Hospital badge without M.D. after your name?!

[Painter1]

A couple days ago I went for registration as i will be starting intern year. So anyway, I pose for the picture and a coulple minutes later as I walk out with the badge, I notice there is no M.D after my name. Underneath they have "resident".

the card just doesn't look right without the initials. it's like wearing a short white coat during residency. Do your ID badges have M.D.?

John Smith M.D.
Resident

versus

John Smith
Resident

hmmmm . . . . not working for me

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[APACHE3]

Are you at Mississippi by chance? By the way, I got my name tag and sorry...I have MD after my name baby!! You can always cut and paste!!

 

[turtle md]

MD is there.

 

[shorrin]

no M.D. for me either... feeling like a secong class citizen already

 

[mysophobe]

MD

 

[coolbabe76]

MD for me too !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Gfunk6]

Fight for the "MD" guys, you earned it!! A lot of times, the ID badge employees will forget to put MD after your name, you have to remind them. During our orientation today that very thing happened and the residents got it changed.

 

[mysophobe]

If other residents have MD on theirs, you can go have them change it. I had that done when they accidentally put the wrong thing on my badge last year.

 

[glorytaker]

No, mine says DO after my name.

 

[SleepIsGood]

MD on mine too.

You earned the initials. It's just a matter of principle to have those initials incorporated in your badge.

 

[Painter1]

MD on mine too.

You earned the initials. It's just a matter of principle to have those initials incorporated in your badge.

Thanks guys. From the small sample of the other incoming residents that I remember, they also didn't get M.D. on the badge. I have to go back to drop off some paperwork tomorrow and I'm going to ask them to put my title after my name. If the secretary won't, then I'm gonna ask to speak with the supervisor because in medical school and in all the affilated hospitals I did rotations in, all the residents had M.D. after their names. I'll post later tomorrow and fill you guys in.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

You earned the initials. It's just a matter of principle to have those initials incorporated in your badge.

So does that mean my badge (when I eventually get to residency) will read something to the effect of "Steve R------, MD (or DO), RRT-NPS, MT(ASCP), RCIS, RCS, RVS, RPSGT, FP-C, NREMT-P"?

I will have earned all of those honoratives.....that I get to have them displayed is a matter of principle after all ....

NOTE: SARCASM

 

[Jack Daniel]

So does that mean my badge (when I eventually get to residency) will read something to the effect of "Steve R------, MD (or DO), RRT-NPS, MT(ASCP), RCIS, RCS, RVS, RPSGT, FP-C, NREMT-P"?

Good grief! I recognize MD/DO, MT(ASCP), and NREMT-P. I'm curious as to what the others are?

 

[Faebinder]

I rotated a few times in a hospital in NY, that until recently (2 years ago) made their medicine residents wear short white coats...... My heart goes out to those poor residents and I'm glad they managed to get that crap fixed...

(Imagine a resident in short coat talking to a respiratory therapist in long coat and the surgery resident from a different hospital thinking the resp therapist is the resident because of the coat length .)

 

[deleted87716]

"Steve R------, MD (or DO), RRT-NPS, MT(ASCP), RCIS, RCS, RVS, RPSGT, FP-C, NREMT-P"?

I will have earned all of those honoratives.....that I get to have them displayed is a matter of principle after all

Nah, don't do that...you'll be mistaken for a nurse. Less is more.

By the way, you have my vote for "Best Avatar Ever," displacing DoctorPardi:

 

[southerndoc]

My ID badge reads:
DR DOE
John

My lab coat has the hospital logo on the left and on the right reads:
John Doe, MD
Emergency Medicine

 

[f_w]

Uh, oh, we are back to the length of lab-coats again.

 

[MossPoh]

it's like wearing a short white coat during residency.

Is the short white coat like the shortbus equivalent for hospitals? I'm still working to get into medical school so no badge.

 

[ProZackMI]

A couple days ago I went for registration as i will be starting intern year. So anyway, I pose for the picture and a coulple minutes later as I walk out with the badge, I notice there is no M.D after my name. Underneath they have "resident".

the card just doesn't look right without the initials. it's like wearing a short white coat during residency. Do your ID badges have M.D.?

John Smith M.D.
Resident

versus

John Smith
Resident

hmmmm . . . . not working for me

Jesus, kid, quit being so arrogant. I have an MD and JD and don't go around insisting people call me Dr. or piss myself if someone calls me "Mr." or if someone forgets the MD after my name. Frankly, this is the type of whiny ass complaint I'd expect from a chiropractor or optometrist, not a physician. Ask them to correct it, but don't cry if they don't. After all, you're only a resident...so learn to accept your place in the hierarchy. Now, if you were an attending, that would be different.

