What initials do I place after my name??

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Jul 11, 2005

A new GN here ... maybe I'm way off base with this.
My first thought to the OP's question was, "It depends on what you're signing."
Everyday charting/documentation -- I would think "RN" would suffice. The important thing about that signature is what the function of the person signing is, not the academic credential, right?
OTOH, if signing some other document -- a letter ... whatever, then listing your academic credentials may more relevant.
Please don't misinterpret this as my saying that those w/a BSN shouldn't use the credential -- perhaps if you work in a university-affiliated hospital it's common practice for everyone to always list their academic credentials. I'm just saying that, in everyday use, the relevant thing about a signature is being able to identify the job function of the person signing, not their degrees.
If I'm way off base on this, I'm sure someone will correct me.

Agree wholeheartedly.

IMHO, our sigs should reveal our understanding of that to which we're attesting. If our additional degrees are relevant to our documentation, then we should by all means list them. Otherwise, they're superflous.

RoxanRN · Jul 11, 2005

Ok... I have a similar question. I hold an AD in Paramedicine (awarded in 1993) and an ADN (2003). How should my signature block look? I'm a FT RN and PT EMICT.

lady_jezebel · Jul 11, 2005

On my nametag I have "RN, BSN" ... but we don't have to add our degrees on our nametag. Many choose to just have "RN" listed.

When I sign off medications, orders or paperwork, the only thing relevant is the "RN". The degree is inconsequential -- it is an achievement, but carries with it no priviledges or legal significance. It's the "RN" that is required as part of my legal signature.

CardioTrans, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2005

I read somewhere once that when listing education/credentials that you always place first what can not be taken away from you, for example: I have my BSN........ so I could sign CTrans, BSN, RN. I never use BSN in my signature, unless I am doing a powerpoint or something formal like a paper. I will try to find the article for you.

suebird3 · Jul 12, 2005

In our facility, we sign LPN or RN. True, I am the "only" BSN....but when you are charting and charting.....wellllll, I try to cut down on hand cramps! :chuckle

Trauma Columnist · Jul 12, 2005

I think it really depends (as other posters state). I have an MSN. However, I only sign RN, MSN on stuff that requires me to have an MSN to sign - some documentation at work that goes to another agency for instance. The rest of the time, I sign RN only.

As to whether I learned this in school - nope. Wasn't taught in my school either. However, I graduated as an ADN and then did an ADN to BSN later.

MissJoRN, RN · Jul 12, 2005

Most floor nurses in my hospital sign RN only when doing general charting, a few add credentials per their choice. We have a signature page in each chart with columns for printed name, signature, and credentials, this is where most of the nurses add BSN, MSN, CPN (peds), C, etc

In the OR nurses tend to sign RN only then on the section of the flow sheet where we specify who's circulating and whose scrubbing we (may) put any applicable credentials. Most don't put their BSNs but do sign their CNORs, others don't even bother with that. Nurses who've earned RNFA or techs with CFA do not document that unless they are actually in a first assist role for that procedure...wonder if that's how it's always done...

In the homecare agency I work for most nurses only sign RN, I don't think I've seen anyone add degrees or certifications, including some CRNPs that do extra homecare and MSN prepared instructors. I notice that the push to add credentials started when our hospital applied for Magnet status; maybe if a similar award would be given to agencies we'd be more degree conscious, too? In the meantime I'm happy, we don't even have any RN-LPN political issues and because of our 1:1 assignments our (clients') parents know all about our education and experience.

Oh, and I've seen some nurses who do like to sign everything- and I understand they've earned it- but is Jane Doe, RN,C, CPN, PALS/ACLS/NRP really necessary? I've never felt compelled to sign CPR after my name, and I was very proud when I became PALS and NRP certified but still don't care to add it to my name, LOL. As far as EMT goes... I'd only sign that in a prehospital setting, maybe in the ECU there's a different viewpoint but the things you learned in your EMS education that you didn't learn in nursing generally aren't done once the pt hits the doors (yes, a very,general statement!)

