Social Media And E-Professionalism

Social media is defined as a form of electronic communication in which users share information, ideas, and create personal messages. The increasing use of social media by nurse faculty and students for their education and personal utilization raises a concern. Social media if it is inappropriately used can hinder and tarnish professional image. E-professionalism awareness is reported among nurse educators and students. Nurse educators are able to benefit from using social media through engagement, communication, and accessibility to information.
Integration of technology can be meaningful if used properly. Social media can connect with students and educators in their formal learning. Social media is expanding from general to specific usage that provides benefits to students, teachers and the community. The aim of this study Social media in a Nurse Education: Utilization and E-professionalism, is to provide awareness of e-professionalism when using social media in both academic and personal use. (Duke, Anstey, Carter, Gosse,

Inappropriate information can at times be posted in spite of the privacy features and appropriate self-disclosures. This is one of the pitfall of social media. An example of negative consequence is the digital photo shared by an ICU nurse in her face book account posting a wrong interpretation of a chest x-ray with patient name and institution logo. Using social media has many advantages and disadvantages for different professions. There are social media tools that are available for health care professionals employed to improve patient care, patient education and other public health programs. Social media provide different features that serve various purposes for the individual user. Risk associated with use of social media is breach of privacy, poor quality information and damage to professional