Another nurse bites the dust due to facebook

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I don't know the woman in question, yet news reports acknowledge that facebook has caused another job termination casualty in the nursing community. I know there are numerous posts regarding this topic, yet I figure sharing this may help someone think twice when placing job/career related postings on facebook no matter how private you think your posts are!Follow the link to see why. What would you do?

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She did indeed go too far. Her priority was to take care of the patient and not bring in personal feelings. And if she felt violent towards the patient she should have asked for a new assignment.

We've already had issues with Facebook, and I'm just in nursing school! There were actually a few students whom had put some "opinions" about their clinical instructors on Facebook. Now, that probably wouldn't have been a big deal if they had just put something like, "Shew! Had a hard day at clinicals AND now I have so much paperwork to do!" But, now, they put "Mrs. Soandso had me take care of this guy with C. diff and OMG it was soooo nasty!" Yeah, not the best thing to put out there.

You may be wondering how they (the instructors) found out about it, that's simple, all of the instructors are on facebook, and most of us have been added by them. (Hey, if you had the program director sending you a request, would you deny it?)

We use facebook to ask if someone has the link to the website with whatever on it, or if anyone knows if test scores have been posted yet. We even have to be careful about the pictures we put up, because if it appears that we participate in drinking, partying, drugs, etc. we could be asked to leave for those reasons.

But, for Pete's sake, our class has a facebook page where the instructors post pictures of us from lab. Imagine a picture of your skills lab instructor inserting a Foley on a male manequin... Now, that's a facebook picture!

I also think she went too far. I do think it was a bit harsh to fire her, but that's what happens when you play with fire.

I have tried to protect myself by making my FB as private as possible. I also have 2 different accounts, one for work friends and one for close friends outside of work. Regardless, I am always careful about what I post on either one of my accounts.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i need advice. about a month ago i messaged a former employee of my work on fb stating..."how is your new job?! i'm itching to get the hell out," referencing an ongoing discussion that nurse and i had regarding ca nursing job market and my financial strain. the d.o.n at my work saw the post and took it to mean i was itching to get the hell out of my job. she then took the mis-conceived information and used my name and the post as an example to explain that she can see what is on fb to my nursing peers, cna staff, business personnel, and anyone else who would listen. she de-famed my character according to one of the nurses listening to her rant. i came in to work early to confront her and explain myself. she laughed when she acknowledged using my name and told me that she would cry and she was me. she also posted "be careful what you wish for" on the original fb thread. i now work in a threatening environment where my nursing peers and cna staff believe i hate my job etc etc. i spoke with our administrator about the whole thing and she didn't have much to say. does anybody have any words of encouragement, advice, etc on the situation other than don't ever post anything that even might be misinterpreted on fb about work?? i cried all day, all night, and am licking the salt my face this morning :(.

that type of comment should have been private, not put out for all the world to see. you've figured that out by now, but the damage is already done. my advice: don't post anything about work on facebook. don't "friend" co-workers.

and if you call in sick on november 1, don't spend the whole day posting pictures of the halloween parties you attended the night before!

Specializes in drug seekers and the incurably insane..

Well, it is too bad that nurse lost her job, but she was acting like an idiot. You never, ever post anything about a patient or workplace on a social networking site. Ever. She's paying the price for her stupidity. I use facebook and I do have some people from work on there, but I do not ever, ever put anything about work on there. I don't even have my occupation listed. I'm certain that there are some spies lookin' for somethin'. I don't put anything personal either. I'm very paranoid, I guess.. I can't afford to lose my job now and nursing jobs aren't exactly plentiful, and the facility would have no problem discharging me or others for an error in judgment. If any of you are familiar with the Harry Potter books....I would be "Mad-Eye" Moody. Constant Vigilance!!

Specializes in acute care med/surg, LTC, orthopedics.
You may be wondering how they (the instructors) found out about it, that's simple, all of the instructors are on facebook, and most of us have been added by them. (Hey, if you had the program director sending you a request, would you deny it?)

I find this very disturbing. FB is a SOCIAL networking site, there is absolutely no reason to add an instructor or manager or any boss as a "friend." Anyone who does is quite simply asking for it and I have no pity whatsoever.

Specializes in Health Information Management.
I find this very disturbing. FB is a SOCIAL networking site, there is absolutely no reason to add an instructor or manager or any boss as a "friend." Anyone who does is quite simply asking for it and I have no pity whatsoever.

Exactly so. There's no way you should ever accept someone from work as a friend on your personal Facebook page! If you must, set up a "professional" page for those folks, but keep your personal page separate and well-guarded with privacy settings - and discretion.

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
keep your personal page separate and well-guarded with privacy settings - and discretion.

I find it far safer to post nothing on Facebook that I wouldn't say straight to the face of management/coworkers/bosses/etc. or wouldn't be ashamed of them finding out about. I save my ranting, work horror stories and any questionable material for more anonymous outlets ;)

Specializes in Med Surg.

You may be wondering how they (the instructors) found out about it, that's simple, all of the instructors are on facebook, and most of us have been added by them. (Hey, if you had the program director sending you a request, would you deny it?)

I didn't deny any FB requests from instructors or the program director. I just did a "pocket veto" and ignored them.

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Home Health.

I suppose I have been guilty a time or two with facebook. However, I have never identified a patient. I have remarked that I lost a patient today. So what are your thoughts on that? It's in the newspaper obituiary and you are just paying your respects in a manner of speaking without mentioning their name. If I had said something on FB it has been generalized such as you will be missed, held a dying hand today. That doesn't point to who because you can hold anyone's hand who's dying. Prove that! is who I am talking about! Although, I do not advertise my place of employment and try and avoid workplace FB friends. I was told when Hipaa first came out that you could talk about pt situations as long as no one could identify who you were talking about.???????????????????????? that was words straight out of nursing instructors mouth? However, in the small town I live in I have had many people say "yeah I heard so and so is down there where you are." Of course I will say I can NOT say whether or not so and so is even a pt. So you need to ask their family more about them and not me!

Also though I heard of a local girl nurse who blasted on FB that she was working with old faulty equipment. Well in turn she got fired! I think I have common sense others do not!

Specializes in LDRP.

As far as facebook privacy settings go, even if you set it to "friends only"--how do you know that one of your facebook friends doesn't have your profile pulled up and showing other people he/she knows in person your facebook page/pics/info?

happened a lot where i used to work

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Exactly so. There's no way you should ever accept someone from work as a friend on your personal Facebook page! If you must, set up a "professional" page for those folks, but keep your personal page separate and well-guarded with privacy settings - and discretion.

Yep. I have nobody at my current place of employment as a Facebook friend, and I intend to keep it that way. LOTS of former coworkers (including my former boss) from my last job, though!

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