Gotta love the residents.

 

[ProZackMI]

Good grief! I recognize MD/DO, MT(ASCP), and NREMT-P. I'm curious as to what the others are?

Those initials denote a small penis, a large ego, and the need for puffery. All those letters and a nickel will buy you a piping hot cup of JACK SQUAT!

 

[ProZackMI]

So does that mean my badge (when I eventually get to residency) will read something to the effect of "Steve R------, MD (or DO), RRT-NPS, MT(ASCP), RCIS, RCS, RVS, RPSGT, FP-C, NREMT-P"?

I will have earned all of those honoratives.....that I get to have them displayed is a matter of principle after all ....

NOTE: SARCASM

Let's not forget your associate's degree, bachelor's degree, and Cub Scout Merit badges too!

 

[docB]

Uh, oh, we are back to the length of lab-coats again.

It's all about the length of the coat. Having been out for a few years I now wear a coat that goes down to my ankles. I've also sewn big gold leaf epaulets on the shoulders and my CV is embroidered on the back. The guys who have been around a looooong time (like BKN) have coats that are 20 feet long and are like an oversized body stocking. They can't walk and every time they move they fall over but they get respect dammit!

 

[f_w]

The guys who have been around a looooong time (like BKN) have coats that are 20 feet long and are like an oversized body stocking.

The other day I saw a department chairman. A throng of servants carried the tails of his coat and an announcer preceded him through the hallways of the hospital.

(I have carried resident IDs that just hat my name and ' office of graduate medical education' on it, do you think anyone cared? )

 

[BKN]

It's all about the length of the coat. Having been out for a few years I now wear a coat that goes down to my ankles. I've also sewn big gold leaf epaulets on the shoulders and my CV is embroidered on the back. The guys who have been around a looooong time (like BKN) have coats that are 20 feet long and are like an oversized body stocking. They can't walk and every time they move they fall over but they get respect dammit!

Respect my subdural!

 

[Winged Scapula]

Ours have MD, but its so small that most people don't see it; rather they look at the lab coats (Categoricals after PGY1 get embroidered coats with name, degree, department).

 

[ObGyn]

Ours have MD, but its so small that most people don't see it; rather they look at the lab coats (Categoricals after PGY1 get embroidered coats with name, degree, department).

During third year of medical school, there was this one classmate who was so pissed about the short white coat thing....anyways, he put on a EXTRA and I do mean EXTRA length coat that he made (...i mean this thing dragged out to the floor like a long cape).....he wore this during the rotation.

He addressed himself like this: "I am the master chief medical student, I will be taking care of you." It was funny but respectable because he was the only one with guts to do it......so I guess he became the master chief third year.....it did sound impressive though, but I am not sure if he put this on his CV when he applied to residency

 

[LADoc00]

So does that mean my badge (when I eventually get to residency) will read something to the effect of "Steve R------, MD (or DO), RRT-NPS, MT(ASCP), RCIS, RCS, RVS, RPSGT, FP-C, NREMT-P"?

I will have earned all of those honoratives.....that I get to have them displayed is a matter of principle after all ....

NOTE: SARCASM

Old are we?

 

[Surgeon24]

.anyways, he put on a EXTRA and I do mean EXTRA length coat that he made (...i mean this thing dragged out to the floor like a long cape).....he wore this during the rotation.

Good for him!

Here in Quebec, canada, we don't have all that nonsense lab coat length....everyone has a long coat: from the attendings to the janitors in the OR.

For the OP, if i were you, I'd choose a different way to make sure everyone knows you're a doctor. You need one helper, let's say a medical student for this. Everytime you're about to enter a service/ward, ask YOUR student to close all the lights of the floor. Then turn on the radio to a techno/dance background. After this music signal, the med. student has to turn on/off the lights pretty quickly to simulate somekind of a rave. As you're about to step in, ask him to take the hospital mic. and announce 'DJ Dr.Smith has arrived'. Now it's the time to moonwalk towards the patients/nurses (i.e. reverse steps) with your hands in the air, dark shades, long coat, shouting in the air 'I'm a Doctor damn it'. Hope it helps.

 

[Jocomama]

Yeah - go ahead and talk to the supervisor when the coordinator or secretary doesn't give you the initials.
Do that and you will be labelled for the duration of your stay.
Do you have any idea how many of you these people deal with every June/July? How do you know that the secretary isn't a close personal friend of your department chair? or Dean?

