Be Careful When Posting

[TheCommuter]

As many of you are already aware, allnurses.com is the largest online nursing community on the world wide web and one of the most commonly visited professional social networks in existence today. The variety of forums, sheer number of wonderful members, supportive atmosphere, and constant exchange of information all contribute to making this website a fantastic virtual place for spending one's free time.

Personally, I became a member more than seven years ago while I was a student at a school of vocational nursing (LVN). As I have grown professionally and personally in the nursing field, allnurses.com has been right there with me. During my tenure here, I have completed an LVN program, graduated from an RN bridge program, and worked as a nurse for more than six years. I am still amazed at the fact that I continue to learn new tidbits on an almost daily basis while browsing these informative forums.

This message is a friendly, heartfelt reminder to exercise the utmost caution when posting personal information about you, your school, classmates, instructors, coworkers, and place of employment. After all, allnurses.com is the largest online community of nurses and nursing students, and clever readers are more than capable of putting two and two together to come up with you.

Even if you have not posted the name of your school, your workplace's name, or your exact geographic location, some inquisitive people have been able to read the very detailed posts and figure out that the member is someone with whom they are acquainted 'in real life.' In fact, this scenario has played out on more than one occasion.

While these forums are generally safe to vent and release some steam, think twice before insulting your professors or posting too much information about the patients and families that you encounter during your clinical rotations. Tread carefully when posting vivid details about the annoying classmate or the critical coworker. Exercise some caution when criticizing your nursing program. You absolutely do not want any posted material to come back and haunt you at a later date.

In summary, be careful when posting. Continue to enjoy the multiple forums, fellow members, continual flow of information, and abundant resources that make allnurses.com the biggest and best online nursing community on the internet today. After all, this website would not be the same without your great posts, opinions, contributions, viewpoints, and discourse. I know that I speak for others when I say that we love having you all here. You, the readers, are the reason that allnurses.com rocks!

[eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN]

While I agree, I hate the fact that we truly lose freedom of speech with our career choice. I wouldn't dare to share phi, but if I want to rant about something that actually happened and it offended an employer, perhaps they should fix the problem to the best of their ability?

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

No one is taking away your freedom of speech. You are free to post but you must realize there are consequences to some postings.

[Stephalump]

While I agree, I hate the fact that we truly lose freedom of speech with our career choice. I wouldn't dare to share phi, but if I want to rant about something that actually happened and it offended an employer, perhaps they should fix the problem to the best of their ability?

In that context, II don't know that you "lose" any more freedom than any other profession

If I were a plumber and my boss found me online ranting about him and my coworkers, I'm pretty sure the consequences would be the same. The difference is that you've made yourself a little easier to find by joining a site dedicated to ranting nurses.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

Make sure you look at the hospital's social media protocol. There are a lot of things they can fire for or get students expelled for. We just fired someone from our unit for posting about something that was in the media about our hospital. Don't poop where you live!

[Bobmo88]

Make sure you look at the hospital's social media protocol. There are a lot of things they can fire for or get students expelled for. We just fired someone from our unit for posting about something that was in the media about our hospital. Don't poop where you live!

Excellent point! My hospital has made it clear that no PHI may be divulged over social media. I hardly post anything about work but it is usually something very vague like "busy shift" or "day 2 of 3 at work this week" etc. But nothing that could link me to a single patient. That's just asking for trouble.

[workingharder]

As I have stated before, this is not a true representation of me. That's not my real nose.

[Hygiene Queen]

As I have stated before, this is not a true representation of me. That's not my real nose.

And I still say that this statement and that avatar totally crack me up!

[adventure780, BSN, MSN, RN, APN]

great topic, I try to be careful and not use names, and I don't tell people the name of the places I have worked. It is important to be wise about what you share here.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Solution: More threads of people burned by stalkers, employers, and family members because of too-easily-identified posts on AN. (OK, OK, no more green font as a choice, and no more Comic Sans ... a pity ... I will miss being able to scan for me and Ruby please reconsider ... )

I miss you, too GreenTea. I spent a long time trying to MAKE it do Comic Sans, then blue and then I sadly scanned through looking for your Green comic sans . . . to no avail. It's not the same place without it.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Absolutely. I've recognized people from AN in real life and been recognized as well. So I post as though I'm posting under my real name and not a screen name.

[abiklags]

I've posted where I live in the general area but not so much personal info. I learned that the hard way on a dif forum that I follow. at last count, I had about 6 or 7 ppl who know my screen name. now when I post on that forum, I post knowing ppl know me. If I need to post s/t anonamously, I post under my second screen name to hide my ID.

I once had a nurse tell me not to discuss job offers here. She said she found a thread discussing the same job offer as her but the OP didnt get the job and that made her super nervous and anxious. the RN got the job but she warned me to be careful here.

now I post here as though ppl do know who I am or they can find out really easy. which means I keep personal info limited

[PennyWise]

In that context, II don't know that you "lose" any more freedom than any other profession

If I were a plumber and my boss found me online ranting about him and my coworkers, I'm pretty sure the consequences would be the same. The difference is that you've made yourself a little easier to find by joining a site dedicated to ranting nurses.

I agree. I've talked to RL coworkers about this actually and made the same point..............except the fact that I can name a number of other career paths in which it is much more so that way.

We were talking about gossip in general and someone said there is too much of it in nursing. I believe part of the reason is that nurses get away with it more so than other fields. I used to be a landscaper and if the boss (heck, even if it were a fellow, same ranked employee) found out you were spreading **** and vinegar about them around, WATCH OUT. You could expect to be called out on the carpet, probably will have to defend yourself physically, definitely will be the butt of a great many insults/jokes and if they don't think you learned your lesson........you're gone and good luck trying to collect unemployment (especially if they can prove you were talking about them, ie.....have a screen shot of your comments from a social media site WITH YOUR PICTURE IDENTIFYING YOU).

In nursing, meh........some people will click their teeth at you and many will bad mouth you behind your back but all in all, it takes a lot for anyone to take any assertive action about it. Then the nurse feels justified in their behavior......gets worse.......and administration steps in.

My point: Nursing is wild and free with its cattiness and foul mouthing others. I can not view actions against those who do it as a "loss of freedom of speech." Especially when they are so bold about it as to post on social media with an identifying picture.