Today, social media reigns supreme in the United States. Thanks to technological advancements, social media is a staple in our everyday lives, and it has become a highly effective tool and resource for nurses. But, with every powerful tool, it also comes with great responsibility. As you navigate through social media sites, blogs, and forums, you are also traveling across a very thin and dangerous line of professional and personal etiquette.

In any circumstances, every healthcare employee must remember to keep patient confidentiality and privacy at all times. If you or other nurses breach this confidentiality, it can lead to disciplinary actions that can negatively affect your career and license.

What you need to avoid posting

Remember, you are held to the same, professional standards online as you would be at work. You should always be cautious using social media, but there are several high-risk areas that can breach patient privacy, confidentiality, and also be characterized as unprofessional.

Some posts that breach patient privacy and confidentiality include posting patient photos, negative comments about patients, and details that may identify the patient, the healthcare setting, or the specific departments that treated them. Even if it was intentional or on accident, like for instance giving advice on patient care, you are putting yourself at risk. If your posts are discovered and it violates a patient’s privacy, you might face legal problems, such as potential fines and jail time, termination, or other disciplinary action from your employer. Actions also might be taken by a board of nursing (BON), which may put your license in jeopardy.

Any violation of patient confidentiality takes places once a nurse shares information online with other people who aren’t allowed to receive it. Some examples highlighted by a 2015 nurse professional liability exposures claim report include:

• An RN who took a photo of a man getting an ECG and posted on Facebook.
• An RN who texted another nurse and physician negatively commenting on an ill child and their mother.
• A group of staff members working in a long-term-care facility filming and photographing a colleague in labor. Allegedly, the group mocked the nursing assistant, and posted photos of her and her vaginal area on various social media websites.

Exhibiting unprofessional behavior

What exactly do we mean by “unprofessional behavior”? Being unprofessional usually means that you are expressing unethical conduct. This could be by posting negative comments about your place of work, making complaints about coworkers and employers, or writing threatening comments online.

American Nurse Today gives an example of how unprofessional and unethical behavior online can cost you your job. In 2013, an ER nurse at New York-Presbyterian Hospital posted a photo on Instagram of an empty trauma room where a patient was just treated after getting hit by a subway car. The patient wasn’t in the photo, so it didn’t violate HIPAA rules, nor did it really violate the hospital’s social media policy. But, regardless, the nurse was fired for being insensitive with her post.

Like with other jobs, posts about your own personal life can have an impact on your career. These can include photos and comments about alcohol and/or drug use, posts that depict domestic violence, profane comments, or sexually explicit or racially-driven comments. And, while you can keep your page private, complaints of your behavior can come from your employers, coworkers, family members, friends, and partners.

Think twice before you post

While social media has given us so many benefits, we still need to be careful in how we use it to connect with others. Social media has provided nurses with an outlet to share ideas and experiences with other nurses, give crucial advice and how-to guides, and promote the positive aspects of being a nurse altogether.

Sometimes you might have a bad day at work and feel the need to blow off steam. Other times, you might see a nurse struggling with a procedure that you have done a hundred times and believe that you have an example that could help them. Social media is so intertwined in our lives that we forget to keep our boundaries in place. But, no matter how social media will evolve or advance, we have to be mindful about disclosing any patient or workplace-related information on any social media platform.

So, the next time you want to post something in a forum or on any social media site, think twice about it. Ask yourself, would I say or do this off the internet? Also, make sure that you are up to date with your facility’s policies, any state or federal laws, or new professional standards to avoid any missteps.