Writing Style Tips from the Magnet Team
Academic Degrees
The education degree comes first, because it is a “permanent” credential, meaning it cannot be taken away except under extreme circumstances. The next two credentials (licensure and state designations/requirements) are required for the nurse to practice.
National certification is sometimes voluntary, and awards, honors and other recognitions are always voluntary.
- Name, highest earned degree, licensure, state designations or requirements, national certifications. (See credentials.) Jane Smith, MSN, RN, CCNS, nurse manager
- Use commas before and after degrees in text; do not use periods (except at the end of the sentence): The lead researchers for this project were Mary Jones, MSN, RN, NE-BC, and Bob Simmons, DrNP, RN.
- Degrees should always follow someone’s name. When using degrees, do not also precede name with title.
- Correct: Jill Cramer, MD
- Wrong: Jill Cramer, MD
- In a listing, use semicolons between individuals: Samir Sharif, MSN, RN; Joanne Law, BSN, RN; John King, MD.
- Write bachelor’s degree and master’s degree (lowercase, ’s) but an associate degree (lowercase, no ’s). Write Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science (capital letters, no ’s).
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