Social Media
Social media is now a daily part of all our lives. It can not only be entertaining and informative, but it also has the potential to help your career as a nurse and the nursing profession in general.
Social Networking Principles
On a professional level, it has many significant benefits: from the collaborative exchanging of ideas or discussion of health issues; to the invaluable promotion of nursing and better health and health care for all.
However, nurses have a responsibility first and foremost to their patients. As a nurse, you must always ensure that anything you post or publish could never undermine your patient’s treatment or privacy. There is also the unavoidable truth that information on social media can take on a life of its own – where inaccuracies become “fact”.
With that in mind, the American Nurses Association (ANA) has created a set of principles to guide you when using social media, allowing nurses to get the best out of it while safeguarding themselves, the profession, and their patients:
Our principles for social networking:
- Nurses must not transmit or place online individually identifiable patient information.
- Nurses must observe ethically prescribed professional patient-nurse boundaries.
- Nurses should understand that patients, colleagues, organizations, and employers may view postings.
- Nurses should take advantage of privacy settings and seek to separate personal and professional information online.
- Nurses should bring content that could harm a patient’s privacy, rights, or welfare to the attention of appropriate authorities.
- Nurses should participate in developing organizational policies governing online conduct.
Helpful tips on getting social right
Of course, most principles come down to common sense and will be standard practice for anyone experienced in using social media responsibly. However, if you’re new to social media – or using social as a newly qualified member of the nursing profession – then we have also put together some advice on getting social media right:
Social media tips
- Remember that standards of professionalism are the same online as in any other circumstance.
- Do not share or post information or photos gained through the nurse-patient relationship.
- Maintain professional boundaries in the use of electronic media. Online contact with patients blurs this boundary.
- Do not make disparaging remarks about patients, employers, or co-workers, even if they are not identified.
- Do not take photos or videos of patients on personal devices, including cell phones.
- Promptly report a breach of confidentiality or privacy.
eBooks and Tip cards
Both ANA’s social networking principles (as an eBook) and bulk tip cards can be purchased from our site.
You are now leaving the American Nurses Foundation
The American Nurses Foundation is a separate charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation does not engage in political campaign activities or communications.
The Foundation expressly disclaims any political views or communications published on or accessible from this website.
Continue Cancel