Blog Faux Pas? Help!

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Specializes in Case Management.

Hey everyone -

Just wondering if I have offended everyone in the nursing industry or if the person I am dealing with is just being a smidge overly sensitive???

I started a website/new blog that I intend to keep up with for several years. The purpose and tagline is "Thoughts of asecond degree nursing student". The intent of the blog is to serve as a diary entry of sorts for myself as I go along-- BUT I also intend to develop it into much more than that as the years progress. Eventually - I'd like for it to be a resource hub for other nursing students and professionals alike... With all this in mind I named it, (and took all the Social media names to accompany it as well) NurseJando.

In an attempt to start building a following eventhough I haven't officially launched my website yet - I've started to post on instagram, inspirational quotes, nursing inside jokes, etc... I've also done a few (like 4?) blog posts related to making money in side-gigs and saving mone as well to help with nursing school debt...

Now the reason I guess I ruffled some feathers is because I am NOT a nurse YET. . .

I've worked in the medical field for 6+ years, am currently working in Case Management and do inpatient assessments day in and day out. I AM admitted to a BSN program which I will start early next year. By early 2019, I will have my RN license. I've gotten some nasty remarks already asking me to please not state I'm something that I'm not...

Did i really do something that terrible? I mean I can't now change the domain name or anything like that so what would be a good way to *sidenote* or highlight, that I'm a "future rn" is that'll make people less offended?

Caught by surprise at the hate!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Did i really do something that terrible?

Actually, you've done something that is illegal in many states. Title "Nurse" Protection: Summary of Language by State

One cannot refer to oneself as a nurse without holding a valid license. So, actually, I wouldn't call it "hate" that you've gotten; I'd call it people being rightfully offended that you're calling yourself/your blog something you haven't yet earned.

So, either hold off on posting on this blog until you've got that RN license and start another one as a nursing student, or find a way to post in very large, prominent text that you are a future nurse. Work with whatever site is hosting the blog to see if you can temporarily change the name until you hold a nursing license.

And to any other future students considering a blog, take this as a lesson: Never use a title you haven't earned.

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Specializes in Case Management.

Great info - i was not aware of any of this, Thank you! :)

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Specializes in Case Management.
... either hold off on posting on this blog until you've got that RN license and start another one as a nursing student, or find a way to post in very large, prominent text that you are a future nurse...

I went ahead and changed all the Social media accounts to FutureRNJando since those were an easy fix. I also had my landing page changed to reflect the FUTURE NURSE aspect in large "can't miss it" font... and even made the proper disclaimer on a widget that consistently appears through out my website/blog.

Thanks again for the tips! Appreciate the insight.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

OP: given that you've registered all the possible social media names associated with it, don't change them as you may not be able to get them back. For example, if NurseJando was your Twitter handle and you change it to FutureNurseJando, NurseJando is immediately available for anyone else to register. On some platforms, if you change your username, the old username becomes unvailable for anyone INCLUDING you to register, so you can't switch back.

Instead, create a second set of social media names to use while you are going to school. Then when you are licensed, you can either merge the two accounts, move material from the school accounts to the RN accounts, or keep them both and have the old accounts forward/link to the RN ones.

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Specializes in Case Management.

Oh man - I wish i would've know that tidbit... :( I hope i'm still able to retrieve by NurseJando handles!

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

I think your idea of blogging about your nursing student journey is good.

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Specializes in Case Management.

Thank you Nurse Beth! I've been a big fan of yours for a little over a year now and appreciate you taking the time to read my previous dilemma and ALSO giving me direct advice on your Advice column! If you're ever bored and want to give me some input on my blog I'd be thrilled!! :) Working on a blog post now actually!!

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.
Thank you Nurse Beth! I've been a big fan of yours for a little over a year now and appreciate you taking the time to read my previous dilemma and ALSO giving me direct advice on your Advice column! If you're ever bored and want to give me some input on my blog I'd be thrilled!! :) Working on a blog post now actually!!
But of course! I'd be happy to give you input :)
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