RN badge

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I just have a question, I'm a RN Care Manager at our Community base clinic/university. ID badges provided are of very poor quality and do not have our credentials. 3-4 months from my hired date I notice the face on the badge was fading. Now 2 yrs into my employment my face is almost unrecognizable. I expressed my concerns to the department who provides badges and was told "yes, badges are of poor quality" if I would like a new one I would have to pay $20.00 for a replacement. My concern is not the $20.00 payment but the poor quality of the badge and its reflection of our Medical University. Also, as a Care Manager our policy states we are not allowed to wear scrubs our attire is business casual which makes it more difficult. Any suggestions.

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Is there a supervisor or department head that you can voice your concerns to? In my experience badging offices don't really interact with patients and don't get the importance of proper identification. I would mention to whoever you talk to that it is a security concern, not just a customer service one.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

I personally would be delighted with my picture fading away. It's the magnetic strip I'd miss . . . Does your badge have a magnetic strip for accessing private areas? If that's not working, your badge should be replaced. If you're just unhappy with the way it looks, cough up the 20 bucks and get a new one.

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Thank you! that was my next step to talk to the Clinical Director. I was hopping to find some-type of policy requiring the photo to be recognizable as an identifier. Lost my badge and someone turned it in after 2 wks. That was another concern of mine specially since you can't hardly see the picture.

Also, according to the board of nursing website its a requirement for us to have our titles on all badges. Thanks for your help!

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Hi there, thank you for your reply!. I actually like my picture...lol. Yes it does have a magnetic strip in the back and it does allow me to have access to areas in the facility. Again, my concern is not the money but the clarity of the picture there are several other students and employees with similar features. At this point, only thing visible on the badge is my dark haircut and round eyes. lol. or I can just pay up every 3 months or so. lol. thanks for the feedback.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

Where I work we also have a plastic "badge" that goes behind our employee badge that states either RN/RT/MD/HCT etc in a bright color.

I would just try to research badge materials and costs maybe to see if an upgrade would be attainable. As always, push the facts of Pt safety and satisfaction.

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I personally would be delighted with my picture fading away.

Me too. I've found that if I leave it in the sun here and there, it fades giving me an "airbrushed" appearance. :coollook:

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Hi there, thank you for your reply!. I actually like my picture...lol. Yes it does have a magnetic strip in the back and it does allow me to have access to areas in the facility. Again, my concern is not the money but the clarity of the picture there are several other students and employees with similar features. At this point, only thing visible on the badge is my dark haircut and round eyes. lol. or I can just pay up every 3 months or so. lol. thanks for the feedback.

I'm not quite getting the concern about the picture. In most of the places I've worked, we try really hard to cover, obliterate or fade our pictures. The magnetic strip and the titles are what's important.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I'm sort of surprised that an organization would be so casual about loss of the 'picture' on a 'picture ID' that is required by a lot of regulatory criteria. That's why we had to switch to these darned things in the first place.... my organization is pretty meticulous about all the badge stuff, including calling out anyone who is trying to wear their badge in the 'bad position'... AKA clipped to their belt like a police detective. Has to be on the upper chest, "face" out at all times.

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My concern is i lost my badge and someone turned it in after 2 was being lost. Badge has a magnetic strip that gives me access to certain areas that others are not allowed. Also, badges ONLY have first name and last name.

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If we loose our badge we are required to report it and they disable its access. However I also get your point about it being a security risk. I would bring this up with your boss and security.

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I know that some state board of nursing bylaws require that all persons involved in patient care have a badge with credentials and photo clearly visible. It is a safety issue. Not only for the patients, but for everyone in the facility. Go to your state BON statutes and see what they say regarding badges.

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