To Post or Not to Post - A Look at Professionalism and Social Media

Social Media has and continues to change the way we connect and communicate. Using social media, we can share and discuss information, stay connected to friends and family, and receive immediate access to news and events as they occur. Research by Gruzd et al (2018), showed an overwhelming majority of online Canadian adults (94%) have at least one social media platform.

With so many Canadians using social media, almost anybody can view what you post online. So, while all Nurses have a life outside the profession, you must remember that how you present yourself on social media can be viewed and judged by the public. Therefore, while it is easy to share photos from your recent travels, post a local eatery review, or share opinions on current world events, it is essential that your online presence and social media identity fit your image as a health care professional.

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"You are responsible for everything you post,

and everything you post will be a reflection of you."

- Germany Kent

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How you choose to present yourself through social media will depend on your core values combined with your professional guidelines. I was taught in nursing school; each person has the right to make their own decisions based on their beliefs and values. The same can be said for nurses and their approach to social media.

As a nurse, some of my core values are:

• Honesty

• Respect

• Communication

• Transparency

• Knowledge

• Leadership

When used appropriately, social media can have many benefits. As health care professionals, we can use social media to promote positive health changes, share informative and accurate content, and engage in health-related discussions.

Some of the benefits of social media include:

• Raise awareness of new or annual health concerns

• Provide links, or share credible and current information

• Develop a professional network

• Shape the reputation and credibility of nursing

If I am true to my values and focus on the benefits of using social media, I will create an online presence that is engaging and informative.

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"Don't say anything online that you would't want

plastered on a billboard with your face on it."

-Erin Bury

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Social media can also “present potential risks to patients and health care professionals regarding the distribution of poor-quality information, damage to professional image, breaches of patient privacy, violation of personal–professional boundaries, and licensing or legal issues” (Ventola, 2014).

Without taking the time to reflect and evaluate your social media presence, the lack of judgement can be damaging to the individual nurse or the profession as a whole.

Today, many organizations use social media to post available jobs and screen and review applicants. When reviewing a candidate’s online presence, employers may reject an applicant if: they have inappropriate photographs, posted negatively about a previous employer, shared confidential information, or have poor communication (Sameen & Cornelius, 2013). Therefore, I feel it is essential to sensor what you allow the world to see.

As a registered nurse, I am expected to conduct myself professionally, especially when representing my organization and profession. The Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN), for which I am a member, developed the Social Media: Practice Guideline (2020) to outline social media’s benefits and highlight the potential risks to the client, nurse, and profession. These practice guidelines provide nurses working in Nova Scotia a list of several strategies to minimize the nurse’s risk while meeting the practice standards.

The NSCN warns when identifying yourself as a nurse online, as once you make this identification, you are expected to uphold your professional obligations. Knowing this past two, when reviewing my current social media, I took some time to review my content and update my security settings.

In essence, by starting a blog and posting my opinions and thoughts, I have already increased my online presence. Therefore, as I continue developing my social media platforms to connect with others, I will need to ensure that my online presence meets the practice guidelines established by my employer and nursing college and aligns with my values.

References

Gruzd, A., Jacobson, J., Mai, P., & Dubois, E. (2018). The state of social media in Canada 2017. SSRN Electronic Journal. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3158771

Sameen, S., & Cornelius, S., (2013) Social networking sites and hiring: How social media profiles influence hiring decisions. Journal of Business Studies Quarterly, 7(1), 27-35. Retrieved from https://www.joycerain.com/uploads/2/3/2/0/23207256/social_networking_sites_and_employers.pdf

Nova Scotia College of Nursing (2020). Social media: Practice guideline. Retrieved from https://cdn1.nscn.ca/sites/default/files/documents/resources/Social_Media.pdf

Ventola C. L. (2014). Social media and health care professionals: benefits, risks, and best practices. P & T: A Peer-Reviewed Journal for Formulary Management, 39(7), 491–520. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103576/