Social media is a valuable communication tool, and furthermore, it can benefit nurses in various ways, including developing professional connections and also educating health care professionals in current health related epidemics (Foster, 2016). However, with the use of this resource also comes great risk (Brocksom, 2013). This essay will firstly define social media, identify and explain two possible opportunities associated with the use of this tool for a nurse. Secondly, identify and explain two possible risks associated with the use of social media, and lastly, provide recommendations for nurses to maintain their professionalism when engaging online. Social media is a range of web-based applications which enable users to generate, and moreover, …show more content…
These violations included, confidentiality breaches, and in addition, inappropriate posts. These are merely two examples of the possible risks associated with the use of social media for a nurse. An illustration of how patient confidentiality breaches may occur is if images of any patients are shared on social media, comments are made regarding the health consumer who may not have been named however is still identifiable, and moreover, if the patient is referred to in a condescending manner (Nursing Council of New Zealand, 2012). In order for nurses to provide the appropriate care that is required for each patient, personal information is obtained from the health consumer. It is particularly common for frail elderly patients, individuals with mental health issues and also children, to feel incredibly vulnerable due to their health circumstances. Therefore, when sharing information with the health care provider they must be confident that their integrity is going to be upheld. Thus, with the purpose of promoting safe practice, and equally important, protecting public safety, guidelines such as the competencies for registered nurses have been initiated. Competency 2.3 states that any information that is acquired from the health consumers’ is to remain confidential (Nursing Council of New Zealand, 2012). Furthermore, …show more content…
Nursing Councils guidelines: professional boundaries, and moreover the Code of Conduct both provide excellent guiding principles for nurses to maintain professionalism when engaging online. For example, Nursing Council of New Zealand, (2012) states that if social media is used by nurses to remind health consumers of upcoming appointments, it is advised that they ensure patients have a strong understanding of the boundaries of the professional relationship, and moreover when their requests are beyond these limits. Likewise, the Code of Conduct for nurses also offers recommendations to prevent unprofessional behaviour online. For instance, it is said by Nursing Council (2012) that it should be recognised by all nurses that others have the right to hold different opinions, and furthermore, they are required to treat colleagues with respect. In addition, conversations regarding co-workers must not be discussed in public places. Although these guidelines are not specified for the use of social media, it is important to remember that the standards of professionalism in the work place must be upheld in all circumstances, including when engaging online. Nurses must be mindful of what they post on social media, as
Out of all the duties of a nurse, one of the most important duties is how the nurse honors the trust of a patient by maintaining the patient’s privacy and safeguarding the patient’s information confidentially. Privacy is the ability of the patient to make the choices in how to handle information regarding him or herself that other individuals are not aware of. As an example, prior to releasing the patient’s private information, the nurse must notify the patient on how their information will be handled and get consent from the patient
Professionalism and staying within professional boundaries is not only a critical part of maintaining your patient’s trust, but it is also a law that nurses must follow to remain practicing. Patients are vulnerable to the nurse in this position, so the nurse must be careful not to break this trust. Professional boundaries are the gap between the nurse’s professional position and the vulnerability of the patient. Nurses are required to abide by privacy standards to protect the patient and to practice a therapeutic relationship. A therapeutic relationship is the medium between under-involvement and over-involvement, and is the zone where nurses should remain. One reason why it is so important that nurses do not overstep their boundaries, is that nurses are respected, trusted, and valued by patients. It is important to keep this reputation to be successful in this field (Black, 2014).
When a person chooses to become a nurse they make a moral commitment to care for all patients. This commitment cannot be taken lightly, as stated in the Code of Ethics for Nurses “The nurse respects the worth, dignity, and rights of all human beings irrespective of the nature of the health problem” (American Nurses Association, 2001, 7). Therefore, three ethical considerations that impact the safe practice of nursing will be explored in further details. These ethical considerations include substance use disorder in the workplace, professional boundaries, and the use of social media. Since Florence Nightingale’s era, nurses have been faced with various stresses. The goal is that nurses will be safe practitioners respecting
Every patient that is admitted to hospital, or seen by a health professional has a right to his or her own privacy, and it is through ensuring professional boundaries are upheld that this basic right can be achieved. According to Levett-Jones and Bourgeois (2011, pp. 237) confidentiality is an obligation made by a professional to respect the information given by a patient to healthcare professional. In this modern age, privacy can be hard as society relies on technology as a form of communication, allowing for information to be more readily available. However, by posting on Facebook about a patient or informing a friend, the trust created in a therapeutic relationship is breach and is called a boundary crossing. Thompson (2010, pp.26) understands that “At times, boundary crossing may be unintentional, but emphasizes th...
Which is very important for nurses or any medical professional to do in the healthcare profession. Nurses are receiving these patients in their most vulnerable state, nurses are exposed and trusted with the patients’ information to further assist them on providing optimum treatment. Keeping patient’s information private goes back to not just doing what’s morally right but also it also builds that nurse – patient relationship as well. We also have provision three that specifically taps on this issue as well, as it states: “The nurse seeks to protect the health, safety, and rights of patient.” (Nurses Code of Ethics,
As health care providers, nurses strive to instill confidence in their patients and their loved ones. A nurse is respectful to their colleagues as well as their patients. Nurses promote patients’ independence, patients can be confident in the knowledge that a nurse will do what is best for them, respecting their privacy and dignity. This means that a nurse does not share the patient information for personal reasons nor does the nurse get involved in a patients personal relationship if it is not medically relevant (NCSBN, 2011).
