Do nurses have a responsibility to keep their Facebook professional?

Nurses Professionalism

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I am "Facebook friends" with a large number of my nursing peers. I am often quite surprised at the behavior I see exhibited by them in so public a place.

I see:

1. Lots and lots of foul language/inappropriate pics, etc.

2. Lots and lots of "oh, man, I'm so wasted right now...bout to go to the next bar!!!"

3. Lots and lots of TMI about relationships, affairs, drunkeness, fights, whatever.

On their FB profile, they have it proudly posted that they are "Registered Nurse at So-and-so Hospital", or "Proud PEDI Nurse!" or "School nurse at Ur Dum Akadimy".

I cringe sometimes when I see some of this stuff, and think to myself "what would their employer think?" or, "Hope they're not interviewing soon with a computer-adept manager".

I try to keep my social media as clean as I can, and don't flaunt any of my bad habits for the world to see.

But, what do you think? Do nurses have a responsibility to maintain a professional demeanor on their (supposedly) private social media sites?

Another possibility: Am I an old fart?

Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
The very act of getting drunk every weekend indicates a loss of control. ANY nurse should realize that as a physiological truth. Your judgement is affected. Period. That is the very nature of intoxication!

Yeah, when one is intoxicated. When one is not intoxicated, one's judgment is not affected, period. And my comment was not made on "getting drunk every weekend." Maybe you shouldn't read more into what was said.

Uhhh, STATISCALLY it DOES. Research "loss of manpower" annually d/t ETOH. This is what employers are concerned with. Statistics, and predicting behavior.

I mean, are these two separate replies to the same post from the same person, within minutes of each other, reflecting two completely separate ideas? I might not concern myself with what someone else does on the weekend if it took me almost 10 minutes to collect my thoughts.

Again, mayhaps you shouldn't read more into what I said. I made absolutely no statement about missing work, now did I? In fact I'm pretty sure that I said as long as I showed up on Monday ready to work then it's not their concern what I drove, with whom or on what. So no, "loss of manpower" wasn't in the picture. Maybe you should look up loss of manpower over Super Bowl weekend and see if maybe we should think about nurses being banned from watching the Super Bowl, you know, while you're busy dictating what can and can't be done on the weekend.

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Specializes in critical care, Med-Surg.
Yeah, when one is intoxicated. When one is not intoxicated, one's judgment is not affected, period. And my comment was not made on "getting drunk every weekend." Maybe you shouldn't read more into what was said.

I mean, are these two separate replies to the same post from the same person, within minutes of each other, reflecting two completely separate ideas? I might not concern myself with what someone else does on the weekend if it took me almost 10 minutes to collect my thoughts.

Again, mayhaps you shouldn't read more into what I said. I made absolutely no statement about missing work, now did I? In fact I'm pretty sure that I said as long as I showed up on Monday ready to work then it's not their concern what I drove, with whom or on what. So no, "loss of manpower" wasn't in the picture. Maybe you should look up loss of manpower over Super Bowl weekend and see if maybe we should think about nurses being banned from watching the Super Bowl, you know, while you're busy dictating what can and can't be done on the weekend.

I was not speaking to you specifically, but rather in general terms. Sorry if you were offended (or defensive.) And yes, I had a couple of thoughts a few minutes apart. Which I posted as they came to me. Forgive me.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
I was not speaking to you specifically, but rather in general terms. Sorry if you were offended (or defensive.) And yes, I had a couple of thoughts a few minutes apart. Which I posted as they came to me. Forgive me.

Sorry I was rude. Yes, I was defensive, since I saw them as both replies to me and weren't necessarily what I said. I don't condone driving drunk, being drunk every weekend, or acting a fool Sunday night and showing up Monday. I do get annoyed if people think that what one does on Friday night affects who they are Monday morning.

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Specializes in critical care, Med-Surg.
Uhhhh unless I drive for my job, why is this my employer's concern? I agree people who drive drunk are @#$@#$holes but it has nothing to do with whether one can scrape oneself out of bed on Monday and come to work.

Here is the post that concerned me. It implied "getting drunk" by saying "Uhhhh, UNLESS i DRIVE for my job, why is this my employer's concern?" by asking "As long as I can scrape myself out of bed".

Loss of manpower. Statistics.

Does anyone want someone "scraping" themselves out of bed caring for their critically ill loved one?

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Specializes in critical care, Med-Surg.
Sorry I was rude. Yes, I was defensive, since I saw them as both replies to me and weren't necessarily what I said. I don't condone driving drunk, being drunk every weekend, or acting a fool Sunday night and showing up Monday. I do get annoyed if people think that what one does on Friday night affects who they are Monday morning.

Thank you. I think we actually understand and agree with one another.

I think this is a perfect example of WHY we need to be careful of what and how we say things, and what we post.

And also why we need to keep private what we are doing on Friday night.

All the best to you, redheadnurse,...I love a cocktail, too, but you'd never know it! ;-)

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"You may think it should be, but it's not, anyway. :)"

I don't necessarily think it should be. But employers will look at that. Even if "it isn't their concern". That's what I mean, redhead98. We are probably pretty much in agreement on whether it is or is not right, but I'm just sayin, it is happening, and they have a rationale for it.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
"You may think it should be, but it's not, anyway. :)"

I don't necessarily think it should be. But employers will look at that. Even if "it isn't their concern". That's what I mean, redhead98. We are probably pretty much in agreement on whether it is or is not right, but I'm just sayin, it is happening, and they have a rationale for it.

I do see their rationale, unfortunately they will, as always, manage to take it so far that they will be legislated out of doing anything to anybody, and will just create plenty more litigation over it.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

This has been an interesting conversation. Amazing what comes from a random thought in my head. Thanks for expressing your opinions, folks.

I ended up deleting one of the worst offenders...not because she's an emotionally brittle drunk, but because she started posting mostly en espanol, which I can't really read.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.
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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

Ha, so appropriate!

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

Yes. I personally do not add my co-workers on Facebook or if I do, I make sure to edit them and put them on a "co-worker" list. I edit my friends all the time because people may use your info to get you in trouble and etc.

I also make sure that I don't post anything about my work or my social life, basically I edit everything and limit the number of audience or group who can see my post.

Good luck and God speed! :nurse:

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face book (i refuse to capitalize it, and it isn't one word). fd has the been the downfall of so many good things. I do some work with a mental health / post divorce counsellor. 6 of 10 divorces started as a result of online fb (primarily) contacts. Old boyfriends, girlfriends, gay friends, etc. fb has killed jobs, caused suicides, protects a couple of pedophile and felon rings by not disclosing their identity. THAT was because a number of the people selling pictures of little ones, WERE people on fb's staff.

Do yourself a favor. Disconnect from the social keystroke bs, it's hurting everywhere. twitter, is the second most disturbing effect. Turns out that our US Ambassador in Libya and 3 (more than what they're admitting), were killed by others in Libya (read AQ). They were "tweeting" to buds inside the embassy actual, setting up the ambushes.

Now, for those that will defend fb by saying, "i only use it to keep in touch with so and so". Get a real life, send a letter and put PICTURES in the letter. They'll last longer anyway.

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