What Do You Want On Your Nametag?

**bob_f_aboc** · 04-23-2009, 03:53 PM

The docs have decided on nametags for all the staff to go with our matching scrubs.

My question is this:

What should be put on the nametags?

I think first and last names with any licenses or certifications should be included. The rest of the staff, most of which are not licensed or certified, want either just their first name or first name and last initial.

I think it appears more trustworthy to show your full name to patients. Plus, it looks funny to see "Bob, ABOC" on a nametag.

What says the board???

**obxeyeguy** · 04-23-2009, 03:58 PM

Full name and position, ie certified optician, certified tech, etc.

PS. Loose the jammies! Thats lame. JMHO

**misty4afe** · 04-23-2009, 03:59 PM

Mine says:

Misty
Optician, ABOC
And my office name.

**bob_f_aboc** · 04-23-2009, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by obxeyeguy

Full name and position, ie certified optician, certified tech, etc.

PS. Loose the jammies! Thats lame. JMHO

Dude, I know its a lame appearance, but they are sooooo comfy!

I think a first name only looks like you're hiding something from your patients. Seems kinda shady, almost dishonest.

**HarryChiling** · 04-23-2009, 04:06 PM

Full name is a must, your patients have to give up their names, the ones on thier birth certificates at that. It's a respect thing to let people know your name. The licenses and certificates are a curse on a name tag, you'll quickly become the person in the office the patients want to go to since you have alphabet soup after your name while the other staff will sit around doing nothing. Either everyone should be required to gain and maintain a cert or licen in a specified period or leave the thing off so that the work load doesn't kill you.

**cocoisland58** · 04-23-2009, 04:11 PM

Probably the same thing their business cards say would be fine. Ours are first and last names (it's much more professional). We leave it up to the person what else they might want on it.

**Judy Canty** · 04-23-2009, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by obxeyeguy

Full name and position, ie certified optician, certified tech, etc.

I'll second that.

It's not the work load, it's just raising the competency bar.

**bob_f_aboc** · 04-23-2009, 04:14 PM

Harry, I already do all that in the office now without name tags.

Coco, we aren't given the option to have business cards in our own names.

**Fezz** · 04-23-2009, 04:19 PM

I despise where you work more and more everyday!

;):cheers::cheers::cheers::D

My *Badge* says:

Fezz
The Man, The Myth, The Legend
FezzJohns, Inc.

**wolfman** · 04-23-2009, 05:03 PM

Full name is great until that crazy patient remembers your name and calls you at home to gripe or have a question. I prefer first name and initial of last name.

**bob_f_aboc** · 04-23-2009, 05:14 PM

One thing I forgot to add. We have individual pictures of the staff along with full name and brief bio, both on the wall of the office and on the website.

**For-Life** · 04-23-2009, 05:18 PM

It is always interesting how some without credentials never want credentials shown. I remember two secretaries giving me flack because I had my education credentials added to my email signature. I earned the degrees, so I will have them in my name.

**obxeyeguy** · 04-23-2009, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by wolfman

Full name is great until that crazy patient remembers your name and calls you at home to gripe or have a question. I prefer first name and initial of last name.

Thats possible but, don't you introduce yourself to new patients? I do, and always use complete name. OBX E just doesn't cut it, same with Bob F.

If your in a licensed state, its hanging on the wall in a viewable place, or it should be. How about your business cards? Full name. JMHO

**tigerlilly** · 04-23-2009, 08:15 PM

I would not be comfortable giving the entire general public my full name. Yes, we have all the patient's information, but we're bound by HIPAA to keep it confidential. Patients aren't restrained by those same rules, and if they decide to look us up and call at home, or Google directions to where we live, there's nothing stopping them. Doctors give their full names, but I don't know of a single doctor who still has a listed phone number or a publicly searchable home address.

I'm sure my opinion is colored by the crazy patient we dealt with today. I don't want people like that having my personal info. We have a very small percentage of nutjobs and malcontents, and most patients love us. Still, there's always somebody who wants to be ticked off about something, and the last thing I want to deal with is any kind of harassment at home. It's bad enough to deal with the difficult people while on the clock.

**optical24/7** · 04-23-2009, 08:43 PM

Well, it looks pretty silly if you have a business card with your name, (with credentialing), but you're scared to put the same on a name tag?

