Does it sound like I can get my job back?

Nurses Professionalism

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At the Nursing home I work at we use walkie talkies to communicate with other staff members. A nurse that I work with one night got a resident to say "Get money b****** over them. She then posts on my Facebook using the residents initials "I got .. to say get money ******* over the walkies." State was at our facility last week and called me in to talk with them asking me if I knew of any staff members posting about residents on Facebook, I told them I didn't because honestly I forgot about that incident. This past Monday, the Director of Nursing called me and explained to me that I was terminated due to residents rights and there was a pending investigation by state against me and the nurse. I did absolutely nothing wrong, I never posted anything on Facebook...so how is it my fault for her actions and why am I being terminated for something somebody else did? Does it sound like I will be able to get my job back seeing that I didn't do anything?

Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.
I'll also repeat that Facebook is for kids, folks - grow the heck up, drop your account if you still have one and join the adult world.

While this is neither here, nor there, Facebook was created as a social media site for college students to interact and stay in touch. Not for children.

With family and friends spread across the country, Facebook provides an easy and free way stay in touch, have conversations, and share pictures of special events. Without the internet/Facebook, I would have much less contact with many of my friends and family and it would be impossible for me to share and view photos without spending tons of money on phone bills, traveling and postage.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with adults using a social media site for social purposes. Just be smart and keep private information off the internet.

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imagine it was your kid who had a bad photo or mean post about a teacher put on her fb page by a friend. you said, "do you know anything about a post about ms. x on fb?" and your kid says, "no, not me, mom, i sure don't."

wouldn't your reply be, "busted. grounded. it's not believable that you would forget that." i agree. it's just not believable that you "forgot."

now, in the remotely possible event that you really did forget that someone posted something about a patient on your fb page, that indicates a level of cluelessness or carelessness about patient rights that's solid grounds for getting fired right there.

no, you're not getting your job back, and you'll be lucky if you aren't disciplined by the bon. i don't think you'll lose your license over this burst of amazingly inmature bad judgment, but i'd be happy to see you on some sort of probation ("grounded.").

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In all honesty, I wasn't even thinking of the seriousness of the comment posted at the time. Also, how is using a public banned channel on walkie talkies that can be bought from anywhere (ex: walmart) NOT violating HIPAA violations as well? The nurses and aides use these to communicate Bowel movements, resident's requesting medications, etc, etc...and the list goes on and on. I am not understanding this at ALL. How was I suppose to know that I HAD to report her???? These are the types of issues that are not being relayed to CNA's in class...we are given extremely vague and ill informed information about how to deal with these dilemma's.

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It's not funny, but why would you even say get money ******. lol thats not so nice. but she did post it on your facebook so they will think you had something to do with it...

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

But when you went to work you signed their confidentiality agreement and signed that you got HIPAA training that ALL patient information is confidential. This has nothing to do with your school but everything to do with personal responsibility. Just because you are not informed about a law does not preclude your innocence. Just because you didn't mean to hurt someone doesn't mean you can't be charged. "Ignorance is no excuse of the Law".

Even if you didn't know you HAD to report her. You claimed that you had no idea when it was found on your page because you are "friends". Social media has no place at work nor does ANYTHING from work belong in social media.

I'm sorry...

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.
While this is neither here, nor there, Facebook was created as a social media site for college students to interact and stay in touch. Not for children.

With family and friends spread across the country, Facebook provides an easy and free way stay in touch, have conversations, and share pictures of special events. Without the internet/Facebook, I would have much less contact with many of my friends and family and it would be impossible for me to share and view photos without spending tons of money on phone bills, traveling and postage.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with adults using a social media site for social purposes. Just be smart and keep private information off the internet.

Yay, agree. Before she passed, my mother was an invalid for several years and even she was surprised at how well Facebook kept her in contact with everyone. Not just us kids, who called and came to see her a couple times a week, but her extended family -- even several friends from high school (40 some-odd years ago) ended up finding and contacting her.

Facebook isn't just for kids. Using Facebook responsibly is for adults. :)

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
in all honesty, i wasn't even thinking of the seriousness of the comment posted at the time. also, how is using a public banned channel on walkie talkies that can be bought from anywhere (ex: walmart) not violating hipaa violations as well? the nurses and aides use these to communicate bowel movements, resident's requesting medications, etc, etc...and the list goes on and on. i am not understanding this at all. how was i suppose to know that i had to report her???? these are the types of issues that are not being relayed to cna's in class...we are given extremely vague and ill informed information about how to deal with these dilemma's.

​everyone who works in healthcare gets a hipaa class of some sort. so how could you not know?

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Specializes in Mental Health, Hospice Care.
None of my coworkers are 'Facebook friends' of mine for this very reason. It is more trouble that it is really worth.

This is very good advice....never thought about that factor at all.....Thank you my friend!

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Specializes in Mental Health, Hospice Care.

and for the life of me I am trying to figure out just what was really said....."money*****".....I really cant figure out what the heck that even is or means.....and I have two teenage boy's.....:uhoh3:

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Specializes in kids.

Yikes! At the risk of sounding immature, I defend my use of FB. It is a social outlet for me as my family and friends are scattered far and wide. I am quite capable of keeping it social and I clearly understand the ramifications of misuse of social media.

I am well educated, articulate and have a great job. I pay my bills on time, have a mortgage, put myself through grad school and maintain a home. Yup, I am an adult and would love to continue but I need to catch up with my college roomie, across the country in California.

Peace.....

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
and for the life of me I am trying to figure out just what was really said....."money*****".....I really cant figure out what the heck that even is or means.....and I have two teenage boy's.....:uhoh3:
I'm with you. I can't figure that out. Nor can I figure out why anyone anywhere would communicate anything about bowel movements and medication over the air waves on a walkie talkie.
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While this is neither here, nor there, Facebook was created as a social media site for college students to interact and stay in touch. Not for children.

With family and friends spread across the country, Facebook provides an easy and free way stay in touch, have conversations, and share pictures of special events. Without the internet/Facebook, I would have much less contact with many of my friends and family and it would be impossible for me to share and view photos without spending tons of money on phone bills, traveling and postage.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with adults using a social media site for social purposes. Just be smart and keep private information off the internet.

I agree you can still live in the adult world and have a Facebook account. It just has to be managed appropriately

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