really good question

Published

hello, this is my first post and im just starting a lpn program, my girlfriend told me that once you are a lpn it is attached to your name, like joe smith l.p.n. it can be on your checks etc. that it is a job but also a title, the way a police officer is constable joe smith, or dr.joe smith...... is this really true????

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Yes, the LPN can be used as a title. And the RN can definitely be used as a title. When I purchase plane tickets online through American Airlines, these's an option to have your suffix printed next to your name on the boarding pass. "MD," "RN," and "Ph.D" are available options on the scroll-down menu, but "LPN" is not. When I was a cashier at a grocery story, one of my customers had "Jane Doe, RN" as the name on her personal checks.

Although it can be used as a title, I am an LVN/LPN who never uses my title outside the workplace for any reason, because I do not need that type of validation and affirmation from outsiders.

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.

Yep it's true.

And you could get it on your checks....if you wanted to. But to tell the truth, I might think it were kinda dorky if someone were to plaster their LPN all over the place.

Kinda like the commuter said...I don't flaunt my RN "status". In fact I get kind of annoyed when my family offers the info up either when it's not relevant ("This is my daughter, Kae, she's an RN" wth mom?) or worse when they want to use me ("Kae, come here, quick! You're a nurse--Uncle Joe's friend's wife's cousin has this nasty rash--what do you think?" Uh, I think she should put her boob back in her bra and see her primary care provider or a dermatologist. I'm trying to play with my son/eat dinner/watch tv) Okay, rant over.

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thanks for the feedback

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so you can but noone would?

does anyone out there do it?

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"Kae, come here, quick! You're a nurse--Uncle Joe's friend's wife's cousin has this nasty rash--what do you think?" Uh, I think she should put her boob back in her bra and see her primary care provider or a dermatologist.

Is this what I have to look forward to? :lol2:

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lol, thats what is was thinking,

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.
Is this what I have to look forward to? :lol2:

No.

What you have to look forward to is worse than that. Mine was just a short sample. I was recently at a funeral for a family member. I was in the VFW hall afterwards, and someone comes running over "Kae Kae! Your dad said you're a nurse! Come help Mr. Jones" (note that I have no idea who Mr Jones was...he was just some guy who was a member of the VFW)

I come outside, and this 90 year old guy is laying in the parking lot, in the rain, his head gushing blood. No witnesses as to what happened. Did he slip and fall? Stroke out? Bottom out his blood sugars? Wife has no idea what meds he's on/what health problems he has.

I look at them and ask "When did EMS say they'd be here?" as I start to take his pulse....I get blank stares...."Did anyone call EMS?! 911?! Anyone?"

His wife looks at me like I have a third eye and says "Well, what on Earth do we need an ambulence for? Your dad said you were an RN"

:trout:

He ended up going to the hospital via ambulance (which annoyed the wife) after I had my sister call. No idea what happened...hopefully he's okay.

Oh God, I could give you stories....all of us could!

I just choose not to advertise it, though some do. Some get it on their license plates (not sure if they have an LPN one, but they have an RN one).

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No way would I advertise that I'm a nurse, either on license plates, checks, whatever. I won't permanently attach hospital parking stickers to my car, either. Not just because of what is described above, but there are some damned crazy (and dangerous) people out there. I don't even like the idea of leaving my house at night wearing a uniform.

Before you all think I'm just being paranoid, I had a homeless guy who was "living" on my screened porch on the nights I worked. He had watched me leave in uniform, knowing I'd be gone for the next 13 hours or so. Found this out one night when I left to go to the store (at approximately the same time I'd have been leaving for work), and returned to find him all settled in for the night.

Just something to consider...

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.

Before you all think I'm just being paranoid, I had a homeless guy who was "living" on my screened porch on the nights I worked. He had watched me leave in uniform, knowing I'd be gone for the next 13 hours or so. Found this out one night when I left to go to the store (at approximately the same time I'd have been leaving for work), and returned to find him all settled in for the night.

Just something to consider...

While I totally respect your choice, as well as your reasoning, I'm not going to alter any part of my life in the off chance a homeless man will try to sleep on my property.

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Specializes in LTC/SNF.

You could but not something I'd choose to do as my profession is but a fragment of who I am as well as all the reasons stated by previous posts.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

Statistics show there is a higher than average rate of violence against health care workers. It is safer to not advertise what you do. For this reason law enforcement agencys recommend not have license plates that say RN etc.

Also good reason to not advertise your job is drug seekers who may target you thinking you have access to drugs. The public doesn't realize that we don't have access to drugs anymore so it is better to keep yourself safe.

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