I say if ya got it, flaunt it! (especially if you're in an un-licensed state!)

p.s. I've had an unlisted number for 30 years....:D

**For-Life** · 04-23-2009, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by optical24/7

Well, it looks pretty silly if you have a business card with your name, (with credentialing), but you're scared to put the same on a name tag?

I say if ya got it, flaunt it! (especially if you're in an un-licensed state!)

p.s. I've had an unlisted number for 30 years....:D

One year here. It is much better. But I used to work in a small town for the municipality. People will phone you at home. Now, I teach, and I really do not need them phoning me at home.

**Johns** · 04-23-2009, 08:48 PM

I put my full name, as well as my title (King Hooahh), along with the name of the practice. I'd have no problem putting my address and phone number on it if there was room.

...of course, most of the time my name badge is in one of my desk drawers.:o

**cocoisland58** · 04-23-2009, 08:55 PM

I have used my full name on business cards or name tags for 30 years without any issue other than they remember me, and I want them to remember me. If you went to see a new medical doctor and he wore a name tag that just said Jim B, MD. and his nurse was Jane P, RN wouldn't that seem unprofessional? I know some very personal things about my patients, I want them to trust me, but I won't tell them my name?

**DragonLensmanWV** · 04-23-2009, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by bob_f_aboc

The docs have decided on nametags for all the staff to go with our matching scrubs.

My question is this:

What should be put on the nametags?

I think first and last names with any licenses or certifications should be included. The rest of the staff, most of which are not licensed or certified, want either just their first name or first name and last initial.

I think it appears more trustworthy to show your full name to patients. Plus, it looks funny to see "Bob, ABOC" on a nametag.

What says the board???

Yeah it would sure look funny. I think yours should say bob_F_ABOC.

**obxeyeguy** · 04-23-2009, 09:19 PM

If you decide just on the first name, get those sewn in name tags all the guys wear at the local car dealership that say "Bud".:D

**GAgal** · 04-23-2009, 09:29 PM

my full name credentials and license number. Personally, I'd rather have one that says FezzJohns. It would probably be a great place to work :D:cheers:

**Uncle Double** · 04-23-2009, 11:10 PM

No name tags at our office (yet) - not sure if I want them. We only have a couple of employees that work with the patients. Our software prints the opticians name that checks a patient out on the receipt, and the staff decided they did not want their last name on it. I have no problems with that. I call them by first name or Miss "Susan" etc. I sometimes do the same with patients. I don't know why but even when I occasionally use a patients first name I throw in a Mr or Miss. No one has any letters after their name (except me, of course). I've never worn a name tag, stopped wearing a lab coat 16-17 years ago, stopped wearing a tie 12 years ago. My staff wears scrubs because they want to (also because I buy them). My name, phone number and home address are in the white pages along with most of the other ODs in the community. In 19 years of practice I have NEVER been harassed or bothered by a patient at home. In fact, I doubt I've had more than 5 calls from a patient in all that time. 2 when I moved and 3 that were true emergencies.

**hcjilson** · 04-24-2009, 04:55 AM

Next time you visit a hospital try to find an employee without a name tag. Try to find a pharmacist without one..etc. Most states require them. In the Commonwealth of Taxachusetts the regulation states:

"Every dispensing optician shall, during any time in which he or she is engaged in the practice of opticianry, attach to his or her jacket, coat or other garment in a conspicuously visible manner an identification badge or tag which sets forth in large print his or her name and license number. If he or she is employed by another person, corporation or business entity, he or she shall also set forth on the badge the name of his or her employer, and the dispensing optician license number of his employer where applicable. The dispensing optician shall wear the identification badge or tag so that it is visible to any individual meeting or communicating with the optician in person."

**Matthew** · 04-24-2009, 10:51 AM

in Ohio for spectacle it is as follows

YOUR NAME
Licensed Dispensing Optician

**Chris Ryser** · 04-24-2009, 12:07 PM

If I would put myself in the shoes of a prospective customer having a 30 minute or more get together with an optician who is selling me a pair of glasses for $ 700.00 or more I better insist having his full name on a name tag, so at least I would know with whom I was dealing.

First names are used in large corporations like UPS or Fedex when you make a complaint and you will be reminded that you talked to "Bob " who will take care of your problem.