Ethical Issues

[RN2020scm]

Hey everyone. I have a question. There is a nurse that I know of who takes exotic photos, has an OnlyFans account, "models" in music videos & doesn't mind posing near naked in sexually suggestive positions on social media sites. (She doesn't hide ANYTHING!) That's her life BUT my question is: Can a healthcare employer fire someone for what they do outside of their career as a nurse??? I know we are pillars in the community & are held to a high standard but I want to know, technically, is this woman in the wrong & would or could her job or license be on the line........Thanks in advance for the feedback given! ?

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

She can be fired certainly. Many companies have in their employee handbooks language applying to the use of social media as well as prohibiting talking to news media off the clock and the possible consequences which usually says something like discipline "up to and including termination." In their thinking you represent your employer no matter if you are at work or off the clock.

Even if the employer doesn't specifically prohibit certain internet activity they can come up with a reason to fire her if they want. Or even fire her for no reason at all in most states. Unless of course she has union backing, but even then if they want to get rid of her they can and will find a way.

As for possible licensing consequences I suppose that depends on the language in that state's nurse practice act. Every state operates under their own rules so some more conservative state's Board of Nursing might have a problem with it while other's wouldn't care as long as she was not participating in anything illegal.

I would hope that she is claiming her income from her second job properly to avoid breaking any laws. I would also hope that she already looked into the nurse practice act for her state to make sure she wouldn't face discipline from that front. Once those hurdles are cleared a job is a job and if her employer chooses to fire her over her second job she may feel that the second job is well worth the risk.