Why do nurses, with each degree, leave them on behind their last degree?
So, hi, I'm Offlabel, RN, CCRN, AA, BSN, MSN, DPN.
Why isn't it just Offlabel, RN? Or CNM? or NP? or CRNA?
I know that's the culture but doesn't, say, an MS imply that there is a BS in there somewhere? It's sort of aggrandizement that looks dumb. MD's or DO's or whatever don't do that so why do nurses?
It's as though some folks are trying to convince themselves that they're really smart and have an axe to grind.
It really looks unprofessional when certifications are mixed with degrees that are mixed with licenses.
I shake my head at some of the soup people here. I'm an EMT, LPN, and RN. Previously held a CNA certificate. Have a previous degree. I ONLY use RN now.
Some nurses so often appear so desperate to vie to be peers with physicians that they have the need to inform people at the first contact that they are an "authority." Far from elevating nurses' professional standing in my opinion it just makes us look silly and just calls attention to our egos and our resentment issues.
Order of Post-nominals conventions in the United States: (I've researched this thoroughly)
1st. Highest degree in the discipline presenting
2st. Highest degree in other disciplines
3st. Licenses then major certifications in order of relevance to discipline presenting in communication!
Typically, try to limit to 3 or less of the most relevant post nominals (particularly outside of academia/professional organizations). RNs also have a unconventional habit of listing their RN before anything else, which is not the accepted style for US academia. This makes RNs look silly to non-RNs.
So lets say Mr. Nur Smedic has BA MBA BSN ASN MSN NRP CCRN CFRN and RN
If they are a flight nurse then they would be presented at a CE conference:
Nur Smedic, MSN, MBA, RN, CFRN, CCRN, NRP
Or on a business card:
Nur SMedic, MSN, RN, CFRN
If they are the director of an ambulance service, then they would sign the email to their state professional organization:
Nur Smedic, MBA, MSN, RN, NRP, CFRN, CCRN
Or a business card:
Nur Smedic, MBA, MSN, NRP
There is also a US school of academic style that would shift the non-discipline degrees to the end. Please note that these conventions vary by country. In the UK you do list all degrees grouped by institution granting and then by order received, whereas you leave out lesser degrees in a given field in the US (ie, American RNs should not be listing their BSN and ADN in addition to their MSN!)
In the hospital environment, it is common to stack post nominals in your premade email sigline, so I do. But, I never sign RN after my name on any charts or paperwork...
That is kind of similar to my signature line only for uber-official stuff. But as my sig line is getting obnoxious, I am just happy to sign RN to most things. But I am very proud of my board certs, make no mistake.
Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.
The correct way is to put first the degree you earned because that can never be taken away from you.
Nope, just finished a class (graduate level) and had to do resumes. Professor said: Highest degree first and any others, leave out lesser degrees in same field. So I would be (when I finish MSN-Jane Doe, MSN, MA, BS, RN, OCN. I have left off the 2 lesser nursing degrees and 2 associates. My masters and my bachelors are in different fields. the OCN is my ortho cert. ) Right now I am MA, BSN, BS, RN, OCN. I would only use that on a paper. Right now we DO distinguish on our badges whether we have a BSN or not. My badge reads: BSN, RN, ONC. We are allowed put our clinical ladder status on there too if we, want.
1056chris
73 Posts
I agree. I think it is confusing to the patients also.