Title of "BSN" on badge?

SharonH, RN · Mar 25, 2006

1. There is nothing wrong with wanting to wear your degree on your badge. You have already received some good suggestions as to how to remedy that.

2. To those who believe the public don't care, do not be so sure. A lot of people are more educated about differences between healthcare providers than you think.

3. At the last hospital job I had, our credentials were displayed on our badge and at that time we were told that JCAHO required it. I guess that is no longer the case.

4. Ignore the naysayers.

SharonH, BSN RN BC soon to be MSN

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2006

:yeahthat:

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.

:yeahthat:

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Mar 25, 2006

Is BSN a better degree? Absolutely. Should you have it on your badge? I think you should demand it, if you want it there. You earned it and should be able to display it.

It's not a matter of whether BSN is 10 or more classes than ADN. The fact is that ADN is NOT a "2-yr degree". It requires more than a year of pre-reqs to get into that 2 yr program. Find me all these RNs that have less than 3.5 yrs of college. They aren't out there.

Both programs EQUALLY prepare a bedside nurse. BSN might well offer more courses geared away from the bedside. But the reason why the test is the same is because the test is geared to BEDSIDE care and both programs equally prepare.

There already IS a minimum standard of education for a bedside RN: ADN/ASN. If you have a BSN, congrats, you have EXCEEDED THAT STANDARD.

What most people forget in this tug of war about standards is that experience is the great equalizer. An RN with even a year's experience at the bedside is FAR better trained than any BSN/ADN fresh out of school. Period. BSN might hold a minor advantage at the bedside, but, like any other profession, each unit is composed of individuals with varying levels of education and experience. And that BSN is only one of several educational advantages (experience IS education.) It is a factor, but it is arrogant to say or assume that it is a determinant factor.

The problem is that, the more education required, the less likely a candidate that must jump through so many hoops will be willing to work at the bedside, with all that entails. If we make BSN required, we will achieve what Physical Therapy has achieved: making those with degrees 'management' while techs perform the nuts and bolts of the job. I don't want that.

That is, after all, the limiting factor in BSN-entry: supply and demand. Reduce the supply EVEN more, and then don't complain when the demand is met somewhere below the level of supply.

That being the case, denigrating an ADN degree in order to advance an argument (BSN entry) that is not feasible serves no other purpose than to fracture that much sought after unity. By supporting this position, ANA alienates more than 60% of its supposed base of support. No wonder they are weak in unity. NO WONDER WE ARE WEAK IN UNITY.

Everybody advocating BSN-entry as the definition of 'profession' is truly advocating the lack of profession by creating futile divisions. If you believe that lack of BSN-entry means we aren't a 'profession', then BSNs are no more "professional" than any other RN. And no less. So, either your premise is wrong, or your definitions.

~faith,

Timothy.

NephroBSN, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2006

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

Not like in the 50's 60's and 70's. Almost every hospital had a diploma school. They were done away with mainly because "someone" complained the hospitals were getting free labot. Among other reasons.

sunnymarie4 · Mar 25, 2006

I have a BA in Psychology and after 4 years of working decided to become an RN. I then studied extremely hard and received my ADN. I understand the need for recognition for the higher degree because it makes us "seem" smarter. However, I don't think any nursing school can teach you how to CARE for anyone. Caring (no "skills" involved) is an innate trait that school cannot just teach, you either have it or you don't. And as far as making sure everyone knows you are smart, just work really hard, make sure your patient gets what they need and CARE for your patient. Everyone knows if a nurse is intelligent or not. The patient will not care if you have a diploma or a MSN if you make them comfortable and are caring towards them.

Nutmeg5575 · Mar 25, 2006

I think if you have it, it should be on your badge.

