By Rules or common sense
Based on all of this, is it any wonder that some hospitals have configured their computer networks to make access to Facebook and other social media websites impossible? The problem is that with cellular networks, you don’t need to use a hospital computer to access Facebook. So, some hospitals have taken this one step further by banning or limiting the use of cellphones by nurses in patient care areas.
However, it seems that a more logical thing for hospitals to do, rather than disciplining nurses over Facebook incidents or making rules for nurses to follow, is to add one little piece—a social networking piece—to the confidentiality and privacy training that student nurses receive and that all nurses receive as part of their job orientations. Social networking is still relatively new, and a little training may help nurses from getting caught up in the excitement and making mistakes that could be fatal to their careers.
If the whole Facebook thing has you a bit spooked and you’re really not sure what’s okay and what’s not, talk to your administration. Suggest an in-service or a seminar on the topic. And in the meantime, use your common sense and your discretion. Draw upon your sense of ethics and professionalism. Ask your supervisor when you’re in doubt about whether or not you can post something. Bring the subject up at a staff meeting; many of the nurses you work with may have the same questions you do. And next time you’re on Facebook, check out the post “6 Tips for Nurses Using Social Media,” which offers some excellent advice.
Should you sign off of Facebook? Well, you know yourself better than anyone else does, so you have to decide if you can use it wisely or if you’re better off not taking any chances. Remember, your job is on the line.
