May issue's Question of the Month responses

Arizona Nurse,  Jul 2003  

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The Question of the Month for the last issue was:

"How do you feel about your credentials and last name on your work name tag?

All of the responses indicated that full name and credentials should be included on work name badges. One of the responses is listed below:

Geri Wentz, RN, MN, CCRN, wrote:

I think having my last name, title and credentials on my name tags demonstrates good professional practice. I am proud of my credentials and patients and families ask about them. I understand people's concerns about if patients know your last name they are more likely to complain about you or threaten you etc. I have worked in "high /risk" areas for most of my career (20+ years) and I have only been threatened twice; once by a patient and once by a staff nurse when I was functioning in my educator role.

When I introduce myself, I always include my last name. Leah Curtin wrote an article about a year ago regarding the same issue and she made the comparison to doctors. She said, "I have never heard a physician go to a patient's bedside and say my name is Chris or Mary and I am the ED physician". The doctors always include their name and title.

Professional nurses need to do the same thing; if we want patients to know "who we are and that we are responsible for their care" then we need to tell them.

"I receive a lot more thank you for that" then "I don't think you did that right, I need to talk to your supervisor."

This issue's Question of the Month is listed on page 10.

Copyright Arizona State Nurses Association Jul 2003
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