Social Networking and Nursing

With recent news-breaking stories about social networking and nursing, I felt like I could provide some guidance for nurses and nursing students alike.

One of the best bits of advice I can give is to reserve social networking sites for what they were intended - being social. What you do at work should remain at work. I know it is tempting to tell everyone that you took care of a woman who was in a car wreck and had to have her leg amputated, or to tell your family that you took care of long-lost cousin Bill. However, these are all HIPAA violations. Even if you do not state someone's name, people can infer who you are talking about, and that can lead to serious legal ramifications.

Something else to think about: even if a nurse or nursing student wins a lawsuit regarding a possible HIPAA violation, that person may be thought of negatively for a long time after the dust has settled. Why even risk the possibility of losing your job or losing your spot in nursing school, only to have it overturned in court? Don't put yourself in that position, because it can follow you for many years to come. You don't want any problems in your background keeping you from getting a new job.

Don't tweet or post to Facebook while you're at work. Even if you aren't giving out patient information, your boss could inadvertently see your posts, or someone could tell your boss (or clinical instructor) that you've been posting during working hours. While it may not affect your productivity, it does not look good for your reputation, especially if you're writing that you are bored! Any time you post to a social networking site, do so thinking that your boss is reading it. Furthermore, using a cell phone or getting on the internet may be violating hospital or school policy. This could lead to termination or severe problems for you.

Don't post pictures of yourself that will put you in a negative light. Also, don't write posts or tweets that would make others question your ethics, integrity, or honesty as a nurse. Public opinion can be very fickle, and if you're posting pictures of yourself in compromising situations, or if you're posting about playing hooky from work, that opinion of nurses could start circling the drain. The Gallup Poll has consistently shown that the public trusts nurses more than any other profession. Don't do anything that would harm that reputation that so many nurses have worked hard to attain.

In conclusion, always think about the ramifications and possible side effects of what you post online. The results may not be what you bargained for.