At my job, and with most nursing jobs I guess, I sign my name and title A LOT. SO much that I sometimes catch myself almost signing my title in normal every day signatures. Like signing a check, I almost always want to add RN after my signature. I have been able to catch myself because I feel it would be pretty corny to do that.
Why I'm asking this is because I was just reading an obit for a former patient's husband and there was a note of condolence from someone we'll call Susie Baker, RN. She was not this patient's nurse as far as I could tell because in the note she recalled sitting around drinking wine with him and being his friend. I just thought it was strange that in that setting she would use her title. I know if I wrote a letter of condolence in the obituary section of the paper for one of my patients and I did not mention that I was their nurse I would think it a bit tacky to sign my title after my name.
What say you. DO you sign your title after your name in non work situations?
Why I'm asking this is because I was just reading an obit for a former patient's husband and there was a note of condolence from someone we'll call Susie Baker, RN. She was not this patient's nurse as far as I could tell because in the note she recalled sitting around drinking wine with him and being his friend. I just thought it was strange that in that setting she would use her title. I know if I wrote a letter of condolence in the obituary section of the paper for one of my patients and I did not mention that I was their nurse I would think it a bit tacky to sign my title after my name.
What say you. DO you sign your title after your name in non work situations?
As most people who have responded here, yes, I have ACCIDENTALLY signed RN after my name just by habit. There have been countless times where I almost did it and caught myself first. Therefore, I would probably give this person who signed the condolence section the benefit of the doubt that she did the same and was not being tacky.
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Yup, done it many a time, mostly on checks (when I still wrote checks---now I pay everything online) and the occasional permission slip for my kids back in the day.
I've had many a credit card slip end up with a scribble at the end because I accidentally added my title to my signature and didn't necessarily want to advertise it. Maybe I should just add a scribble to the end of my signature.
I NEVER sign RN after my name on purpose but I'm definitely guilty of doing it... On checks especially, but yes credit card slips etc... I've recently been showing my 14 yr old son how to pay bills, balance a budget, write checks, etc. well one day he asked me if I have to write RN after my name on my checks. I guess I was doing it a lot that day. Lol! I really try not to but it's just habit and some days I'm too tired to realize what I'm doing...
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
Not on purpose.
This. I have caught myself doing it many times and I don't fret much about it when it happens to be honest. I am proud to be an RN. Not so proud I need to show off, but proud enough that I am not embarrassed to have done it, if that makes sense.
Specializes in Trauma-Surgical, Case Management, Clinic.
Just curious...those of you who have a habit of putting RN after your sig, do you mainly have paper charting at your job?
I rarely even sign my name at work. Everything is computerized. I may sign a consent every now and then. I typically forget to put my title after my sig. I sign my name more outside of work than at work.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Just curious...those of you who have a habit of putting RN after your sig, do you mainly have paper charting at your job?
I rarely even sign my name at work. Everything is computerized. I may sign a consent every now and then. I typically forget to put my title after my sig. I sign my name more outside of work than at work.
I had paper charting for YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!! and orders, blood transfusion sheets.....everything!
Just curious...those of you who have a habit of putting RN after your sig, do you mainly have paper charting at your job?
I rarely even sign my name at work. Everything is computerized. I may sign a consent every now and then. I typically forget to put my title after my sig. I sign my name more outside of work than at work.
Yeah, our nurse's notes are still paper. Other things I sign with my name and designation are consents, OR packages, neurological records, alcohol withdrawal sheets, the narcotic sheet, all lab requisitions for myself and the physicians etc. it adds up!
I'll use my full title/credentials outside of work if it's relevant to the situation -- like, if I'm writing a letter to the newspaper OpEd page on a healthcare-related issue, or some other non-work situation in which I want to be clear that I am a health professional. Otherwise, no.
HeatherGurl84
326 Posts
Only time I use it is in a work/professional situation...never in everyday situations, unless I forget haha!