Title of "BSN" on badge?

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 24, 2006

Furthering my education does not negate your skills or knowledge. It just increases mine.

Oooo ... that's one of the best things I have read on this subject in a long time.

So often, these debates turn ugly as people get offended by the accomplishments of someone else. They assume that if someone is proud of their accomplishment and wants their achievements recognized in some way, it is somehow an insult to people who have not accomplished the same things.

Nurses with many years of practical experience often get that experience recognized through pay scales that reward experience with higher pay. Those who have academic achievements rarely get any recognition for those accomplishments. Why? That's the real question.

Both "book learning" and "practical experience" are important in the development of expertise. The best and highest level of knowledge is found in those people who are able to combine the academic knowledge with the "how to" skill that comes through practice. People who have either one without the other are missing something of value. Both "sides" of this debate should acknowledge that fact and move on.

The real questions/challenges for the profession is not "which is better," but rather ... "How do we acknowledge both aspects of learning and ensure that nursing professionals get the best that both have to offer?" and "How do we help nurses to integrate the two types of knowledge?"

Far too many nurses are unable to integrate the two: What happens in class, stays in class. ... and ... What happens in practice, stays in practice. We will only make real progress when we learn both as individuals and as a group to integrate the two.

llg -- who, BTW, does have her academic degree on her name badge

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2006

I just love how people put down a BSN like it just "two" extra classes and essentially a few fluffy courses - nothing really substantial.
I often wonder then, if a BSN degree is so insignificant as far as amount of work, why doesn't everyone get a BSN then? I mean, really, if it's just TWO extra classes?

I can only wish getting going from ADN meant a couple of philosphy and theory courses. I would have done it years ago.

Silly me, the program I'm in is 16, yes 16 more courses above and beyond my ADN degree to include a little bit of theory, but also courses such as research, community health, population focused health, physical assessment, pharmacology, pathophysiology, research, and leadership.

Just a few courses, that really don't have anything to do with the real world of nursing and are practically useless throwaway knowledge that won't make me a better nurse. :lol2:

shodobe · Mar 24, 2006

We just updated to a new payroll system and had to upgrade our badges. We can put anything we want on it. Mine has obviously RN in one corner, my name, my clinical nurse status CNIII and CNOR. No big deal. People read way too much into other's postings. Besides when did this thread go from what can go on a badge to another waste of time of BSN vs whatever! Everybody needs to chill out and go back to work.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2006

To answer the original posters question.

No. Where I work we don't post our titles other than Registered Nurse on our badges regardless of our degree.

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Mar 24, 2006

I don't believe there are many diploma schools in the US anymore.
But yes they did work hard for and got, a good education.

Yes there are. I believe there are many. Not in my state though.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Mar 24, 2006

in the late 1980's through late 1990's, the round of deskilling of hospital workers --laying off nurses to hire uap's (unlicensed assistive personal---term orderly and nursing assistant thrown to the wind) and all hospital staff wearing scruff uniforms, led some facilities to attempt to hide just who was caring for patients with staff only identified by first and last name on id badges---some only had first name and last initial.

nurses needed to contact state legislators to get this practice stopped and legislation was introduced so the public would know just who is taking care of them and level of expertise.

connecticut nursing news: "de-skilling" of american hospitals, the

patient safety initiatives / 1997 report to house of delegates

worker identification badges

many employee name tags fail to identify the credentials of patient care staff, thus patients do not know who, if any, of their care givers is an rn. new jersey, massachusetts, florida, georgia, illinois, oregon and missouri snas have called for legislation that would require health care providers to wear identifying badges that indicate a health care providers name and credentials. legislation introduced in louisiana would authorize a licensed health care provider to identify himself or herself by the use of licensure terms. the district of columbia, ohio and utah have incorporated worker identification provisions in state regulations.

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while physicians don't wear their credentials on their badges, they most certainly have them listed on their prescription pads and plaques on the walls. nursling's means to show our expertise is via our name badge or uniform/lab coat embroidery. heck i even sign my homecare staffs payroll with karen rn, bsn...

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2006

Just a few courses, that really don't have anything to do with the real world of nursing and are practically useless throwaway knowledge that won't make me a better nurse.

I appreciate the sarcasm :)

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Mar 24, 2006

No, they don't take a different exam. When I became a nurse 11 years ago, this debate wasn't heard of. The majority of the places where I was educated where ADN programs. From what I gathered AT THAT TIME, the curriculum for the BSN had more theory-based classes and more studies geared toward management. I don't know if that is still the case. I am so tired of this debate. Everyone thinks they are right. I don't care what level of education you have, the experience is what makes you good. You can learn everything you want from a book, but until you put it into practice, it ain't worth more than the paper it's printed on.

