Stop The Title Madness

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Specializes in Anesthesia ICU LTC Dialysis.

Why are many nurses OBSESSED with initials after their names?

OK I understand.. RN, LPN, CRNA, and POSSIBLY listing educational level if you feel it lends extra credibility i.e ADN , BSN, MSN etc.

BUT i actually saw THIS after the name of some nurse in an article.

RN BS MSN CCRN CORN CFA CNA. Come on people, can we please tone it down a bit.

And if your ego needs those letters to lend some importance to your name, PLEASE publish a guide to what they mean as a footnote in whatever article you have written.

I could sign with LPN ADN BSN BA MSN CCRN CRNA APN.... but i think CRNA is all that is required.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.

its an ego trip...people want to seem better than they actually are

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Specializes in neuro, ICU/CCU, tropical medicine.

I worked very hard for the initials after my name, and I'm in the process of adding several more. They are titles we have earned.

The abbreviations tell people who we are, our background, and our specialization.

RN, CNRN, BSN, MPH&TM-to-be.

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Specializes in Me Surge.

IN everyday life the simplest title is appropriate. But in a published work most authors list their credentials. I think that's ok. If you got it, flaunt it.

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I'm all about title, I'm all about education, but even I thought that went too far.

If I had a BSN and then got my MSN, then the only letters you would see after my name is "MSN"...b/c I think people can figure out you got the other degree.

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Specializes in Anesthesia ICU LTC Dialysis.
I'm all about title, I'm all about education, but even I thought that went too far.

If I had a BSN and then got my MSN, then the only letters you would see after my name is "MSN"...b/c I think people can figure out you got the other degree.

Actually you do NOT have to have a BSN to get an MSN. there are programs awarding MSNs to people with bachelors in other majors.

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

These credentials are supposed to be listed with most prestigious first, ending with the least.

So you need to start with MSN, BS, LPN, ADN, CRNA, APN, CCRN, ETC

I'm torn between thinking it is egotistical and then still wanting to proudly display what I've earned

for now i'm just T. F.......... RN

but I could be ADN RN, LPN, PTA (not all that impressive)

congratulations to all for embracing education and working so hard to improve your knowledge base, everyone benefits from this

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Specializes in Anesthesia ICU LTC Dialysis.
I worked very hard for the initials after my name, and I'm in the process of adding several more. They are titles we have earned.

The abbreviations tell people who we are, our background, and our specialization.

RN, CNRN, BSN, MPH&TM-to-be.

OK I'll bite,,, whats a CNRN and TM?

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

I don't wear all of the letters I've earned on my badge, because that isn't what I'm about at the bedside. However, in published articles, I often look at the credentials of the author to see what background they are coming from. Someone lecturing me on pediatrics but whose degrees are in a different field I might not take as seriously:wink2:

I'm proud of the credentials I've earned, all in their time and place.:grad:

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Specializes in neuro, ICU/CCU, tropical medicine.
OK I'll bite,,, whats a CNRN and TM?

CNRN: Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse

MPH&TM: Master of Public Health & Tropical Medicine

I plan to take the ASTMH tropical medicine certification exam in December: CTropMed

Thanks for asking

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU.

I completely agree with the OP!

I this it is snooty and pretentious to list all of those titles. You will not commonly see physicians, lawyers, or PEs doing that. It just looks ridiculous and it makes nurses subject to more ridicule. I have a BS and an MPH but I don't put it after my name unless I'm making a formal presentation. I had a professor in nursing school with so many letters and titles that it wouldn't fit on one line!!! I wasn't impressed with her credentials, I was embarrassed for her.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Hey, if I got the credientials then I am going to flaunt them. Doctors or PHds do the same thing, why not nurses?

One day I will be Katie R.N. A.D.N B.S.N M.S.N A.C.N.P or something like that.

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