DaFreak71 · Apr 25, 2009

Yeah, I know this thread is super old but I was joking with my husband last night about this very topic; therefore I'm gonna respond because it's timely (for me lol).

I admittedly am predisposed to be irked at what I term "initial whores". Some things go without saying. Someone who earned a A.D.N., then R.N., then B.S.N., then M.S.N, etc who wants to include all of that on a name badge (and yeah, I've seen it) strikes me as an egomaniac. Having a M.S.N. trumps all the previous degrees and naturally implies that you are a nurse, so all those extra initials are superfluous as someone else already stated. You can't be an M.S.N. without having first earned a B.S.N.

So anyone else who has this question in the future (since the original post was way back in '05) I'd give this advice: Go with the most current degree earned and leave it at that.

In nursing school I always inwardly chuckled at how many of my instructors felt compelled to put: RN, BSN, MSN on every power point presentation. I'm like "Yeah, I know you have a MSN". Just seemed so self congratulatory to list all those initials. I swear, some of them had name badges that practically covered their whole chest. Nothing wrong with being proud of your educational accomplishments, but really--sometimes it's just overkill.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Apr 25, 2009

You can't be an M.S.N. without having first earned a B.S.N.

Well, actually you can. I'm a diploma educated nurse and one of my classmates (yes, in my diploma programme!) already had an MScN. She was a "foreign medical graduate" from communist China whose parents, in an effort to protect her after the whole Tiananmen Square deal, sent her here to live. She discovered very quickly that she wasn't ever going to be able to use her medical degree to support herself and a family friend suggested that she instead do a MScN and become an NP. The university accepted her on the basis of her degree in medicine, took her money, educated her as an MScN in the NP track and then turned her loose. She applied for nursing licensure after graduation and the regulatory body laughed her out of the office. You can't be registered as anurse unless you've taken a basic nursing education programme and she hadn't. So there she was in my diploma programme learning how to be a nurse so she could get her license to be a nurse practitioner. Stranger than fiction.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 26, 2009

Academics are recomending this practice:

a. Degree confired---once granted can't be taken away unless academic fraud (extremely rare). List highest education level.

b. Licensure: which CAN be easily taken away if poor practice standards, drug/ ETOH addicition, failure to pay licnese fees

c. Certifications: have expiration period and must meet recerification guidleines to keep so frequently can change.

d. Job Title: if indicated above staff nurse level

NRSKaren BSN, RN -- automatic after all these years even when signing just payroll forms.

NRSKaren BSN, RN CI Manager when communicating about work issues.

CI = Central Intake in my homecare agency.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Apr 26, 2009

Academics are recomending this practice...

With respect, never bought into the academicians call on this one. Tony Soprano might ask: "Who died and left them in charge?"

How'd they came up with the concept of "most permanent initials first" anyway? Seems pretty artificial.

I say, so long as we're functioning in the nursing arena -- granted a huge stadium -- we're primarily nurses. Hence, when generally on the floor, I'd sign-off, Mary Smith, RN. Any additional degree abbreviation would be superfluous.

If I were in a special role, I'd request that my badge include "Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse," or other specialty designation, below my name line. That would help in communicating my particular focus to the professional staff and others.

On a professional paper, presentation, curriculum vitae, resume, etc., I'd include any relevant education: Mary Smith, RN, BS, MBA. But I'm not gonna add my CPR, BLS, ACLS certifications after my name.

Also agree with a previous poster. If you have an MSN, there's no real need to also mention the BSN, AAS, ADN, etc.

Think all this stems from a misguided effort to professionalize our industry. "More initials means more ability, more credence, more professional."

However, beyond the essential, it reminds one more of table servers at TGIF with all those different badges on their shirt.

Sometimes less is more.

rn/writer, RN · Apr 26, 2009

The facility where one is signing things may have a preferred form. Nurses sign the signature sheets on the charts on my unit with RN only. That is also what is displayed on our badges.

As someone else stated, there are other places--professional letters, articles, participation in panel discussions, etc.--where additional degree, credential and certification information is entirely appropriate.