As social media becomes an essential way to communicate, nurse must be aware of what are appropriate and illegitimate uses of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms. Nurses must use their best judgment in what they post, because they are responsible for protecting the public view of nurses, and most importantly, former and present patient confidentiality. Social media education should not start when a nurse starts their career, but while they are still in school. Richard G. Booth of Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, London, Canada, studied the use of Twitter by nursing students. In 2011, Booth collected 498 tweets over a six day period. He created five groups and divided 189 tweets into those specific themed …show more content…
Patient confidentiality is the legal requirement that any information received by the nurse should only be shared with other healthcare professionals for health care purposes (White Paper, 2014). “Privacy relates to the patient’s expectation and right to be treated with dignity and respect” (White Paper, 2014). Privacy is further enforced by federal laws known as HIPPA, or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The Indiana State Nursing Association explains: “HIPAA regulations are intended to protect patient privacy by defining individually identifiable information and establishing how this information may be used, by whom and under what circumstances.” When a nurse posts anything identifiable to an individual on any social media platform, it explicitly violates HIPPA (White Paper, 2014). Violation of HIPPA includes disciplinary action, termination, and even revoking of licensure. Identifiable information …show more content…
Social media creates a network for nurses to communicate and educate one another effectively, without being in the same city, state or even in the same country. Verified nursing based Twitter accounts update their posts regularly to provide breaking healthcare related news to a very large follower base (Peate, 2013). Nursing web communities provide a platform for real-time discussions or debates. Contributions can be found from professionals from various areas, with unique input. (Peate, 2013). Social media is also a wonderful tool for continuing education. YouTube videos allow professionals to review subjects and learn new ideas just like they would in classroom, but in their own time and pace (Source). A nurse can review topics on virtually any information, just by Googling a certain subject, and watching a video from another professional. While these examples are all extremely useful, nurses must still be conscious of what they are posting or commenting online. These platforms are still expected to be professional, and a nurse’s reputation is still at stake. (Peate,
Schmeida, M. (2005). HIPAA of 1996: Just an Incremental Step in Reshaping Government. Retrieved January 25, 2011, from American Nursing Association Web Site: http://www.nursingworld.org
It seems everybody in this ever-connected world is linked to some form of social media. And if you aren’t, I applaud you. It’s a TRAP. Carr begins his book by telling the stories of three well-educated men and the effects the internet has had on them. As stated by Bruce Friedman, a blogger about the use of computers in medicine, “Even a blog post of more than three or four paragraphs is too much to absorb. I skim it” (Carr 7), it’s too hard to focus on lengthy articles. The internet has shortened our attention span’s, seeking answers purely for convenience. I’m often looking for a
Overall these sources proved to provide a great deal of information to this nurse. All sources pertained to HIPAA standards and regulations. This nurse sought out an article from when HIPAA was first passed to evaluate the timeline prospectively. While addressing the implications of patient privacy, these articles relate many current situations nurses and physicians encounter daily. These resources also discussed possible violations and methods to prevent by using an informaticist and information technology.
Confidentiality is a major topic within care environments. When it comes to deciding what information is shared and who it is shared amongst can be difficult. Confidential information, is information that is ‘not to be told to anyone’ (The Open University, 2015, p. 58). Information that is sensitive or not publicly known is confidential, also if information is given by a person who is in a setting where confidentially is expected then that information should remain private and not shared with others. It can be very difficult for a staff member to find the balance between knowing what information is confidential and appropriate information that needs to be shared between the staff team.
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,
Due to technology progressing as it is social media is becoming more and more popular. Per (Williams & Hopper, 2015) “discussing your nursing shift on Facebook is not a safe practice, even if you do not use the patient’s name.” Without knowing you could be violating HIPPA when you post a picture or status. “Taking photos in patient setting on personal devices, posting patient information, including images such as photos or x-rays on social media sites” is said to violate HIPPA. (Williams & Hopper, 2015) Also, it is said that employers look at social media and your pages when they’re considering hiring you. (Williams & Hopper, 2015) As you can see using social media when in the patient setting is very dangerous as it can cost you not getting a job. Being conscious of what you post is important for your job's sake and for you and your facilities professionalism. Social media is very useful for research to provide for the patient care, but we must find a way to use it so it does no harm to the patients and gets the most of
Throughout all things medical, privacy is most important. The concern here is why camera crews are allowed into a facility that is supposed to make you feel like you’re protected. A person has the right to themselves, so who determines whether or not you have that right? Just because a person is unconscious doesn’t mean their privacy should be invaded. Whether unconscious or not, consent was not formally, or previously agreed too. There are many factors at play here, but I will be touching on those a little more throughout the essay. Privacy sticks out to me in an important way, without it we all would know every little detail of everyone’s lives.
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).
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.
As a nurse, it is within your role to safeguard the right to privacy for individuals. To ensure that nurses are adhering to this, ethical strategies have been proposed and implemented from a legal and regulatory body.
Online communities that physicians can communicate with colleagues is an important part of social media in health care (Ventola, 2014). There physicians are able to communicate about patient issues. Perhaps they want to voice their opinions about a certain surgery or have noticed that many patients are coming in with certain symptoms more so than others. The fact that social media is able to communicate with so many is an advantage because information can get out much farther and much faster than before. It can mean life and death for someone waiting to hear about a potential transplant or perhaps learning an improved technique that was discovered. The fact that now information is so quick and readily available is what makes social media a huge
Take Two Aspirin And Tweet Me In The Morning: How Twitter, Facebook, And Other Social Media Are Reshaping Health Care. Health Affairs, 28, :361-368. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.2.361 Metcalf, T., & Metcalf, G. (Eds.). (2008). Perspectives on Diseases and Disorders: Obesity.
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
One of the recommendations provided by the nursing council is, to maintain professional boundaries between nurses and patients online, an example of this is not making a patient a ‘friend’ on social media sites and keeping the context of the health related communication. Personal and professional lives must be separated and it is advised that nurses do not use social media to pursue or build relationships with former or current patients (Nursing Council, 2012). Nurses are expected to maintain professional standards both offline and online, and are advised to practice digital professionalism when using social media.
Similarly, legislation and privacy worries are in effect all cross the globe and nurses have the beliefs which they will continue to keep confidential and private detail and information for their clients within the client doctor realm. However, clients use the medical services to understand that their personal and medical information are not in the wrong person’s hand because in nursing professional, nurses have the most interaction between the client and doctor, these are the preeminent vital to the nurses in nursing