College of Nurses of Ontario,(2009).Practice Guidelines: Confidentiality and privacy-Personal Health Information. Retrieved April 3, 2014 from http://www.cno.org/Global/docs/prac/41069_privacy.pdf
Social media is affecting all spheres of life and no profession is left untouched by the impact of social media and nursing profession is no exception. Nobody can deny the benefits of social media for the profession of nursing yet its disadvantages for the registered nurses and student nurses during clinical practice cannot be ignored. “Social media can be defined as the constellation of internet-based tools that help a user to connect, collaborate, and communicate with others in real time” (Ressler & Glazer, 2010). Social media is growing at a very rapid rate and is now the mainstream communication method for most of the global population (http://www.internetworldstats.com/facebook.htm). It has brought a tremendous revolution in communication and disseminating information to nurses round the world.
Registered nurse (Gemma) received a call from the patient's wife (Lucinda) to ask her about her husband's condition and ongoing treatment details, like patient (Salvatore) treatment details, just to find further information about her husband's diagnosis on the internet. There is a breach of a patient's privacy and confidentiality if Gemma shares the information. Nurses are able to communicate about patient-related information with other health professionals via social media or other means of technology, i.e. telephone calls, in regards to patient care. However, this type of technology often leads to a breach of patient privacy and confidentiality (Berman et. al, 2015,
This assignment will discuss how the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) seeks to protect service users and promote care standards by regulating the work of Adult Nurses. The author will then explain how the NMC maintains a register to regulate all nurses practicing within the United Kingdom (UK), so that all service users and others are receiving competent and compassionate care within the regulatory body’s expectations and standards, and also what could happen if this is not maintained. The author will then go on and outline an Adult nurses role and resposibilites. The assignment will then discuss how nurses have to uphold their professional standards according to their code of practice and that it is not negotiable (Nursing and midwifery council, 2015). This will be followed by a more in depth discussion of an Adult nurses duty to maintain confidentiality and what could happen to a nurse who breaks confidentiality under their code of practice according to the NMC.
A norm in society is when an individual sees danger they are supposed to report it to the authorities, therefore preventing any further damage. Breach of confidentiality is when a nurse shares information about a patient to others who are not authorized to know about the patients personal information. Due to this, patients are afraid to be honest with their physicians and nurses that are treating them. In order to assure pati...
Nursing may be seen as very independent work even though there will be situations that will require others. Friendships may be formed; however, to have professional interactions is something that is not always followed. In terms of patient confidentiality, we may not realize that a HIPPA violation has occurred due to friendly conversation with coworkers. If a patient were to overhear their nurse discussing their information in an unprofessional manner then it may cause issues with a patient’s dignity and their rights. If a patient’s right is violated then it can lead to a patient’s mistrust in their caregiver, leading to mistrust in the facilities, and can end with a patient’s health being compromised. The patient is the reason for this career; if the needs of the patient are being unmet or violated then the purpose of our occupation will be unsuccessful and
The study was conducted by nurses who were concerned about the information and misinformation available to mothers they termed advanced maternal age which were mothers who were 35 years old or older. The nurses set up a survey of 40 questions through a Twitter page. The findings of the survey indicated that Twitter was a cost-effective means of recruitment, enabling, engagement with potentially difficult-to reach populations, providing participants with transparency, anonymity and a more accessible method by which to participate in health research. (O’Connor, Jackson, Goldsmith & Skirton, 2013) This study successfully proved that social media is becoming more of an acceptable means of obtaining information in the area of
When it comes to social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube, nobody wants to think about the negative effects it has on patients. Brian Cayko, the director of clinical education in the respiratory care program at Great Falls College, Montana State University in Great Falls, Montana argues that social media makes it easier for patients. When a patient is not able to acquire care at the medical facility, they can get in touch with their respiratory therapist with the use of social media sites. Cayko also states that social media sites can be helpful as “educational resources, patient support and social and professional networking.” I think that Cayko knows that everyone must remember the negative things about social media and the internet, with the understanding that just because it’s on the web doesn’t mean that it is the truth. No, not everything is wrong with social media sites, I am involved in social media sites myself; however, personally I know that when it comes to an occupation especially in the medical field, you have to be more aware of the negatives than the
This also that nurses need to make sure that patients have the information about their care and the information about themselves is shared suitably and correctly. Nurses have to respect a patient’s right to confidentiality and privacy in all form of their care and also after they have died. In healthcare, nurses need to ensure that patients are well informed about how and why their information is used for and shared by healthcare providers who will be looking after them. Nurses only can share the patients’ information when necessary with their colleagues and agencies when the interests of client safety and public security revoke the need for confidentiality and also share with patients’ family and their carers, but it needs to be allowed by the law, the information they need to know about patients’ health, care and the treatment that goes on continuously and in a way they will be understand. Nurses can also cooperate with the media but only when it is suitable to do, therefore it always needs to be protecting the patients’ confidentiality and