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

[nursebrandie28]

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?

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

When I become a nurse and have to get certified in a specialty area (would like to work in the ED), I'd like to put on my badge RN, Alphabet Soup.

[dblpn]

There's a local hospital here were the RN's who are BSN's have the BSN title on their name tag. Why they do that is beyond me. diploma and ADN nurses take the same boards to get their license as the BSN nurses. It's just wrong for any institution to put one above the other when they're in the same role.

[Asystole RN]

There's a local hospital here were the RN's who are BSN's have the BSN title on their name tag. Why they do that is beyond me. diploma and ADN nurses take the same boards to get their license as the BSN nurses. It's just wrong for any institution to put one above the other when they're in the same role.

Using that same logic then LPNs should not be differentiated from RNs correct? Just put "Nurse" on your name badge?

Why does it bother you?

So obtaining a higher level of education makes one superior to another? Or do you feel inferior because you have not obtained that level of education?

[msjellybean]

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

I got a BS in dietetics and then an AS for nursing. When I started my job, they listed me as an RN, BS without me asking them to do so. I don't mind it really, except sometimes my coworkers can be kinda jerky (in a good natured friendly way only) about what the real meaning of BS is. :)

[HamsterRN, ADN, RN]

Name tags alert people to your role. An LPN and an RN perform different roles. As staff nurses, RN-BSN and RN-ADN perform the same role. There is a difference between LPN vs. RN and BSN vs. ADN.

[Fribblet]

Name tags alert people to your role. An LPN and an RN perform different roles. As staff nurses, RN-BSN and RN-ADN perform the same role. There is a difference between LPN vs. RN and BSN vs. ADN.

Almost. If there is research going on in the facility, an ADN is limited in their ability to participate. A BSN, who has had research as part of their education, can play a much larger role.

[HamsterRN, ADN, RN]

Almost. If there is research going on in the facility, an ADN is limited in their ability to participate. A BSN, who has had research as part of their education, can play a much larger role.

Good point, I'll rephrase that: I don't agree that the difference between an LPN and an RN is the same as the difference between a BSN and an ADN in terms of a general practice role.

[steelydanfan]

There's a local hospital here were the RN's who are BSN's have the BSN title on their name tag. Why they do that is beyond me. diploma and ADN nurses take the same boards to get their license as the BSN nurses. It's just wrong for any institution to put one above the other when they're in the same role.

They may be in the same role, but they bring different experience and education to it. Any advanced education is cause for celebration. I graduated from a Diploma program, KNEW I had a BETTER education than my colleagues (at USF, at that time) except for the public health classes. I ran circles around them in clinicals. Wrong! They knew about things I had never thought about. Was I angry about it? No! Did they deserve that BSN? YES! Should it be on thier nametags? YES!

You know, PT's are required to have more entry level education than nurses. So I really think that advanced education for nurse should be celebrated, and not a cause of jealousy. The BSN nurse was trained at a higher level than you in nursing theory, diagnosis, and reasearch. Forgive her if she needs a couple of days to understand the management of floors. She'll be your best friend and ally if you give her the benefit of time.

[Music in My Heart]

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.

Well I suppose I'm the first one for you then. I have an MSN and I think it's silly. I value my education but I see no point in flaunting it.

[Music in My Heart]

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

I would never criticize her to her face nor to her peers but I would chuckle to myself. That just seems silly to me (and my MSN and two BS degrees... and it will remain so, I'm certain, after I finish my MBA).

[caliotter3]

I also once knew an LPN (LVN) who had an MBA. While the option to put it on a nametag wasn't there, she certainly went out of her way to let people know that her interests were more in line with advancing using her MBA rather than the LVN license.

[Asystole RN]

Good point, I'll rephrase that: I don't agree that the difference between an LPN and an RN is the same as the difference between a BSN and an ADN in terms of a general practice role.

Also plays a role in if the hospital is to achieve/retain magnet status.