Student Nurses & Social Networking

This post contains my own personal opinions and preferences, as well as those from other potentially unreliable resources, and should not be taken as official advice. If you have any concerns about social networking as a student nurse, please seek advice from your university tutor.

There has been much talk lately between my friends and I regarding how student nurses should approach social networking, and a discussion tonight with my friends on 'Student Nurse Forum' has made me think more about it. We all agree unanimously that the Nursing & Midwifery Council Code of Conduct should be obeyed at all times and that we must always maintain professionalism and be constantly aware that we are representing our universities and the nursing profession as a whole. There are, however, some who are completely unsure of how to approach the issue. I know people who are considering deleting their accounts completely, I know people who want to remove several 'friends', I know people who feel that some scenarios they have read about seem absolutely ludicrous, and I also know people, myself included, who don't feel the need to worry - all are valid concerns and opinions, but we must remember what the NMC says.

The NMC claims that student Nurses may jeopardise their ability to join the NMC Register, if they: 

• Share confidential information online.
• Post inappropriate comments about colleagues or patients.
• Use social networking sites to bully or intimidate colleagues.
• Pursue personal relationships with patients or service users.
• Distribute sexually explicit material.
• Use social networking sites in any way which is unlawful.

I don't know about you, but I have never behaved in such a way, professionally or personally, throughout my entire life and I certainly don't intend to start now. I think this all comes down to common sense, I just don't see how anyone would happily discuss confidential information online, or talk about people in a negative way online, or try and search for, and then attempt to get with, a patient... to me that's just all kinds of wrong! I certainly wouldn't distribute sexually explicit material now, let alone while I'm a student. As long as you're not unprofessional and insensitive, then I think everyone is perfectly safe to use social networking sites. I certainly won't be giving up my Facebook or Twitter accounts, and certainly not this blog. "Before you run for the hills, bury your head in the sand, or change your name by deed poll, all is not lost and it is possible to exist in the digital world without compromising your life in the real world..."

I have found some pretty good advice to ensure we use social networking sites safely;

• Once you have put anything on the internet it is out of your hands. Don’t assume because you are hidden behind a wall of privacy settings, that you control your information. Anyone who can see what you’ve written or uploaded can make a copy and forward it on to others. If you wouldn’t be happy to say it to someone’s face don’t say it at all.
• They say a picture paints a thousand words and when trying to maintain a professional appearance this has never been more true. Those drunken snaps from Aunt Sally’s wedding or the bikini shot from your last trip to Malaga might not be the most appropriate selection for your Facebook profile picture, especially when perspective employers these days may well Google your name.
• You’ve made sure all the pictures and videos you post online show the model nurse, and everything you write about obeys the code of conduct and portrays you as the next Florence Nightingale? Just remember all those people you call friends all have the potential to drop you in big trouble and it can be very difficult to control what they might say about you or post pictures or videos of. If somebody does post something you’re not happy about you can always ask them to take it down, but remember to be polite and professional about it - they might not feel very co-operative if you start shouting at them.
• Remember patient respect, dignity and confidentiality; if it relates to a patient best keep it offline. Social networks are a great tool for setting up meetings, but if you absolutely cannot meet in person then e-mail is the best medium for this and preferably a work e-mail address as this can always be printed and attached to patient notes if necessary.

Personally, I wholeheartedly concur that any student who does break this policy should indeed be removed from their course, or at least be given a warning depending on the severity of the incident. These rules are in place for a reason and we should all bare in mind that we have reputations to maintain, and not just necessarily our own. We are now a student of a university who are giving us an extraordinary opportunity, we will be student nurses on a placement who will be giving us extremely valuable training and support, and will be taking care of many vulnerable patients who will give us their trust, a trust that is earned based on our professionalism, it is only right that we treat each with the respect they deserve.

My final bit of advice - In a nutshell, just be careful, sensible and stay professional, then nothing can come back to bite you. 

STAY CALM AND CARRY ON POSTING.  =)