11 years ago, I didn't even know you could become an RN without a BS. I guess it depends on where you live.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Mar 24, 2006

I DO act like I have my BSN. I EARNED my BSN. AFTER I earned a Diploma in Nursing. And realized that the profession that was most important to the public was on the bottom of the food chain. The professions that have Bachelors degrees were respected throughout the hospital. While nurses were treated like dirt.
The public doesn't know the difference, or that RNs can actually go to college and earn a Bachelors Degree in Nursing? Who tells them? Perhaps it is about time that they LEARNED that the individuals who are providing their care earned a four year college degree. Perhaps they would finally stop thinking that a nurse is a nurse is a nurse. Do we give them the oppurtunity to learn that nurses earn Bachelors Degrees? If patient knew that nurses earn four year college degree, and began asking for nurses with BSNs, the hospital would think that nurses were important because the patients were asking. When administration thinks that we make a difference in the bottom line, maybe our professional services wouldn't be rolled in with the room rate, housekeeping, and the complimentary roll of toilet paper.
Why do BSNs need ADNs and Diploma nurses permission to put thier degree on their nametag? Hospital administration doesn't WANT patients to know that nurses are educated. We would have more worth in the workplace and the bargaining table, wouldn't we? What are the ADNs and Diploma nurses afraid of? That the patients would start to request only BSNs as their nurses?
The discrimination and ridicule that I have experienced here in Spokane because I have my BSN is sickening. All other professions value education. Nurses, on the other hand, need to validate their self worth and self importance by denigrating those of us who have put have put forth the effort to earn a BSN. No one handed me a degree. I worked full time 12 hour shifts, and went to school part time, for 7 years. I also earned a minor on Physical Education concurrently with my BSN. I lived alone in California, and my family was all in NY. I know all about how hard it is to accomplish this. I also know that it can be done.
Other professions may not put Bachelors Degree on their name tags, because these professions have always have a Bachelors as entry into practice. Again, maybe our lack of credibility, and respect, has more to do with our lack of the educational credentials that go along with our claim that we are licensed medical professionals. Do they really think that we are worthy of the respect and compensation that other medical professionals command. They may think that we are wonderful, but that doesn't mean that we are respected, or worthy of the salaries of other health care professional who have drastically increaed their entry into practice.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

There would be some valid points and concerns in this post, if the stabs at other degrees were left out. I swear some things NEVER change.

Side note:

I would NEVER say that a BSN is just a few more classes, nor would i ever say that an ASN or an ADN is "afraid" of BSNs (the word "stupid" is coming to mind as i write that, i swear). EACH program is DIFFERENT, each person decides for THEMSELVES WHAT degree would be BEST for them to obtain at the moment. And whether or not someone decides to go on in school is THEIR choice.

As usual, an OP asks about credentials on a badge, and people take that as an opportunity to slam the other degrees, classes, job titles, etc. etc.!!!! Yet i read some of the other posts or other threads about how there needs to be more unity in nursing. The irony!!

Ever stop and wonder WHY??? I'm sure it has NOTHING to do with this back and forth crap of what's the better degree. right?? :rolleyes: Would a entry-level requirement help? No, because the NEXT argument would be over expereince, the college, etc. It would never END.

Of course that's just a lowly little LPN's (going for the ASN, GASP!!) opinion. I'll leave before i'm "suggested" to.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Mar 24, 2006

ANYWAY, the only time that a nurse's credentials are printed on their tag where i work is if they are the director of the floor, working in care planning, administration, or informatics.

Vanfnp · Mar 25, 2006

I am darn proud of my BSN and will be darn proud when I receive my MSN shortly but I will not put any of this on my stinkin' name badge. Why? Because, as a professional, it is not necessary. An RN is a professional. Second, I am a part of a team of nurses and setting myself apart from the team will give someone on the team the impression I am different in some way. Nurses and nursing need cohesion, not division-can't you see that? In one voice on this board I hear, "We are all equal, LPN, Diploma, ADN, RN!" But the next is, "I need to show them I am this!" In my job I am valued for my computer skills and my IV techniques. One coworker is the greatest cardiac mind around and a third has the best bedside manner and common sense. I could go on...the coworkers and team atmosphere is what makes working in our unappreciated, understaffed, underpaid, lousy hour career bearable, even enjoyable.

RN and Mommy · Mar 25, 2006

At the hospital where I work the BSN nurses do have BSN printed on their badges as well as the ones who have their MSN, and in response to another poster...some of the physical therapist who have their doctorate have that printed. I don't think many patients know the difference between BSN and RN. They just know that you are their nurse.