"You cannot have BSN or MSN on your nametag?"

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello,

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?

So where would I fit in? I am an LPN and I possess both an associates degree AND a bachelors degree (neither in nursing). I am an LPN with a higher level of education who does not care who puts what on their badge. Am I a separate category??

Yes.

It would be very odd indeed if there was a 100% agreement on anything here. Always the exception to the rule.

BTW I guess when I was referring to education/certification I was referring to Nursing related education/certification.

Would be funny if I put RN/ASE Certified Mechanic/Barrista on my name badge :lol2:

"The only ones laughing are those without the education "

Oh my. I hope you don't seriously believe that. It's quite a sweeping statement about those who have lesser educations than the norm.

The ones who might be tempted to snicker are those who are comfortable in their own skins and do not see the need for self-promotion above the norm.

Never seen someone with an advanced degree/cert snicker at someone else posting it in the clinical setting. Just my observation. The only people I have ever seen say anything about someone posting BSN/MSN whatever on their name badge were those without the degree.

Do you agree that there should be a distinction between a RN and LPN in the clinical setting?

Funny you mention this. I noticed a name tag of an ARNP and had to chuckle to myself..it read something like

Ima Nurse, ASN, BSN, MSN, ARNP, and then some other things.

Just want to state, I was NOT chuckleing to myself because she had her educational credentials on her tag..I was laughing to myself because it was like an alphabet soup that just seemed to go on and on, it just looked "off" for lack of a better word.

Ima Nurse

ASN, BSN, MSN, ARNP, ABX, XWIOE, MCA, MBA, CBA, CPA, (and on and on) because it also listed her certifications.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Never seen someone with an advanced degree/cert snicker at someone else posting it in the clinical setting. Just my observation. The only people I have ever seen say anything about someone posting BSN/MSN whatever on their name badge were those without the degree.

Do you agree that there should be a distinction between a RN and LPN in the clinical setting?

Absolutely - there is a distinction between RN and LPN licensing and clinical abilities. That is an important distinction to convey.

You cannot say the same about the differently-prepared RN's. Their competencies/licensure are the same.

As to your other assertion, I have personally never seen a teacher, RT, pharmacist or attorney wear their degrees on their chests.

My husband is Ph.D prepared. He has not once, in 30+ years of professional life, felt the need to display his educational preparation, only his professional certifications.

So does that make him the "lesser-educated" of his peers?

Just want to state, I was NOT chuckleing to myself because she had her educational credentials on her tag..I was laughing to myself because it was like an alphabet soup that just seemed to go on and on, it just looked "off" for lack of a better word.

Ima Nurse

ASN, BSN, MSN, ARNP, ABX, XWIOE, MCA, MBA, CBA, CPA, (and on and on) because it also listed her certifications.

I saw a NP once that literally have 6 different creds behind her name. Her name literally took two lines on her business card. It was funny to see but also very awe inspiring and each of her creds was clinically relevant to express her proficiency/expertise in the given areas.

Just to clarify on the ADN, BSN, MSN thing. I know many people ask why Nurses put the BSN along with the MSN but I think it is to show that they worked their way up through the various levels of Nursing. You do not need an ADN for a BSN nor do you need a BSN for a MSN. There are many Nurses with only a MSN or only a BSN.

Absolutely - there is a distinction between RN and LPN licensing and clinical abilities. That is an important distinction to convey.

Funny, I am willing to bet many here would disagree with you. Many LPNs would argue that they are just as clinically strong as any RN and care for their patients just as much.

I would not say that I have ever heard somene with a MSN say that they are stronger bedside Nurses than any other ADN RN but there is a case to be made that they are better prepared at clinical leadership which is something worthy of distinction in the clinical setting.

Personally I lump Nursing related education and certification together. One tends to focus on leadership/research, the other on clinical proficiency. I see them both as important.

You cannot say the same about the differently-prepared RN's. Their competencies/licensure are the same.

As to your other assertion, I have personally never seen a teacher, RT, pharmacist or attorney wear their degrees on their chests.

I have.

I personally know of 8+ teachers that post their credentials...on their desk seeing that they do not have name badges. 4 family members, 4 friends.

My husband is Ph.D prepared. He has not once, in 40+ years of professional life, felt the need to display his educational preparation, only his professional certifications.

Neither does my Aunt, she doesn't even go by Dr. No one outside of her classroom would even know she has a Phd. Many people do not feel the need to post their credentials, many Nurses do not post theirs either. The case is not "should they" it is rather, "should they be allowed." Important distinction.

So does that make him the "lesser-educated" of his peers?

Willing to bet if your husband was told he could not post his education, even though he does not already, he would suddenly be compelled to. ;)

Does he resent others for posting Dr. or Phd in their name?

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

In IL, all APNs have "APN" on their nametags. So...I get a new patient today and introduce myself as "Hi I'm traumarus, your APN with XYZ practice." The pt looks at me and says "why did I get a peon?"

lol

Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
"I think the suggestion to sew your credentials on your scrubs or your jacket is an excellent one."

Well, I guess it could be an excellent suggestion. But only if you have the hide of a rhinocerous and don't care about others' opinions.

Do so, and incur the jokes/ridicule/wrath of your co-workers.

Could someone tell me one (just ONE) other profession whose members feel compelled to display their level of education on their breastbone?

lol, seriously?! EVERYONE else. PT, Pharmacy, Medicine, RT. I see this all the time. All the time and I have worked in multiple clinical settings. You've never seen other specialities display their credentials?

Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
So where would I fit in? I am an LPN and I possess both an associates degree AND a bachelors degee (neither in nursing). I am an LPN with a higher level of education who does not care who puts what on their badge. Am I a seperate catagory??

I work with an LPN who has an MBA, so her name tag and business cards say LPN, MBA. Guess what? Nobody laughs.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
"The only ones laughing are those without the education "

Oh my. I hope you don't seriously believe that. It's quite a sweeping statement about those who have lesser educations than your accepted norm.

The ones who might be tempted to snicker are those who are comfortable in their own skins and do not see the need for self-promotion above their peers.

That statement is very telling. Why would you interpret someone displaying their educational credentials as being done at the expense of others a la "self-promotion"? What does someone displaying their credentials have to do with anybody else?

Hello,

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?

Your font is breathtaking. Please tell me which name brand designer does this?

To answer your question: Yes- they can take away your bsn title on the name tag. It's no biggie. I didn't know hospitals even allowed bsn to be on a nametag? I thought the name tag was just supposed to say RN.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

As for other disciplines ... I've been in many medical offices, dentists, and other places where people have their diplomas framed and hanging on the walls.

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