I was just wondering,not even sure how I got to thinking about it, but why do so many people in healthcare, nurses especially in my experience, always refer to our certifications and achievements as meaningless "Alphabet Soup?
I understand it might be hard if you're outside the field and don't know what any of them mean and I'll agree even that some people's badges do make me chuckle a little, but what exactly are we saying about ourselves when we ridicule and devalue our own achievements by often saying things like.."and I don't care how many letters you have after your name." ....blah..blah.
I'm not even talking about the ADN/BSN so let's not do it. I'm talking about practicing for two or five years and then studying and sitting for certifications like CEN, CCRN, etc. I'm sure there are some who found those exams easy but I don't really think they're in the majority by far. We should celebrate these nurses for delving so far into a specialty and actually knowing enough to get certified, not diminishing their accomplishments as "meanningless letters".
I think it REALLY gets bad when someone goes on for a masters degree and then, simply because these certifications are delineated by their intials(duh, acute care ACNP---Pediactric PNP), the hard work and achievement shown by becoming an APN is now, ha ha, just more Alphabet Soup!
I blame the ANA and all of that and I know we didn't start the whole 'letter frenzy' but we are doing ourselves no favors by joining with others who devalue nursing by singing the same tune and essentially saying, yeah, you're right Mr./Mrs ignorant, it IS just another dumb ole nursing title. We got lots of 'em. I didn't have to do anything but show up and they just gave me this cert/degree. Pretty cool, huh?
I mean, who else does this? I think skilled tradespeople(and I really don't know much about this) but I think they have journeyman roles and then through experience and by showing expertise I would guess, they become master carpenter or master electrician or whatever. I just can't picture those folks then going on to say--it doesn't mean anything--big deal--just a stupid test or whatever.
I dunno...not sure why i got my head around this. Just wondered when it started and why, in my opinion, we condone it.
BTW, full disclosure, I currently have no additional certs/degrees behind my name so this isn't personal. In fact, lately I'm so thrown by the whole DNP thing that I'm actually looking again at PA school.
Again, we kinda agree. And this time I really do gotta go to work! :)
BUT, my OP really wasn't about the name badges or running around announcing your credentials per se but more about the prevailing negative attitude toward obtaining advanced certs/education and how they are dismissively viewed by too many a colleague.
And, obviously, in my opinion, until we as a group can make the connect, in whatever way, between the two and how this might be just one of the things, not the most important but most definitely one, disallowing us from being in a strengthened position to demand change, then we're just shooting ourselves in the foot and perpetuating a cycle of disempowerment. But that's just me and my stinkin' thinkin....
I guess I'm just one who truly believes that the 'soup' is important to the whole menu and is in fact one of the things that will help and allow us to be in a better position to make those changes that we all so desperately want and need. You don't usually get invited to the table of decision making unless you're providing a course...
I'm not out to try to impress anyone, as you said. Just trying to level the playing field a little because that's the way it is for now and it'll be long past our lifetimes before we can create a new one.
Good day all--I'm off to wipe butt and damn happy to do so:)
Just yesterday a friend of mine with an MSN who recently retired from the military and joined the civillian workforce was talking to me about this very issue. She met a new orientee recently who, upon learning that my friend had an MSN said something like, "That just means you spent more money on tuition, right?" and had a generally disrespectful attitude. My friend and I were wondering how long it would take to realize that my friend is actually fairly "high-up" in the leadership of her department and whether she would ever learn that such a remark is not really appropriate to make to you new boss.
Of course my friend and I also discussed the differences in culture between the military and civilian work settings. It's not that I would want to work in a military culture, but a little more respect (and common courtesy) would be an improvement in the civilian world.
Just after talking with my friend, I left work and stopped at the gas station to fill my tank. The mechanic who has worked on my car for some time was there and we were talking about the upcoming holidays. He noticed my nametag and for the first tme, realized I have a PhD. He asked about it in a friendly, positive way -- not overly impressed, but polite and respectful. HE appreciates the work I did to earn it.
Just yesterday a friend of mine with an MSN who recently retired from the military and joined the civillian workforce was talking to me about this very issue. She met a new orientee recently who, upon learning that my friend had an MSN said something like, "That just means you spent more money on tuition, right?" and had a generally disrespectful attitude. My friend and I were wondering how long it would take to realize that my friend is actually fairly "high-up" in the leadership of her department and whether she would ever learn that such a remark is not really appropriate to make to you new boss.
Of course my friend and I also discussed the differences in culture between the military and civilian work settings. It's not that I would want to work in a military culture, but a little more respect (and common courtesy) would be an improvement in the civilian world.
Wow, amazing. I must live in an alternative universe because no one I know begrudges anyone for getting more education.
(Either that or it is my hermit status that does it);)
I'm barely aware of what some of those things mean and I think it gets ridiculous when people list them all and so many people have no idea what they mean. I've never felt anyone with all these letters particularly trumpeted their superiority to patients or put down nurses who lacked them. They are basically a non issue to me.
Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
Whether or not someone begrudges someone else the extra education might depend on the circumstances and personalities involved.
When I started into my BSN program as an ADN, I worked with another nurse who was also going for her BSN. She was a diploma nurse. She actually started back to school first but I was a little ahead of her because she had more prerequisites to take.
