Are you Facebook friends with your coworkers?

Published

It seems it's the norm on my unit that nurses are also in touch through social media. It has always been my intention to keep my work and private life separate. However I am finding I have more in common with the other nurses than my friends I grew up with (who I seem to be outgrowing) so I have been considering bending my rule for a handful of nurses.

What are your thoughts on this? Are you connected with coworkers on social media?

No way. Work/Life Balance. Also, Stella Blue I love your picture. Did you happen to catch any of the Fare thee well tour?

Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

I'm FB friends with a lot of people I never see. I hardly ever post, so it doesn't matter. I don't share much on FB anyway. Only photos now, if that.

Specializes in Behavioral Health.

I'm friends with tons of coworkers from my last hospital. Almost the entire PCU, the ICU night shift, most of the neuroscience unit, a third of the float pool, plus the nurse managers of the PCU, float pool, and neurosciences... probably literally 150 or so people. I'm not friends with anyone from my current hospital yet​, but it'll happen. I'm still deciding which ones I like well enough to invite out. I've always assumed that anything I post on Facebook was public even if I have filters setup to prevent it. So, I post about work maybe quarterly, and it's usually, "Whew, what a night. I'm glad I was working a princess shift," rather than what I say as I clock out, which is usually something like, "****, that was a rough shift. I'm going home to drink all the beers."

I'm friends with a large number of coworkers -- supervisors, techs, RNs, and Drs. We also have a closed FB group for our department where we can post things like shift swap requests and department events (like bowling night, etc).

Not on FB or Insta. I don't want to break the internet.

Ha ha.

I actually never joined because of an ex BF.

That being said I text, I'm here, and am pretty open about who I am, if you ask.

My friends all know me and we text and send pics all the time, no reason to "like" their dinner.

But yea, my personal anecdote aside, I'm all for it.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I became FB friends with coworkers after I stopped working with them or the other way around...most coworkers have my number and we meet outside of work when we can.

My ex coworkers are like an extended family, and we meet more frequently.

I became FB friends with coworkers after I stopped working with them or the other way around...most coworkers have my number and we meet outside of work when we can.

My ex coworkers are like an extended family, and we meet more frequently.

LadyFree where you been?

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I am friends with some of them. But as my account is private and I really don't post more than pictures of the little ones, funny cat videos and the occasional humor meme, I'm not too worried. If I won't say it in front of my parents, my supervisor and a room full of 3rd graders, it doesn't get posted.

Specializes in Home Care Mgmt, Med-Surg.

Friends with a few coworkers and former coworkers. I never post anything questionable on FB, nor do those whom I'm friends with. I don't think it would affect my current job much if I was a little more lax, but I always think of future employers and also professional groups I'm part of.

We just dismissed a resume of a potential hire after seeing their FB page & seeing some controversial posts. Personally I did not have a problem with their views (didn't voice that!), but others did. If I don't feel like I can say something in the office, it stays off social media as well.

Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

My co-workers FB each other while they're at work. On the same shift. Sitting close enough they could talk to each other.

Phones are on the desk at every computer. I have every alarm on every phone burned in my brain.

I don't have a FB account.

The people I work with are my colleagues. They're my work friends. They don't go home with me.

Specializes in Behavioral Health.
The people I work with are my colleagues. They're my work friends. They don't go home with me.

I haven't yet taken a coworker home with me, but I don't think that's technically what it means to be friends...

I have seen negative outcomes more than positive ones.

+ Join the Discussion