Do nurses have a responsibility to keep their Facebook professional?

[Bortaz]

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?

[CherylRNBSN]

This is just MY personal opinion and no one has to agree with it or like it...but I feel that so long as I don't put anything about my employer or coworkers, anything about my patients or their care, or anything that violates HIIPA, what I put on my facebook or twitter is my business. It doesnt matter if i get drunk every weekend, it doesn't matter what I tweet or put on facebook. That doesn't determine what kind of nurse I am and it doesn't have any baring on my professionalism. I'm a nurse for 36 hours a week. The rest of the time is mine to do with what I want.

While I understand your sentiment, I think it is naieve.

If a potential employer had a way to KNOW you were getting drunk every weekend, do you think they would hire you?? It is well documented that hangovers cause tremendous amts of calling in sick. I am not saying YOU do that, but others do. And if you are getting drunk every weekend, it raises the issue of: are you driving drunk? Are you out of control?

We all have a reputation. And it follows us whether we are at work or not. I want to protect mine.

[redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN]

And if you are getting drunk every weekend, it raises the issue of: are you driving drunk? Are you out of control?

Uhh unless I drive for my job, why is this my employer's concern? I agree people who drive drunk are imbeciles but it has nothing to do with whether one can scrape oneself out of bed on Monday and come to work.

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

All this free availability of information is new and employers are glad to have it in order to judge you. It'll take awhile before laws catch up but until they do if its out there and available they'll use it and even if they didn't look at it this way. If I your mean coworker finds your facebook profile with you drunken escapades and I like to gossip well let's say thats not going to end well for yu. Every time you legitimately call in sick I'm muttering under my breath about how your hungover.

So the moral of the story is next time invite me (j/k) or do what Aly Raisman did and delete the tweet about going clubbing and replace it with one that says "Oh what a long day off to bed"

[Piglet08]

"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."

It is your employer's concern when your job involves judgment upon which people's lives may depend, and involves dispensing controlled substances. You may not think it should be, but it is, anyway.

[Piglet08]

"Why do "fools" use their real names on Facebook?

I don't think there's any other option on Facebook.

[nursel56]

The whole thing has spawned a new set of companies, though. One for your boss "Social Media Monitoring Tools Made Easy" and another to get rid of the stuff your boss might have an issue with. Amusing NYT article about the latter.

An Application to Help Scrub Those Regrettable Photos From Facebook

[CherylRNBSN]

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.

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!

So while I see wrong wrong with having fun and imbibing on one's own time. please realize that you have a reputation to protect. Don't portray yourself as getting drunk every weekend.

This reminds of some PR advice I read onetime: never let someone take a photo of you w a drink in your hand.

[CherylRNBSN]

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.

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

[CherylRNBSN]

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!

So while I see wrong wrong with having fun and imbibing on one's own time. please realize that you have a reputation to protect. Don't portray yourself as getting drunk every weekend.

This reminds of some PR advice I read onetime: never let someone take a photo of you w a drink in your hand.

Tried to, but was unable to edit my post. Should have read "I see NOTHING wrong with having fun and imbibing on one's own time."

[sharpeimom]

It can really matter what is on your FB account because not only can an employer or prospective employer see how

silly and foolish you get sometimes, but it can also come back and bite you in the butt legally.

There have been two cases in this area where the defendants' FB acct. entries were used against them. One showed

the person drank and used illicit drugs on the job, while in the other case, the kid was bragging about his idea to steal

a certain neighbor's (by name) gun and car then "really have some fun."

In the second example, it amounted to nothing more than an angry and frustrated teen's angst followed by bragging so

his buddies would be impressed, however, proving that he was merely letting off steam was tough when someone else stole his gun.

[Char254]

Unfortunately, Big Brother is watching. And in this age, eyes and ears are everywhere!

I respectfully disagree with your statement that nurses are self-righteous. (that very statement is judgemental.) People are people, and there are self righteous, nasty, judgemental people in ALL professions.

Employers are (rightfully) concerned about the conduct of their employees outside of work. It speaks to morality. Issues of judgement. Integrity. And what you do on your own time may very well be used to PREDICT what you may do on employer's time.

I'm not a nurse yet, but a couple co-workers that are nurses got fired due to Facebook postings...never post anything in reference to the facility your employed with or pics of you in scrubs with your facilities name on it.

[redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN]

It is your employer's concern when your job involves judgment upon which people's lives may depend, and involves dispensing controlled substances. You may not think it should be, but it is, anyway.

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