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?
Then many they should not allow MD and FNPs to have titles behind their name; it should just say "practitioner". Ironically, I usually prefer the care of an FNP over an MD anyway:lol2:
The NP exam is different from the MD exam. ADNs and BSNs don't take a different exam -- we all take the NCLEX. Why should your tag say BSN and mine just say RN because I don't have a BSN? I have a bachelor's in a different field... I just didn't choose to get a bachelor's the second time around. If the minimum credential in the field is an RN, then I don't see a problem with RN on the tag.
It doesn't make you less of a person ... or even less of a nurse ... as you will have a full RN license just like the BSN's will get. However, you will have a slightly different knowledge base and skill set. It is highly unlikely that your ADN program is going to include the same depth of content on nursing leadership, nursing research, nursing theory, or community health that IS included in most BSN programs. So, while you will have a BS ... your BS did not give you the same knowledge base that a BSN should provide.
Of course ... it is always the case that individual programs vary and that individual people vary in their ability to apply whatever information they are exposed to in school. What I said above is the "general" answer to your questions based on the most common curricula in most schools.
It's like asking, "Does a person with a BS in biology have the same education as a person with a BS in psychology?" Well ... in a way. They are equally educated, but they don't have the same education. They learned different knowledge and skills in their BS programs.
That's true you do have a point. I think comparing someone with a B.S. in Bio and someone with a B.S. in Psy would not be the same in regards to field education, general ED would probably be the same. I guess my question was more towards patient care, would a ASN make you less in regards to the education received to care for these patients? You are right about the education in nursing theory and research, best good friend was my roomate during my undergrad and she got her BSN degree, many times I helpe her with her work (with my degree we do countless amount of research and experiments and what not) and even went on field research projects with her (like undercover AA meetings) and it's a different type of education in that sense.
In the work field though I just wouldn't see the point in differentiating in the hospital if you got a ASN or a BSN, what point is someone trying to prove. That's fine that you feel proud of your degree, but maybe it would be confusing for patients and cause issues. The patients feeling that a ASN nurse would be less qualified than a BSN nurse. I see this all the time, with a lot of people I know who feel PA's are less qualified and a Nurse Practitioner b/c of their 2-3yr program requirement as opposed to a nurse who went through nursing school and then nurse practitioner school.
I've actually seen PA's or NP's being refused by the patients. Am I making sense? Okay, for example, I just read a post right now by a Chiropractor who wants to get his nursing degree, so let's say he got his ASN and not his BSN and on his badge he had to put ASN. The patient might think he's got less education, not knowing that this nurse is also a Chiropractor. hehehe, I hope I'm making sense.
I got my CNA degree before I even graduated high school and worked as a CNA even after I graduated with my BS, and i've had lots of patient experience from volunteering too (maybe not like a nurse) but anyhow, the nurses I worked under were really snobby bc I was working as a CNA, not knowing my history and experience. Sad bc I think we should all help and support each other.
Well I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes, like I said kudoos for those got got their BSN :-) and for those of us who are getting our ASN good for us too. :-)
Specializes in Infusion, Med/Surg/Tele, Outpatient.
To me it is just ridiculous to have a bachelor's listed as part of your credentials. Nursing is the only group I've seen do this. Its like, "no really, I'm a professional, I went to college, SEE!" Like we're insecure about it. If my hospital goes to this I think I'll fight for my BS in nutrition to be listed - a BSN wink wink... Aggie Nurse RN, BS
Reading this thread has sort of given me a perspective on things. You see, I got my badge the other day and it only had 'RN' and honestly I sort of felt sad because all through school and while studying for the NCLEX I always looked forward to when I would have the 'RN, BSN' beside my name on a badge and that made me very excited. I still look at my badge and feel something is missing but I guess it's just because I'm a new grad and the joy of having the title I earned is still making me a little heady. I don't know if my hospital policy has anything on that and I really don't want to ask lest I appear snooty or something. Hopefully, the slight disappointment I feel whenever I look at my badge will fade in time.
Or maybe I just need a bigger font on my 'RN' or even a bigger font with twinkling lights so that everyone will see it without peering too close to my twins.:)
I would guess the complaints were forwarded to HR based on the nature of them. Doesn't seem that odd to me.
In all of the medical institutions that I have worked for/been associated with, I have never once seen an HR Department remotely involved with patient care/patient interaction. Their purpose is to work with employees, not patients. HR is not in any way, shape or form qualified to evaluate medical situations or issues.
In all of the medical institutions that I have worked for/been associated with, I have never once seen an HR Department remotely involved with patient care/patient interaction. Their purpose is to work with employees, not patients. HR is not in any way, shape or form qualified to evaluate medical situations or issues.
HR at my hospital does not field patient complaints. That's what Patient Relations is for.
I think the suggestion to sew your credentials on your scrubs or your jacket is an excellent one. Despite what you are being told by most people here, educational achievement should be celebrated and you have every right to display your credentials without backlash, no matter if you are an ASN, ADN, BSN or diploma nurse or LPN. I've known many non-BSN nurses who were proud of their educational background and were proud to display them. It would be nice if more non-BSN nurses felt that way instead of constantly telling the BSNs that your degree means nothing but more fluff.
I thought that at one time, JCAHO mandated that degrees were placed on the badge anyway. At least that what is what we were told and all of our badges were changed to reflect that. Of course that was several years ago (almost 10) so it certainly could have changed by now.
:lol2:
mazy
932 Posts
I'm kind of curious about that too.