Why do Nurse's wear there degree on there name badges?

1 I have never had anyone give me a straight answear to this question, Why do nurses wear there degree on the badge uniforms? I see few other people in the hospital setting that do it except for nurses, why is this? Is it an ego thing? I would understand if you were qualified for various postions ie RN, EMT-P, RRT, but the whole concept of wearing your degree seems to have a I'm better than you attitude. Personnally myself being a military man I find the postion you hold carries more clout than your degree. I have seen ADN's as Supervisors and MSN's doing floor work. Does the degree vs the certification(CEN,CCN) make a difference? As a pre- hospital care worker when I go in the ER or up to a floor the only thing I ever notice is that the higher the degree the less likely that person is to assist you, not always but more often than not this is the case. I would welcome any feed back on this. Thanks Kev
Hi Kevin -I am a BSN nurse and at most of the facilities I work in, we are not allowed to have any credentials on our name badges, with the exception of RN of course - except for one facility that I work at.Personally, I don't think it's an ego thing at all - but more so one of pride. I know that I worked very hard to obtain my degree, and feel that I should be able to wear it on my badge or sign it after my name. It's a credential I hold that I value very highly, that no one can EVER take away, unlike my nursing license.Not only that, but I am often interested in the type of education my peers have; if nothing else it leads to interesting conversation.I hope this helps.

Kev,From the ANA:http://www.nursingworld.org/gova/hod97/patient.htmScroll midway down the page to the table regarding patient safety legislation - worker identification badges. It lists bills and initiatives pertaining to the badge issue. Some states require badges with licensure and credentials clearly visible.StephThe Student Nurse Forumhttp://kcsun3.tripod.com

I have more than one degree and diploma plus certification. I preferred to have just Registered Nurse on my badge. Plain, simple and to the point.

Patients have a right to know who is taking care of them and what credentials this caregiver has. Since nurses don't have offices where their diplomas, degrees, or certifications can be displayed for patients to see (such as doctors who have their walls covered with this stuff) being able to display this on our name badges is important. Also, most of us don't have business cards that we hand the patient. All we have is our name badge. Wear it proudly!!

Most institutions have a policy about what a name tag should say and enforce it. Matter of fact most of them give you the name tag.

Our hospital puts RN, or RNC, or RN, BSN. When the security office takes your picture, they ask you what you want, so you get to decide. Most folks put Bachelors or higher, and certification initials after ther name. I don't think it's an ego thing, rather a pride thing. Also, I think it's a good idea to educate the public (if and when they read your name tag) as to how much education nurses have.IMHO

I agree, i dont think it is an ego thing at all. Degrees are something that we have worked extremely hard for, and I think that its a matter of Pride to be able to show it on a name tag. Heck, if this last year of school is much harder than the past 3 have been, i might opt to have my degree tattooed on my forehead BrandyBSN

For me, it let's co-workers know what I'm authorized to do and whom they can come to.

I have to agree with what most of the previous posters have said. I, too, have a BSN which took me 5 years to earn and put me in debt 24,000 dollars! I don't have the credential listed on my name badge nor have I ever been asked by HR what I wanted listed on it either. Why shouldn't we be allowed to let our patients know how educated their nurse is? I have nothing against those RN's who have a diploma or an ADN degree. I just chose to go a different route to obtain RN licensure and darn it but I should be able to have some bragging rights too if I want. But i am not one to brag in fact most of the RN's that I work with have NO IDEA that I have a BSN. Most RN's where I work have a 2 year degree from the local branch campus of Kent State University. But in my facility our credentials are not listed on our badgesKelly

Remeber a degree is not a credential...A credential is done either through testing or through licensing. A degree just degreee that shows a level of education.

My first job out of college did not differentiate between RN's.But, the hospital I work at now prints RN, BSN on your badge just as a routine. When I went through orientation they just handed me (and others) our badges already printed this way. I was hesitant at first, but they said that's how they do it and then I noticed alot of nurses have their BSN where I work (there are alot of universities in our local area). It has inititated many conversations with patients when they ask me "what does BSN stand for?"

I don't think that there is any doubt that this trend grows out of the entry of level situation, where a nurse can become a nurse with so many different degrees, however we are not the only once who writes our degree on our name badge in health care. Realize that few lawyers, ministers, etc wear name badges and so you don't often see their credentials either for that reason. Our service positions put us in situations where we become professionals that wear name badges. Anyhow, other people who wear their degree on their chest include--MD, LBSW, LMSW.I only haul out my credentials when I sign letters. Usually, I just sign RN and I have a MSN.