saying that all the bsns were better than the rns. I think someone has ab agenda to fulfill and they are taking this and running with it.
In my first class in my RN- to BSN program my tracher spent the whole time explaining how nurses aren't viewed as professionals because the entry level is not BSN.
"Clinically I had a great education with my ADN. That prepared me to be a bedside nurse. My BSN program enhanced my knowledge - I had community health nursing, advanced med-surg, and my electives which I chose included management classes. I had other non-nursing classes to such as statistics. Am I a better nurse since my BSN? I have to say yes. Am I worth more to my employer? Again, yes. I have skills and knowledge that I did not have before."
Okay, I have something to add here. I have a BS in nutrition/dietetics. This required 5 years (not just 4) of chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, advanced anatomy and physiology (human cadavers and animal experiments here- I suffered), multiple management courses, multiple clinical courses, food science, adv nutrition and metabolism (biochem again) etc, etc.... This is more science than is required in a BSN program.
I went through an ADN program for $7000 instead of 20K for a BSN program because I wasn't interested in taking a bunch of individual university graduation requirements and spending another year in school. My logic was that if I wanted to move on later, I could do a MSN or an ARNP program without a BSN.
Can I tell you that I was spinning circles around other students in ABGs and F&Es? Besides, after working in clinical nutrition for 10 years, I was familiar with all of my med-surg subjects on a whole different level with practical application. And the chemistry requirements for nursing? EASY!!!
And you mean to tell me that a BSN is better than an entire degree that has me several steps ahead of even seasoned nurses in another related field?
This whole debate is ridiculous. I won't even begin to get into book knowledge vs practical knowledge. Most of us who come along for the ride as a second career have plenty of "other" experiences to add to the nursing pot. Should I start adverstising that on my nametag too?
Oh and I had community health nursing in my ADN program as well. And statistics..... and logic..... and I'd done other higher math courses for my previous degree, etc, etc, etc. I'm sure that if I printed up my transcripts and compared them to yours, I'd have several additional years of education on your BSN. Sorry!
I think it was the AACN that made the statement that a BSN was the professional entry point into nursing. I cannot remember the year they srtated that. I had an instructor say she saw the day when the MSN would be the accepted standard.
About 15 -20 years ago, many facilities did not permit RN on name tags. One was a "Patient Clinician I" or "Patient Clinician II", etc. They did this to blur the line between levels of nursing or aides, put everybody in scrubs, so that it looked like there was a lot more licensed staff....whether there was or not.
Eventially, there was a large backlash on this....and we have hospitals getting into the, "we need to be able to ID the RN"...after they themselves fostered blurring the lines.
I have a lot of initials that I can put after my name, but at work the main one that is important to the pt is RN.
It is also your employers choice as to what you will be titled as far as your job....it is THEIR name tag that IDs your position with THEM.
Okay I have a question for you all. I am currently in a BSN program and all our instructors do is cram down our throats how different a BSN nurse is compared to an ASN (I have not seen a difference thus far except for the attitude and contempt held towards one another). Well from my standpoint the crap additional theory and ethical courses we take just take away from additional clinical expertise we could be obtaining. Anywho, with all that said I graduate in May (and hoping I find a job) is it better to just put RN on your badge. Seems to me you would avoid a whole lot of grief and attitude bc as many have said we all take the same boards and we all have licenses (hopefully I will :)) that say RN. Hope to not offend anyone or step on any toes just want some feedback.
Okay I have a question for you all. I am currently in a BSN program and all our instructors do is cram down our throats how different a BSN nurse is compared to an ASN (I have not seen a difference thus far except for the attitude and contempt held towards one another). Well from my standpoint the crap additional theory and ethical courses we take just take away from additional clinical expertise we could be obtaining. Anywho, with all that said I graduate in May (and hoping I find a job) is it better to just put RN on your badge. Seems to me you would avoid a whole lot of grief and attitude bc as many have said we all take the same boards and we all have licenses (hopefully I will :)) that say RN. Hope to not offend anyone or step on any toes just want some feedback.
Clinically there is no difference between any nurse that sits for and passes the NCLEX. An ADN can be every bit as clinically sound any a BSN or Diploma nurse. It is all about what you put into your skills and learning how to be a good nurse. The BSN has more theory and the beginnings of leadership courses than can be built upon in graduate education.
I have worked with all sorts of nurses who are great. Some LPNs who even took their jobs above and beyond some RNs. You can be an excellent clinical nurse with any path of education you select. The differences come when you get beyond the bedside and step into more of a leadership role where the BSN and MSN are more desired in those roles.
i think it was the aacn that made the statement that a bsn was the professional entry point into nursing. i cannot remember the year they srtated that. i had an instructor say she saw the day when the msn would be the accepted standard.
that would be fine if the current "apparent" (and false) nursing surplus was in fact sustainable and permanent. as an accrediting body they could under such a circumstance successfully lobby the state legislatures and effectively "close the doors" on the influx of new students. not unlike other allied health professionals. however this would perhaps serve the "profession" but be contrary to the public good, as we (rn's) now number 2.6 mil with a projected growth rate of 22% through 2015.
do this and you effectively close the doors on people such as me.
what perturbs me is nonsense that is spewed like this…..
i am currently in a bsn program and all our instructors do is cram down our throats how different a bsn nurse is compared to an asn
i dare say that my (and many others) very existence contradicts this notion.
so alphabet soup on a nametag notwithstanding, my experience has been that i am not the average bear in the woods.
Specializes in Gerontological Nursing, Acute Rehab.
Okay I have a question for you all. I am currently in a BSN program and all our instructors do is cram down our throats how different a BSN nurse is compared to an ASN.
:uhoh3:
The eye rolling is not directed at you, poster, but rather at those instructors with a blatantly obvious agenda.....
:uhoh3:
rmicu, MSN, NP
79 Posts
I have earned my BSN but only list Name, RN . I sign that way as well, it is not important to me that others know my educational background. (I also have a Master's degree in History- only my family knows about that degree.)
I don't think there is a wrong or right way to list your name, as long as your clinical position is indicated, clearly.
If your employer permits alphabet soup on name bages and you feel compelled to share your educational background on your name badge, then so be it.
I don't think any more or less of those who have every degree listed on their badge--that's their choice. It is important that we don't confuse the value and competency of a person with the number of letters after their name or NOT after their name.
The need or desire to list your educational background as a nurse on a name badge is fine with me; as my sister says "If you like it, I love it."