Social media and professionalism Friend or Foe?

Valerie McGurk

Practice Development Nurse, Paediatrics

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

Social media – Friend or Foe?

Social media is increasingly becoming part of how we live our lives and as healthcare workers we need to consider the opportunities it opens up to us and the threats

which are behind us.

What is professionalism? • Professionalism is characterised by the autonomous evidence-based decision

making by members of an occupation who share the same values and education. • Professionalism in nursing and midwifery is realised through purposeful

relationships and underpinned by environments that facilitate professional practice.

• Professional nurses and midwives demonstrate and embrace accountability for their actions. (NMC, 2017)

Statistics • The UK population is over 65 million • 92.6% of the population have internet access • There are over 38 million users in 2016 • That is 64% of the population. • The number of libel cases increased 300% in 2014

What do we mean by social media?

• Facebook – Used mainly by people who want to connect with family and friends.

• Twitter – Used to get up-to-date, short bursts of information. • Linkedin – Used to provide a publically accessible CV • Blogging – Provides a simple way to publish information and

communicate ideas. • YouTube and video – May be used to educate, entertain or inspire • Newspapers / online chat rooms • Other channels – Snapchat, Instagram, Pinterest • Text message and use of messenger = social media • There will be more ……………..

UK USERS

• Face book top dog with 35 million users • Instagram 14 million • Twitter 12 million, numbers are declining • Snapchat use is growing • Linked In 15 million

Friend or Foe? Friend – If used responsibly and

appropriately

• Can support, promote and increase the spread of information.

• Learn, share and connect with others. • Two way online conversation • Access to a HUGE worldwide audience • Build trust, engage with service users and

encourage patient feedback. • Cheap, easy, quick and convenient • Raise awareness of a project • Build and maintain professional relationships • Professional support and sharing of

experiences • Accessible resources for continuing

professional development

Foe • Opportunity to join in ???? • Challenge and change. • Tone of response • Privacy • Unregulated • Put the record straight !!!!! • As you go through you will leave

behind a digital footprint which may have a negative consequence for you and your profession. Similar to a carbon foot print and the effects on the environment.

What does it mean for you?

• You may put your career and the career of others at risk if you act in a way which is unprofessional or unlawful

• You may damage the reputation of your organisation. DON’T

• Share confidential information • Post pictures of patients and people receiving care • Post inappropriate comments about patients • Bullying, intimidating or exploiting people • Encouraging violence or self harm • Inciting hatred or discrimination

Think about • Someone stealing personal information or using your identity. • Even if you send a text message or messenger it can still be

snap shot and can re-enter the public arena.

We share happy, exciting, scary and sad moments with those we care for and when they are at their most vulnerable.

The commitment to keep personal patient matters private has been part of the ethical code long before social media.

• Don’t discuss matters relating to your work outside of a clinical setting

• Don’t post anything online which can be seen as discriminatory, does not recognise individual choice or preserve dignity

• Don’t share confidential information – it can spread quickly with the click of a button.

• Acknowledging someone else's post may imply that you endorse or support their point of view

Sarah has been working on the neonatal unit for 2 years, one of

the mothers runs a unit fundraising site. A new mother has recently joined the site and has said she is feeling low because

her baby is taking a long time to establish feeding. Sarah who has been looking after the new mother posts “I know the last week has been difficult for you but hopefully the new medication will increase your milk supply and baby will pick up with his feeding

soon. See you on Wednesday.

What do you think?

• This is an example of a violation of patient confidentiality through social media.

• Sarah has inadvertently disclosed information about Sarah on a social media site

• Everyone who has read the post knows that the mum is feeling low and is taking medication to increase her milk supply

You post an image of a staff member who is off duty drinking on a social networking site. What questions does this raise?

• Everything you do or say on social media is public.

• How does it reflect on us?

• How does it reflect on the profession?

• How does it reflect on the health promotion we give?

• Do we violate our patients trust if there are pictures of us on Facebook behaving unprofessional?

Last wee Last week I received a message in my in box

Hi Valerie, do you still remember me? I'm so happy to find you here on Facebook. Its been 12 years since you looked after my Amy in the neonatal unit. I'm glad to reconnect with you and I'm hoping you will keep in

touch.

Now what?

Befriending your patients • The nurse patient relationship is supposed to be

therapeutic. Accepting a friend request crosses the professional boundaries and can be damaging to the therapeutic relationship.

• The health providers relationship must be professional at all times.

• Is it ok if the caring relationship we once had has passed and I'm not likely to be in a shared relationship again?

• Should we unfriend someone because they come into our professional life? It maybe in their time of vulnerability / need.

Social media – What can we do to be safe?

• Clear professional and social boundaries • Be informed about social media • Think before you post – even the strictest privacy

settings have limitations – someone will know how to copy and redistribute

• Protect your profession and your reputation • Be familiar with the privacy settings and terms of

conditions for sites used • Be aware of local policies and national guidance

• In this new age of social media we are interlinked

with communities, topics and issues more than ever should we use the mirror of social media to / Should we embrace this uneasy relationship engage to counteract the negative effects on the health service, increasing confidence?

• Remember what you are about to post will be accessible to millions of people, so post if you want everyone to read it.

Social media can be fun as long as you understand the good, the bad and the ugly.

References Coe, S. (2012) Ethics in Nursing: Social media do’s and dont’s https://www.nursetogether.com/professionalism-in-nursing-what-does-it-re (accessed 23/3/17) Gokenbach V (2012) What does professionalism in nursing really mean? https://www.nursetogether.com/professionalism-in-nursing-what-does-it-re (accessed 23/3/17) Lachman S (2013) Social Media: Managing the Ethical Issues, Medsurg Nursing, 22, 5, p326 Nursing and Midwifery Council (2015) Guidance on using social media responsibly NMC, London Nursing and Midwifery Council (2017) Enabling Professionalism in Nursing and Midwifery Practice, NMC, London Ryan S et al (2010) Online Professionalism and the Mirror of Social Media http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11606-010-1447-1 (accessed 23/3/17) Skills for Health (2017) The Social Media Toolkit for Healthcare Spector, N. & Kappel, D. (2012) Guidelines for using electronic and social media: The Regulatory Perspective The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 17, 3, 1 Tariman J Where to draw the line: Professional boundaries in Social Networking https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC28911246 (Accessed 23/3/17)

Questions