Let it go - focus on taking care of the patients, and accepting what is thrown at you.

MD after your name badge - who cares.
Watch yourself. Be careful of the hierarchy. And the 2nd most important thing to remember after patient care?

Nurses - they can make you or break you.

Thanks guys. From the small sample of the other incoming residents that I remember, they also didn't get M.D. on the badge. I have to go back to drop off some paperwork tomorrow and I'm going to ask them to put my title after my name. If the secretary won't, then I'm gonna ask to speak with the supervisor because in medical school and in all the affilated hospitals I did rotations in, all the residents had M.D. after their names. I'll post later tomorrow and fill you guys in.

 

[ThinkFast007]

Yeah - go ahead and talk to the supervisor when the coordinator or secretary doesn't give you the initials.
Do that and you will be labelled for the duration of your stay.
Do you have any idea how many of you these people deal with every June/July? How do you know that the secretary isn't a close personal friend of your department chair? or Dean?

Let it go - focus on taking care of the patients, and accepting what is thrown at you.

MD after your name badge - who cares.
Watch yourself. Be careful of the hierarchy. And the 2nd most important thing to remember after patient care?

Nurses - they can make you or break you.

I really dont see the reason why the OP should not have MD after his/her name. She went to med school and got the degree did she not? It's not like he/she is trying to 'flaunt' her MD status. It is necessary for proper identification. While we're at the 'nurse' issue..what if a nurse would not fill an order because she was uncertain of the status of the OP? Would the OP have to then get her Program Director or Chief resident involved everytime a stickler nurse would not fill an order because of the uncertainity of the said intern's status?

Having a badge that states she's an MD would clarify any misunderstanding. To the OP, this may be an alternative way to get them to put MD on your ID. Tell them it's so that no confusion would occur, I mean heck nowadays it seems everyone's got a long white coat.

To the OP. There are a ton of nurse/allied health professionals out there and in this forum who are trying to 'downplay this'. why? It's just how it is. Nurses, etc will try to ride the interns, call them names, whatever as much as they can for however long they can. They'll try to avoid calling you doctor,etc for as long as they can. Talk about inferiority complexes, why do you think some of them have about 30 titles after their names? There's absolutely nothing wrong with putting the initials that you earned behind your name that identify you as a physician. As someone mentioned, it's not like you are going overboard like some nurses that put "Jane Smith, RN, MSN, BSN, CRNA, PHDFS, PDFDF, DF" after their names

 

[Jocomama]

My message wasn't focused on the title. It was on the method of dealing with the situation that the thread originator had planned to do....."If the secretary won't, then I'm gonna ask to speak with the supervisor..."

That was the subject of my reply.
Thanks

I really dont see the reason why the OP should not have MD after his/her name. She went to med school and got the degree did she not? It's not like he/she is trying to 'flaunt' her MD status. It is necessary for proper identification. While we're at the 'nurse' issue..what if a nurse would not fill an order because she was uncertain of the status of the OP? Would the OP have to then get her Program Director or Chief resident involved everytime a stickler nurse would not fill an order because of the uncertainity of the said intern's status?

Having a badge that states she's an MD would clarify any misunderstanding. To the OP, this may be an alternative way to get them to put MD on your ID. Tell them it's so that no confusion would occur, I mean heck nowadays it seems everyone's got a long white coat.

To the OP. There are a ton of nurse/allied health professionals out there and in this forum who are trying to 'downplay this'. why? It's just how it is. Nurses, etc will try to ride the interns, call them names, whatever as much as they can for however long they can. They'll try to avoid calling you doctor,etc for as long as they can. Talk about inferiority complexes, why do you think some of them have about 30 titles after their names? There's absolutely nothing wrong with putting the initials that you earned behind your name that identify you as a physician. As someone mentioned, it's not like you are going overboard like some nurses that put "Jane Smith, RN, MSN, BSN, CRNA, PHDFS, PDFDF, DF" after their names

 

[12R34Y]

I've got MD after my name on my name badge.

My coat also is embroidered with

John Doe MD
Emergency Medicine

Honestly, I'd be kind of mad if I didn't get the intials as well. Kind of been looking forward to graduating for a loooooong time. it just feels good.

 

[EctopicFetus]

I havent gotten any of my stuff yet but I will say this, patients dont read your coats or anything else. You go into a room and you tell your patient this..

