6 Nurse Tips for Social Media Posting

Following nurse tips for social media is a must. In a world where everything we do online is noticed, nurses must be aware and mindful of their actions, mainly about what they post on social media. These are essential tips that you can follow before posting anything online.

What Can You Post on Social Media as a Nurse?

While it’s fun to post things on social media, as nurses, we must be responsible for what we are posting. How can we become responsible social media posters? Here’s how.

1. Avoid posting ANY patient information

Sharing anything about your patient online is a big no. You can discuss certain aspects of what you did to your patient but not their personal information. For example, if the patient gave you a thank you card, that would be worth posting.

You can take a picture of the card they sent you but don’t divulge who’s it from. You can say what they wrote, but keep their location and name private.

Refrain from taking photos or videos of your patients on your phone, as this violates patient confidentiality. It could lead to a lawsuit against the hospital you’re working for or you.

Asking permission from your patient could work, but if your employer has strict rules against this, dismiss the idea. While your patient may not report or sue you, your workplace can take action for violating their rules.

2. Keep it Professional

Sometimes we need more sense to weigh what we post on our social media accounts. And if we’re not careful, we can hurt people or, worse, ourselves.

A mindless post can mean so many things; even if you don’t mean anything by it, some people could misinterpret them.

As healthcare professionals, we must be mindful of what we say or post on social media. We must draw a clear line between ourselves and our profession. Remember to keep it professional.

Avoid posting anything unkind, and do not name names, especially if you have employers watching your account. Keep your posts clean. It will also keep you out of trouble.

3. Check Your Privacy Settings

Another vital nurse tip for social media is checking your privacy settings. The thing about social media is only some are your friend. Just because you have hundreds of people on your friend list doesn’t always mean they’re your actual friends. Some are there to watch your activities.

While some people are genuine in their friendship with you, be wary about those who aren’t. The good news is you can control who you want to share your content with on social media.

Platforms like Facebook and Instagram are designed so that users can customize their privacy settings to share whatever they want with people they only want to share it with.

Check your privacy settings and see who is on your friend list. You have the option to remove or block those people who are not within your circle of friends.

On Facebook, you can share your posts with the public or customize them to only your real friends. But while these provide you with the privacy you need, they could also give you a false sense of security.

As a rule, only post what you want your employers, patients, or coworkers to see. Be aware and mindful, as always.

4. Think Before Staying Connected with Patients

As nurses, we LOVE our patients big time, but sometimes, we must separate ourselves from this idea. It’s different when you care for your patients in a hospital setting and are friends with them online.

Boundaries are essential in this case. However, many patients are comfortable with us and vice versa, and if you EVER decide to accept that friend request from them, make sure to keep your post as professional as possible.

Remember, just because the patient added you on social media doesn’t mean you have the liberty to talk about them or their medical case. Always exercise extreme caution with each interaction, which could breach patient confidentiality.

You can lose your license if you’re not careful.

5. Join Healthcare Discussions

Joining healthcare discussions is also one of the best nurse tips for social media. It is one way to keep yourself active on social media. It’s an excellent way to stay visible and relevant.

Talking about your interests and passion for healthcare is also one way to help spread awareness about the industry and inspire others to enter the field.

It will also give you an advantage if your employer decides to check on your social media account. This will show them how passionate you are about your career.

6. 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 or confidentiality, report them to your HIPAA privacy or compliance officer.

Any content that could harm or expose a patient’s right, privacy, or welfare must also be reported.

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 confidentiality in every aspect, whether it be personal or professional.

And when in doubt, don’t post it at all.

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