6 Nurse Tips for Social Media Posting
Social media posting and being a nurse are exciting, but their potential has been underutilized. Nowadays, social media is being utilized by nurses to educate people and voice their concerns. However, it is essential to understand what nurses can and cannot post on social media platforms. Are there any limits to what they can post? Here are helpful nurse tips for social media posting.
What Can You Post on Social Media as a Nurse?
So, posting stuff on social media is pretty fun, right? But as nurses, we must take responsibility for what we put out there. No need to panic, though. Here’s how we can be responsible with our social media presence:
Avoid posting ANY patient information
Sharing any information about your patient online is strictly prohibited. You may discuss certain aspects of what you did for your patient, but avoid divulging their personal information. For instance, if your patient gave you a thank-you card, you may post a picture of the card without revealing who it’s from. You may also share what they wrote, but keep their name and location confidential.
Avoid taking photos or videos of your patients on your phone, as this violates patient confidentiality and could lead to a lawsuit against your workplace. Although asking permission from your patient may be an option, if your employer has strict rules against it, do not risk it. Even if your patient does not report or sue you, your workplace can still take action against you for violating their rules.
Would you like to see an example of how we navigate healthcare on social media? Check out our Cup of Nurses Instagram or Facebook page.
Keep it Professional
Sometimes we must be more thoughtful about what we post on our social media accounts. If we’re not careful, we can hurt people or ourselves. Others can misinterpret a seemingly harmless post.
Healthcare professionals must be mindful of what we say or post on social media. It’s important to draw a clear line between our personal and professional lives. Remember to keep it professional and avoid posting anything unkind or naming names, especially if your employers monitor your account. Keep your posts clean to stay out of trouble.
Check Your Privacy Settings
When it comes to social media, not everyone on your friend list is actually your friend. Some people are just there to watch your activities. While some are genuine, it’s important to be wary of those who aren’t. Luckily, you can control who you share your content with on social media. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow users to customize their privacy settings to share their content with only those they want.
Check your privacy settings and review your friend list. You can remove or block people, not within your circle of friends. You can share your posts with the public or only your real friends on Facebook. However, while these settings provide privacy, they can also give you a false sense of security. As a rule, only post things you’re comfortable with employers, patients, or coworkers seeing. Always be aware and mindful.
Think Before Staying Connected with Patients
Nurses love our patients dearly, but sometimes we must establish boundaries. It is different when you care for your patients in a hospital setting compared to when you are friends with them online. In this case, boundaries are essential. Although many patients are comfortable with us, and vice versa, if you ever decide to accept a friend request from them, make sure to keep your posts as professional as possible.
Remember, just because a patient added you on social media doesn’t mean you have the liberty to discuss them or their medical case. Always exercise extreme caution with each interaction, as this could breach patient confidentiality. If you are not careful, you could lose your license..
Join Healthcare Discussions
Participating in healthcare discussions is a great way to stay active on social media. It helps you stay visible and relevant. By expressing your interests and passion for healthcare, you can also spread awareness about the industry and inspire others to join the field. Additionally, this can give you an advantage if your employer checks your social media account, as it shows your dedication to your career.
You can join our healthcare discussion on our Cup of Nurses Facebook. CLICK HERE.
Hold the profession accountable
Nurses must uphold strong ethical and moral standards, which apply to social media. If you see a fellow nurse or colleague breaching their patient’s privacy, talk to them about the importance of patient privacy and any content that could harm or expose a patient’s right, privacy, or welfare.
If you’re unaware of your company’s policy about social media posting, learn them now to set boundaries for your posts. Be always mindful and exercise caution to protect your patient’s personal or professional confidentiality. And when in doubt, don’t post it at all.
Hope this post gave you insight into navigating social media as a nurse. These six awesome tips allow nurses to use social media without being unprofessional. The tips are pretty simple: don’t post patient information, keep it clean, make sure your privacy settings are on point, think before connecting with patients, join healthcare discussions to empower nurses, and ensure you’re living up to the profession’s standards. It’s super important to be ethical and respectful of patient confidentiality on social media, so ensure you’re doing your part! If you’re interested, check out the Cup of Nurses podcast. It’s a great listen!
If you’re interested in nursing and healthcare, you can join the Cup of Nurses Facebook group to join the discussion and stay updated on industry news and topics. CLICK HERE.
Podcast episodes related to social media and healthcare:
EP 86: Professionalism as a Nurse: Balancing Work and Social Media