Hi I am Dr Doe. I will be taking care of you today. If you bring a stethoscope and a bit of knowledge thats all your patients will care about. Smiles are extra but I bring that too.

One of my buddies ran out right after graduation and changed everything (and I do mean everything) to read Dr Smart Guy.

For me, Ill keep that bit to myself until I feel the need to use it. I dont think the whole world has to know what my profession is.

Anyways these are just my opinions and probably arent worth a shiny penny.

 

[f_w]

> She went to med school and got the degree did she not?

Typically you go to medschool in order to be allowed to practice medicine.

> what if a nurse would not fill an order because she was
> uncertain of the status of the OP?

Doesn't happen.

> There are a ton of nurse/allied health professionals out there
> and in this forum who are trying to 'downplay this'. why?

I'm a physician. I'll still play it down because it doesn't make a difference.

> It's just how it is. Nurses, etc will try to ride the
> interns, call them names,

If that happens, you have to deal with it through the appropriate channels. In that situation, it doesn't make any difference what it says on your ID. The nurses will 'ride you' because as intern you are typically fairly clueless, not because they don't know you are a physician.

> They'll try to avoid calling you doctor,etc for as long
> as they can. Talk about inferiority complexes,

Right. Talk about inferiority complexes. If you don't have enough of a presence that the staff working with you recognizes who you are, no gold-embroidered name on a lab coat hanging to the floor will get them to respect you.

> why do you think some of them have about 30 titles
> after their names?

Because they have an inferiority complex. Does that mean that you need the titleology ?

 

[ThinkFast007]

Jocoomomma--point well taken. Actually I was trying to give the OP a way to address this subj w/ the secretary w/o sounding 'egotistical'.

F_W---> are you kidding me? True at the beginning interns are new and we do not have a good grasp of what's going on yet. However, that doesnt warrant nurses/allied personell to try to 'ride' you. I have seen nurses that really want to give residents/med students and even attendings a hard time ask to see their ID (if for example it was left in the OR). Does it happen, yes. I am by no means advocating that interns should walk around with their noses in the sky. However, all too often these days docs will just go by their first names amongst anxillary staff. Sure it's 'cool' to do. However, the line b/w doctor and nurse/staff becomes blurred. Sure respect is obtained via one's character, however, titles like "doctor' help to maintain professionalism all throughout the hospital.

That's it. this isnt meant to be a 'flame war' by the way.

 

[hermione]

Doesn't everyone with a license normally have their degree on the name tag?? Including RNs, RTs, OTs, PTs?? Its always been that way at the hospitals I've rotated at, nothing to do with being a doctor.

 

[Red Beard]

Jesus, kid, quit being so arrogant.

And yet the title under your screenname reads:

Zachary S., M.D., J.D.

Subtle.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I've got MD after my name on my name badge.

My coat also is embroidered with

John Doe MD
Emergency Medicine

Honestly, I'd be kind of mad if I didn't get the intials as well. Kind of been looking forward to graduating for a loooooong time. it just feels good.

Doesn't everyone with a license normally have their degree on the name tag?? Including RNs, RTs, OTs, PTs?? Its always been that way at the hospitals I've rotated at, nothing to do with being a doctor.

My lab coat has:
Stephen R------, CRT, EMT-I
Respiratory and Critical Care Services

It also has my CCATT patch from when I was in the Air Force sewn onto it. The lab coat was a gift from a pulmonologist I worked with in the AF...he presented it to me at the party celebrating my seperation.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Nah, don't do that...you'll be mistaken for a nurse. Less is more.

By the way, you have my vote for "Best Avatar Ever," displacing DoctorPardi:

Good grief! I recognize MD/DO, MT(ASCP), and NREMT-P. I'm curious as to what the others are?

Obviously, I was being sarcastic about doing that.....to answer your question:
RRT-NPS: Registered respiratory therapist with neonatal/pediatric specialty credential
RCIS: Registered Cardiac Invasive Specialist (cath lab tech)
RCS: Registered Cardiac Sonographer (echocardiographer)
RVS: Registered Vascular Sonographer
RPSGT: Registered Polysomnographic Technician (sleep lab tech)
FP-C: Certified Flight Paramedic


Thank you for your vote.

 

[turtle md]

However, all too often these days docs will just go by their first names amongst anxillary staff. Sure it's 'cool' to do. However, the line b/w doctor and nurse/staff becomes blurred. Sure respect is obtained via one's character, however, titles like "doctor' help to maintain professionalism all throughout the hospital.

