In our increasingly connected world, those on travel nursing jobs have been capitalizing on social media. LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are all useful platforms that can boost one’s professional presence, but it’s essential that a definite boundary between professional and personal use is in place.
The majority of hospitals and healthcare professionals wish to communicate with their clients, so many employ social media as an extension of their public relations plans. Plans and updates typically circle around themes such as sharing general medical news, news about the organization and its services, highlights on the organization’s community-based events and “success stories.”
But aside from PR purposes, most employees haven taken to social media accounts. A 2011 survey found that 87 percent of physicians used social media for personal use, while 67 percent used it for professional purposes. Health experts indicate that nurses are likely to have similar rates.
There’s no doubt that the emergence of social media has come with a flood of individuals and hospitals seeking to take advantage of the tools to communicate with colleagues and patients. Many hospitals have some sort of social media policy in place to prevent any patient violations.
In a 2010 study of executive directors at state medical boards, 69 percent of online professional violations stemmed from inappropriate contacts with patients on social media. Though stricter guidelines for physicians have been set since then, most revolve around media policies for nurses during working hours. As a result, it’s not uncommon for travel nursing professionals to grapple with social media use outside of the workplace.
Social networking offers new platforms for travel nurse professionals to share knowledge and expertise, but it’s important that it’s done correctly. Here are some do’s and don’ts about using social media:
Don’ts
Don’t post anything that could violate privacy and confidentiality: As a hard-and-fast rule, never post anything that could reveal any information about a patient. Even if something sounds innocent, giving away info could indirectly result in the discovery of a patient’s identity, constituting a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act violation.
Don’t post images involving patients: Pictures can be murky water for patient-nursing confidentiality. Even when a favorite patient asks for a photo op together, it’s best to politely decline. Refrain from such activities on personal devices.
Don’t post about intoxication or other compromising activities: Remember, nothing is 100 percent private online, so even when on vacation, be sure to exercise caution on social media.
Do’s
Keep your content professional: When in doubt, err on the side of being conservative and don’t post anything you’re unsure of. Social media is a useful tool for any travel nurse to stay in touch with friends and family while in a distant location.
Stay engaged in the medical world: On Twitter, you can follow news sources and stay up-to-date on current healthcare news. Some good sources to follow include @BBCHealth, @NurseTogether, @AmJNurs, @nytimesHealth and @ANANursingWorld. These provide captivating stories, technology innovations to keep you up to speed on what’s going on in the wider medical community.
All in all, social media can help bridge the gap between your friends, families and colleagues. Just make sure to do it smartly and professionally.