She would come in to work and talk about her classes, her grades, and so forth and no one was bothered by it.
My first class was a Statistics class. I was scared to death to take the class; I've always been really bad in math. It was also my first college class in several years. I wanted to do well though, and worked my rear end off in the class. The first test, I made an "A."
I was excited and thrilled! So, I came to work and talked about it.
Big mistake. I had forgotten that I could apparently offend this other nurse simply by breathing the same air. She was totally torqued that I came in "bragging" about how well I did.
It didn't matter how many times I'd listened to her talk about her classes, commiserated when things weren't going well, offered support and encouragement, and congratulated her successes.
How dare I mention that I did well on a test!
She didn't say anything to me, but according to a co-worker, she was almost mad enough to hit me.
I learned to be very selective when I talked about school. Then when I finished and got my BSN, well, I couldn't have that put on my name tag until a semester later when she finished hers and could have the same thing.
Santhony44, who cares what she thinks. If she does not want to talk to you over a stats grade, then I can only conclude that her opinion does not really count. Not putting BSN behind your name over one person? Come on, you earned it, she can take a flying leap off a tall building for all you care, or should care. IMHO
Look, if you worked your butt of and earned something, then have a little pride. I see this constantly on other forums. I see people with MSN, CEN, CCRN, and CFRN after their name put down by their peers for displaying their credentials. I have even read arguments about what cert is harder and has more "cool points." An example would be CEN versus CCRN. I cannot help it if you have low self esteem, nor is it my problem. However, using these as trophies to compensate for your lack self esteem is just as pathetic.
In addition, I see many physicians have professional credentials after their name. One I see in the ER is FACEP after the MD or DO. (Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians)
I do not see a problem with having professional credentials on your nametag. It does not make you better than anybody else and you should always remain professional regardless of your education level. However, it is not wrong to display a professional title that you earned.
Now, displaying titles such as ACLS and PALS is a little silly IMHO. The way I see it, these courses are required and part of my basic job description. They are essentially part of the basic or core RN package in the area where I work, so I personally do not consider them professional credentials. Nor does the AHA, the AHA looks at ACLS as completing a course that covers the current AHA recommendations. I guess this way of thinking could be quite subjective; however, that is how I view these type of courses.
In conclusion, smoke em if you got em, but act professional and respectful toward your fellow peers.
GilaRN, RN, CEN, CCEMTP, EMT-I, WCS (Working Class Stiff).
I think there's a problem when we have so many credentials half of us in the profession don't know what they mean. Docs have credentials too but don't feel the need to list them in a convoluted string. MD/DO is sufficient. Why do we feel the need? It can become almost comical.
I've also had a question - and I'm asking because I don't understand, why do people with advanced nursing degrees feel they have to put RN, BSN, MSN in front of it all? Shouldn't it be assumed that the person must have these credentials to obtain said degrees?
ie, Sally B. Jones, RN, BSN, MSN, ARNP, FNP-C, PhD
Why not say, FNP, PhD? I don't think this would be a devaluation, rather a tidy simplification of the "soup". When I graduate I plan to be VivaRN, FNP, MPH. If I get additional certs won't even list it unless it's directly relevant. Maybe I'm a minimalist...
Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
Santhony44, who cares what she thinks. If she does not want to talk to you over a stats grade, then I can only conclude that her opinion does not really count. Not putting BSN behind your name over one person? Come on, you earned it, she can take a flying leap off a tall building for all you care, or should care. IMHO
Look, if you worked your butt of and earned something, then have a little pride.
In conclusion, smoke em if you got em, but act professional and respectful toward your fellow peers.
GilaRN, RN, CEN, CCEMTP, EMT-I, WCS (Working Class Stiff).
This was about 12 years ago. I don't work in the same place. I wanted the BSN on my name tag but the unit manager wouldn't do it until this other nurse had graduated, too.
She was going through a lot of problems, largely related to poor choices she'd made. Somehow I became the focus of her anger at life. I think she decided I had a perfect life and she resented it. My life was far from perfect, but I didn't talk about all my troubles at work.
BTW, I have even more initials I can put behind my name now. As far as that other nurse is concerned, I neither know nor care if she went on too!
;)
Miss Mab
414 Posts
Again, we kinda agree. And this time I really do gotta go to work! :)
BUT, my OP really wasn't about the name badges or running around announcing your credentials per se but more about the prevailing negative attitude toward obtaining advanced certs/education and how they are dismissively viewed by too many a colleague.
And, obviously, in my opinion, until we as a group can make the connect, in whatever way, between the two and how this might be just one of the things, not the most important but most definitely one, disallowing us from being in a strengthened position to demand change, then we're just shooting ourselves in the foot and perpetuating a cycle of disempowerment. But that's just me and my stinkin' thinkin....
I guess I'm just one who truly believes that the 'soup' is important to the whole menu and is in fact one of the things that will help and allow us to be in a better position to make those changes that we all so desperately want and need. You don't usually get invited to the table of decision making unless you're providing a course...
I'm not out to try to impress anyone, as you said. Just trying to level the playing field a little because that's the way it is for now and it'll be long past our lifetimes before we can create a new one.
Good day all--I'm off to wipe butt and damn happy to do so:)