KyPinkRN · Mar 25, 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

Just because you have a degree in something doesn't make you any more valuable in the workforce. I am still a student now in an ADN program... I fully intend to pursue as many higher degrees as I can. That being said shouldn't the foundation of our very existence as nurses be our patient care. If I was a patient I wouldn't care if my nurse had a diploma or ADN or BSN as long as I got adequate care. As far as the public asking for BSN's how do they really know they are getting a better nurse? They don't... they just assume that because you were in school for longer you can better take care of them. That is not always the case. I am sure that ADN and Diploma nurses would agree with me when I say you do not need my permission to put any old letters after your name. It seems to me that people like you who have there BSN are the ones making it a competition and if you spent more time caring for patients and less time b***hing about what's on your name badge maybe we would all be more respected.

nicuRN2007 · 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.

You are the type of nurse I would like to work with.

frustr8td · Mar 25, 2006

At my facility its really up to the nurse as far as what she wants on her badge. Every RN I know has either ADN or BSN on it, and most also include the initials for any certification they have. Mine says RN,ADN, CEN, TNCC, ACLS. I'm proud of what I have learned. I don't have them on there to impress anyone; I earned them and it makes me happy to see them on there. (No, I've never had a pt ask what any of the initials stand for-they could care less)

The titles are printed there to rub in other nurses faces. Like you said the paitents couldn't care less. What they care about is experience and whether or not you know the hell what you are doing. In my 9 years of nursing i have never had one pt ask me if I had a ADN or a BSN, but very often they want to know how long you've been a nurse. They are always trying,through various questions, to find out how much experience you have and where you got it. USA VS SOMEWHERE ELSE. Credentials proves nothing at all. I know a lot of nurses with a lot of letters behind their names that does not function well at all, and LPN's who know more than and function better than they do. Personally I would not display anything more than the RN even if I had a PHD.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Mar 25, 2006

The titles are printed there to rub in other nurses faces. Like you said the paitents couldn't care less. What they care about is experience and whether or not you know the hell what you are doing. In my 9 years of nursing i have never had one pt ask me if I had a ADN or a BSN, but very often they want to know how long you've been a nurse. They are always trying,through various questions, to find out how much experience you have and where you got it. USA VS SOMEWHERE ELSE. Credentials proves nothing at all. I know a lot of nurses with a lot of letters behind their names that does not function well at all, and LPN's who know more than and function better than they do. Personally I would not display anything more than the RN even if I had a PHD.

I disagree with this.

I am an ADN but I have a Bach in Biology and I wear my aggie ring to work. I'm proud that I'm a university grad. The point isn't to degrade my co-workers. I can be proud of MY accomplishments without it having any connotation to anybody else's.

My badge says "RN, CCRN". And I'm proud of that too. My education DOES make me a better nurse. Just as my experience does. That's why my employer issues pins in increments of 5 yrs to add to the badge to show how long somebody has been employed there.

I don't think it's arrogant to be proud of who you are as a nurse. It's arrogant to suggest or think that those qualifications ALONE make you a better nurse.

Saying a BSN alone makes a nurse a better nurse is like saying that four wheel drive is better for city driving. If you want to cruise off into the rocky roads of management, research, etc., that might well be true. But for regular bedside driving, a more skilled and/or intuitive city driver is more important than the type of vehicle they drive.

And that fact is why vehicle inspection stickers don't require proof of four wheel drive and bedside nursing doesn't require BSN.

That being said, part of the benefit of owning a big four wheel drive is that people notice it. It's no big vice to have those planning on driving down some of the rocky roads of nursing to go, "Oh! I want one of those!"

Personally though, when it comes to nursing, I'll stick to city driving and my comfortable, semi-flashy mustang conv. LOL.

While I don't begrudge the 4 wheelers their vehicle, I also won't let them tell me that owning that vehicle automatically makes them better city drivers.

~faith,

Timothy.

jmgrn65, RN · Mar 25, 2006

While we were in the process of getting Magnet status, we had to get new badges that displayed our credentials, name, rn, adn or bsn if you had degrees in other area such as bsw. :)

fergus51 · Mar 25, 2006

I don't see what the problem is. If a nurse wants her education/credentials on her nametag, that's fine as far as I'm concerned.