Are you Facebook friends with your coworkers?

[BlueDawnRN]

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?

[fawnmarie, ASN]

I am facebook friends with some co-workers, but not with any of my supervisors, and I am careful to share only things that cast my profession and employer in a favorable light. I cringe when I see people venting about work on social media...they never know who is reading their posts.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

The one thing I can say about social media, regardless of who I am friends with, is to never put your place of employment on it.

I am selective on who I share my personal life with. The last thing I want is "heyyyy Jade, nice post on fb last night" as a discussion topic at the nurse's station....and it does happen.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Even though I keep my FB "clean", I still don't friend many coworkers. FB is difficult! Some friends tag me in funny memes, with bad words. Some of my friends, who are nurses, post questionable stuff. I don't want to be "guilty by association". Which is why I friend very few co workers!

[BecomingNursey]

Yes I am, but I also make sure anything I post isn't work related and I don't drink, do drugs or party so there's no reason to filter the pictures of me, my husband and my daughter. As long as you don't have anything to hide I don't see why having your work friends as friends on Facebook hurts anything. Just my $0.02

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

LadyFree where you been?

In the trenches-working...I've stopped by a few posts though.

[FurBabyMom, MSN, RN]

I am friends with coworkers on social media. But I don't post about work...so...nothing to hide. My coworkers are pretty awesome. :)

[jillian09]

No, because you never know who will end up on your Facebook page after adding one coworker! I went through quite an experience with coworkers on my facebook profile! But then again if you feel like you'd like to add them just do not post your personal life or anything that someone would find even slightly inappropriate & it might be ok.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

No, because you never know who will end up on your Facebook page after adding one coworker!

Yes this happened to me. I friended only 2 co workers I was close to, and all of a sudden, I had multiple friend requests from co workers.

I ended up going through their friend lists and blocking all co workers.

My FB is "clean", but I just didn't want co workers I wasn't close with knowing all about me.

I'm a pretty private person.

[BlueDawnRN, BSN]

Wow what great replies, thanks! It seems everyone does things a little differently and there are many factors to think about.

I think I'll hold off on friending anyone I currently work with. I didn't friend classmates in nursing school until a week before graduation, and likewise didn't friend my coworkers of my old department until I left the department. I have been able to maintain great friendships this way without it hindering my work. Maybe I'll change my mind one day but this works for now!

[lucy100]

When I first joined FB I became friends with literally every person on my unit because that was the norm. I now never post anything because I don't enjoy sharing my life details with most coworkers. I have heard many snide/catty/jealous comments between coworkers making fun of other coworkers due to FB pictures of vacations or political posts or whatever! I have also seen a few people get in trouble for posts that surprisingly seemed like no big deal. It is too awkward to de-friend people that I still work with so about 2 years ago I stopped becoming friends with new coworkers. No matter what you post on FB coworkers will me discussing it at work either positive or negative. When I'm not there I don't want to be on anyone's radar! I am the kind of person that needs a HUGE line between work and personal life. Lesson learned to late!

[sweetlilwolf]

I'm only friends on Facebook with the people I'm actually friends with in and out of work.

[YumCookies, BSN, RN]

I don't really use Facebook, but I do exchange phone numbers and socialize with coworkers outside of work on occasion. I just keep it light/casual and talk about things like family, friends, hobbies, quirky things about life. I don't share intimate details or talk about heavy/controversial topics.