This is sort of a vent post and my curiosity on all of you wonderful ladies and gentlemen's take on the subject...NOT AN ADN vs BSN bullcrap argument, so please NONE of that. :)
I have my BSN. I went to a 4 year program. When I got my first job 3 years ago the hospital automatically put RN-BSN on my name badge. Never did I catch so much cattiness and people assuming I felt "superior." NOT THE CASE AT ALL. I didn't even ask for it to be on my badge. I had one LPN who constantly made snide comments "BSN my a**, she knows nothing." New grads were supposed to know it all I guess?? *eye roll*
FAST FORWARD to the present. I accepted a new job at another hospital. HR asked what I wanted on my badge. I told them "please just put RN. I don't want BSN." I just want to avoid anyone thinking that I have some chip on my shoulder. I do not want to come off snobbish. I am not saying those who want BSN on their badge are snobbish but in my experience this is how it's perceived. I do not feel I am any better than an ADN prepared nurse. They are wonderful!!
What is everyone's take on this? Anyone been in a similar situation?
Amen, and I worked hard for my BSN, I want it on my badge, along with that PCCN that I continue to slave over to keep. It also keeps me current on topics i probably wouldn't normally seek out. This is again a problem with nurses, we need to encourage each other.
Yes, the diploma nurses were hands down the best nurses I ever worked with. And a masters trained nurse - the worst. I think she just never practiced actual bedside nursing until she finished her masters. I relieved her one day to find that she got behind on her ivpbs and so was running all of them about 5 at the same time through same iv site without any regard for compatibility or fluid overload. smh.
I'm a travel nurse and I'm never asked," my badge says RN". I have a MSN. Sometimes it bothers me, especially when you run into staff that somehow think travelers travel because they somehow can't find a job. That take really cracks me up! It's a chosen specialty, ha:)
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
I would be more concerned about the fact that an RN name badge typically includes first name only when MD badges use only the last name. This invites a familiarity that is inconsistent with professionalism and intimates a devalued status that I find truly offensive.
Interesting perspective; I've never looked at it that way or felt offended by that. Where I've worked, first AND last names are on everyone's badge including MDs. I personally do not like having my full name on there for privacy purposes and have come across many situations where long-term/chronic families (I work peds) have Facebook/social media searched and requested coworkers just by seeing their first and last name on their badge. That's another topic in itself though.
I just finished my BSN and will be having it added to my work badge. I worked hard for these credentials and no one should make you feel less of a nurse or person by commenting on your degree. You worked hard for your degree, a BSN is listed as one of the most difficult degrees to obtain. I'm not saying I am better than any other nurse. I try to take away something new that I have learned from every nurse I work with. I have been lucky that I have worked in very supportive environments with great people. I have noticed, however, that the nurses that make the comments are the ones that have issues. Be proud!
Thank you everyone for the responses. It is interesting to see all the points of view and thank you for not letting it spiral too much into a battle
One theme I kept seeing reoccur is the "full name" vs "first name" on badges. Interestingly enough, when I worked in the prison we had FIRST AND LAST. You'd be shocked what the inmates would find out about you. I just made sure to keep social media as private settings as I could.
My facility recently required everyone to get a new badge due to a logo change. The only credentials printed on them are licensure or job description. No more degree level or certifications allowed. Personally, I worked darn hard for my degrees and my certification and would prefer to have them on the badge- it's the only recognition I got from it. Maybe patients don't know what they mean, but I do.
I remember as a nursing student 200 years ago, while in the ER, one of the nurses had an alphabet of letters after name..mostly certifications, but degree also. It is not snooty, it is your professional achievement. It told me she was an expert, and if If I had a question about this specialty, I would trust her answer. I admired her. What is wrong with that? Nothing.
You SHOULD be proud of your accomplishments, and I don't blame you a bit for wanting it on your badge. I feel the same as you. I worked hard for mine as well and believe it should be on our badges. Displaying credentials and behaving in a "snooty" way are two different things.