I don't call the nurse "nurse Betty." I just call her "Betty." I don't call the janitor "janitor Bob," just "Bob." So I don't get upset, and in fact encourage it, when I am called by my first name. The only person I introduce myself to as "doctor" is my patients, and that's just to let them know who I am (since I dislike white coats so don't wear one). If you act like the physician, then you will be treated like one. If you act like an dingus, well, then...

 

[Blade28]

Mine has an "M.D." after the name. But we wear short white coats.

 

[f_w]

True at the beginning interns are new and we do not have a good grasp of what's going on yet. However, that doesnt warrant nurses/allied personell to try to 'ride' you.

I didn't say that I find it admirable that they abuse you, I just wanted to point out that they would do that no matter what the title on your ID says (these are the same nurses who will abuse their student nurses or 'orientees' just as bad).

all too often these days docs will just go by their first names amongst anxillary staff. Sure it's 'cool' to do. However, the line b/w doctor and nurse/staff becomes blurred.

What line ? They are (for the most part) professionals working alongside with us. They have my respect for what they do, and I have their respect for what I do. Whether we address each other by first name, last name or title makes no difference.

Sure respect is obtained via one's character, however, titles like "doctor' help to maintain professionalism all throughout the hospital.

Being available for your patients and dealing with staff in a non-codescending manner will maintain professionalism throughout the hospital. Titles are fluff for those certficates on your office wall.

 

[12R34Y]

I didn't say that I find it admirable that they abuse you, I just wanted to point out that they would do that no matter what the title on your ID says (these are the same nurses who will abuse their student nurses or 'orientees' just as bad).


What line ? They are (for the most part) professionals working alongside with us. They have my respect for what they do, and I have their respect for what I do. Whether we address each other by first name, last name or title makes no difference.



Being available for your patients and dealing with staff in a non-codescending manner will maintain professionalism throughout the hospital. Titles are fluff for those certficates on your office wall.

Since I am going to be an EM doc........I of course won't have an office to display title and certificates...........is it okay for me to wear my certificates and titles, maybe like a necklace or stuck on my coat somewhere?

 

[f_w]

Since I am going to be an EM doc........I of course won't have an office to display title and certificates...........is it okay for me to wear my certificates and titles, maybe like a necklace or stuck on my coat somewhere?

You can have them chemically etched onto diamond encrusted gold plates which you can make part of your 'bling'.

And as mentioned earlier, nothing beats your personal announcer to precede you into every room. Have him blow a bugle or a shofar to announce your entrance. Now, THAT will make an impression.

 

[Gfunk6]

Since I am going to be an EM doc........I of course won't have an office to display title and certificates...........is it okay for me to wear my certificates and titles, maybe like a necklace or stuck on my coat somewhere?

I remember one dude on SDN suggested photocopying your diplomas and shrinking them to wallet-size. Then when a nurse gets a bit too uppity you can whip it out and remind her who is boss. (double-entendre)

 

[Blade28]

There were a few times I was paged by the nurse wondering if I was a med student or resident (due to the short white coat). This can be frustrating.

But that was early on at a hospital I hadn't rotated at much. After a couple weeks on any busy rotation, you get to know all the nurses (day and night shifts) and they, in turn, learn who you are. Then it doesn't matter what your badge says anymore.

BTW, I agree with whoever posted that the nurses can make you look like a superstar - or break you.

 

[toofache32]

Those initials denote a small penis, a large ego, and the need for puffery. All those letters and a nickel will buy you a piping hot cup of JACK SQUAT!

I was thinking the same thing. Also, when you ask people to call you "Doctor" they tend to expect more out of you. I'm all about flying below the radar.

 

[JackBauERfan]

Uh, oh, we are back to the length of lab-coats again.

I think this is ridiculous. I mean, we do have MD's after our name on your badges, but today at orientation they gave us short white vest things (and it looks really weird on males!)

note this is sarcasm (we have the long long white coats!, I'm actually thinking of sewing it up a little shorter, just so people don't think i'm a 'for real' attending doctor.

 

[JackBauERfan]

You can have them chemically etched onto diamond encrusted gold plates which you can make part of your 'bling'.

And as mentioned earlier, nothing beats your personal announcer to precede you into every room. Have him blow a bugle or a shofar to announce your entrance. Now, THAT will make an impression.

I'm actually getting MD grillz on my front two teeth! sweet ,right?

my smile's just gonna blind everyone!

 

[f_w]

There were a few times I was paged by the nurse wondering if I was a med student or resident (due to the short white coat). This can be frustrating.

Do you have video-phones ??