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?
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I'm neither petty nor belittling anyone but you and I both know that there is no comparison between a nurse with 20 years critical care experience, an advanced degree, and two professional certifications versus a new grad ADN in a LTC facility with no certifications or experience in acute care. They're just not the same thing so why are we pretending they are? Obviously one is going to have significantly more advanced skills and experience over the other which matters hugely in both a professional and a hiring arena. It's like the "everyone gets a participation trophy" nonsense that proliferates today. One IS better than the other and if one wants to improve there's a myriad of ways to achieve it through education, job change or certification.
I embrace the difference. We were all inexperienced once, but I've worked with enough highly educated and experienced nurses to understand the incredible and rich skillset they bring and I think they should be recognized and compensated as such. I value those attributes. I've pulled myself up by the bootstraps from being a homeless teen to the person I am today and I did it all myself through hard work and determination. I'm proud of my achievements and there's no one that can tell me otherwise. There's a sense of purpose and pride that's missing today in so many young people. Everyone wants something for nothing but I place importance on the drive of those who seek better and actively engage in those behaviors that stand out from the rest.
Perhaps you are neither petty nor belittling, but you certainly come across that way. A nurse with experience knows more than a nurse with no experience, this is true. Having experience and professional certifications makes you more hireable. It does not make you better than anyone else. Your ostentatious alphabet soup on your name tag does not make you a better nurse than someone who has experience but no alphabet soup on their name tag. I don't say that becomes I'm jealous. I have a couple of degrees and a handful of certifications as well. I've chaired committees, taught and been published. I find no need to toot my horn on my name tag, however. People who are doing the hiring can read my resume and the people I'm working with will recognize my competence without all the ostentation -- or they'll recognize my lack of competence with or without the letters on my name tag.
I cannot understand why so many adults still seem to believe that someone who disagrees with them is somehow just doing it because they're "jealous."
As a new RN (ADN) back in 2009 I started work the same time as a fellow RN (BSN), and I have to admit I was a bit jealous that she had RN-BSN on her badge...I guess 1 can whine and complain, or go back to school and get ones BSN, which I did. Will "BSN" be on my badge when I start back at work, nope, but it was in the back of my mind when I went back to school. School isn't easy and one should be proud of ones accomplishments...But just because one has fancy degrees, does not make u an excellent nurse or human being.
I worked so hard for my BSN. My dad, and my best friend, had just died from heart disease at 50 years old. My mom and I didn't have the money for my school and my dad's company did not give him his retirement. Still, we didn't qualify for grants or other scholarships so I worked full time AND took out loans that took me almost 10 years to pay back after I started working as an RN.
I didn't have a very good educational background so math and chemistry were super hard for me in my pre coursework. (I ended up with a 3.9). I studied so hard! I was told by several professors that I really didn't belong in their classes but didn't let that stop me.
I worked as a CNA at a veteran's hospital and it was super hard work but I realized it would help to have that experience when I started my first RN job.
Just a couple of weeks ago I ordered a fleece with my name and RN embroidered on it. I wanted to add BSN so bad but would get flack at work. It is sad, but a reality.
You're making an assumption that the reason why some people internally eyeroll or think the alphabet soup is ridiculous is because of jealousy or insecurity. No, many of us with various letters also think it's ostentatious and unnecessary. I assure you, it's not due to jealousy.
A degree should not be lumped in as "alphabet soup". It only gets ridiculous when someone wants to put all certs and all licenses from LPN to NP behind their name. Follow the etiquette of the highest degree especially as pertaining to nursing or what is allowed like MPH or MSN along with your current working license.
I think it is time to be proud and show advancements as a profession to other professionals.
With the ADN still being the entry, nurses are rapidly becoming the lowest degreed of the hospital professions including all of those you view as lowly techs in radiology, lab, respiratory, speech, and physical therapy.
I really have no issue either way. Personally I leave off degree level except on professional documents and then I choose the ones most relevant. (Nursing was a second career so I can claim initials that are medically related but few people recognize). I just got tired of explaining them. Most of my patients have no idea what ASN, BSN, or MSN mean. I didn't before I decided to go to nursing school. You should have seen me trying to explain to my grandfather that his NP had a doctorate in nursing but wasn't a medical doctor. I finally gave up and decided it didn't matter.
On the other hand if you want them on your badge great. You can explain it. I just got tired.
Putting a bachelor's or master's degree as credentials has never made sense to me in nursing. I have had my bsn, master's (in another discipline), and ccrn and never felt the need to display it. Our license is RN. Having a bachelor's or master's degree or certification just means you were able to spend money on a degree and weather through a lot of tests and papers. You will always get people who make snide remarks about others with more education or license than them. I worked in a clinic with lots of LPNs and they often said negative things about the RNs (and the RNs never would say anything in their direction). People just feel oppressed in nursing and sometimes they overcompensate by displaying their credentials or criticizing others. Just be a professional and don't worry about what your badge says.
i am pretty sure mine is plastic with a clip around it. not quite sure whats inside but if i ever break it scraping ice off my windshield ill let you know
Ruby Vee, BSN
17 Articles; 14,051 Posts
Thank you. That self-aggrandizing, belittling post really set my teeth on edge!