I have a Bachelors Degree, but not in nursing. I had a change in career later in life and entered a nursing program. I do notice sometimes that BSN nurses "act" as if they know more. But I am confident in my skills as a nurse, and I know I get the job done. At times, even the new grads BSN nurses still ask me for help, and still haven't got the hang of the floor after a year. Go figure. I think it's more about confidence then your degree
Beeeeecause I worked so hard for those letters and am very proud of them! Actually all joking aside my LPN was the most rigorous program of them all. Starting with my BSN they became embarrassingly easy and fwiw I went to well respected state schools.
I understand what you are saying...Personally, it doesn't make sense to have every accomplishment behind your name...only those pertinent to your current position.
Also...I like knowing a PhD ( or whatever higher degree) was once a CNA or LPN. It tells me they understand the roles of those co-workers and hopefully will be more "empathetic" to the struggles. However...having said that, I once worked with an MD resident who previously was an RN. She was horrible to work with...a real "Nurse hater" if there ever was one. Very, VERY critical of us all and frequently called us out in front of everyone...chastising us for small details and so on. When you went to her with a question, she often behaved like "what do you want?" as if we were a bother. I know she was under a tremendous amount of pressure in her residency, but still...NOT COOL!
Interesting discussion.....my name badge says simply RN.
While I'm proud of my degrees, I'm not sure how it benefits patients to have my academic credentials on my badge.
The purpose of a name badge is hospital security and for patients to know who they're dealing with (nurse vs nursing assistant vs dietary aide).
How does everyone feel about having certifications on badges, like "CCRN" or "RN-BC" ?
I like having "pertinent" certifications on the badge. One poster eluded to it meaning she/he was a good test taker...I beg to differ. Certification in a specialty does show a
certain amount of expertise. Others who have the same knowledge or more, who do not
get the certification, are not recognized as experts by those who do not know them. To some degree, recognition is important.
Not according to the ANCC. Highest degree achieved FIRST, then license, then certifications.
Ive seen it go both ways. Funny enough, no one has told me I'm wrong for my badge saying RN, BSN, OCN (also what I do in emails and official documents).
I am proud of my BSN. It means I made it and can rest easy From trying to get bare minimum in the nursing field (cause lets face it, acute care hospitals expect a BSN).
And I am super proud of my OCN. I proved to myself I know I am in the right field and specialty as an oncology nurse. It gives my patients a good talking point and allows them to know that while I may not know everything, I have excellent resources to find the right and most evidence based answers. Next up: BMTCN! Now that I'm on a BMT unit :)
Oddly a co-worker and I were talking about this same thing not too long ago. Part of the issue that seems to be nursing specific is simply the vast amount of ways with their different degree titles that pretty much mean the same thing. It's more than a little confusing and starts right at the beginning of nursing:
A CNA is a certified nursing assistant but in some areas they are an RNA or registered nursing assistant and don't forget the PCA or personal care assistant that may or may not be state certified or registered but has the exact same job description. Is it LPN or LVN? Depends on where you live, but as far as I can tell it's two different titles for the exact same level of education and license. Then get to RN and the fun really really begins. How many degree paths are there? Seriously, I ask because I am not sure other that to feel safe saying a lot. Off the top of my head I come up with Diploma, ASN, ADN, BSN, BAN, MSN, PhD-Nursing and there are a bunch of advanced practice degrees with different titles that are specific to area of practice.
All the different degree paths don't even begin to cover the alphabet soup confusion when you start throwing certifications into the mix. I have no problem with people displaying them as I am sure they worked darn hard to earn them but honestly I have not a clue what some of them mean without looking them up. If other professional nurses are confused enough to ask, imagine how people that have no knowledge of the field feel.
Actually all joking aside my LPN was the most rigorous program of them all. Starting with my BSN they became embarrassingly easy and fwiw I went to well respected state schools.
sarbo1010
36 Posts
Amen, and I worked hard for my BSN, I want it on my badge, along with that PCCN that I continue to slave over to keep. It also keeps me current on topics i probably wouldn't normally seek out. This is again a problem with nurses, we need to encourage each other.