Degree Credentials
Use of Degree Credentials at UMass Chan Medical School, Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing
Following standard publishing practices, scholars at UMass Chan Medical School, Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, are expected to use their credentials in a specific manner.
Only degrees and licenses that have been officially earned should be listed after a student’s name. While some doctoral students may reach the stage of “candidacy” after successfully defending their proposal, this status does not equate to an earned credential. Dr. Peggy Chinn, editor of Advances in Nursing Science, offers valuable insights on this topic in her article, “How to list your credentials and title when you publish.”
UMass Chan Medical School students in the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing may use the following:
- Name, earned degree, licensure, designated fellowship (if applicable)
- Type of student (if preferred)
Examples:
- Jane Doe, BSN, RN
MS student, UMass Chan Medical School, Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing
- Jane Doe, MS, CNM, FACNM
Doctor of Nursing Practice student, UMass Chan Medical School, Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing
- Jane Doe, MS, RN, APRN
PhD Student, UMass Chan Medical School, Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing
ONLY PhD students are permitted to use the following after they have successfully defended their dissertation proposal:
- Jane Doe, MS, RN, APRN
PhD Candidate, UMass Chan Medical School, Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing
Please note that PhDc, DNPc, and MSc are not degrees and are not to be used.
Additional Resource: How to Display Your Credentials by the ANCC