Facebook almost cost me my job

Nurses Relations

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Hi AN family,

This topic has been discussed throughout many threads but I wanted to designate a single thread to this issue. I am a Facebook junkie just like many people from my generation.

I would never post anything patient related or anything that would breach HIPAA. I posted a very tongue-in-cheek status about the daily struggles of nursing (such as drug seeking patients, non-compliant patients, and the patients with a grand sense of entitlement to name a few).

It was meant to be sarcastic and humorous. Well, long story short, HR got a hold of it and almost fired me for it. They said it made me look like a cold, callous nurse and that doesn't sit well with their core values as a facility.

My point of this thread is to be extremely careful about what you post on the internet. My page was as private as it could be but they managed to view it through a "friend's" page.

Luckily, I was able to keep my job and learned a valuable lesson. Don't post work related ANYTHING on your social networking sites.

I never post about work... I've seen enough postings from my coworkers that make me go "oh that was NOT smart to put up!" :eek:

...I also don't think my friends, family and coworkers care about the silly minutiae of my life!

This is why I use an assumed name for everything online, even facebook. I don't list my true town, where I really work etc. I also DON"T friend people I work with either. I had a problem with a back stabbing coworker a while back so now I'm extra extra careful. Sigh how do I miss the long gone days of internet anonymity

Keep Facebook only for personal social networking usage and never ever include our job info, worst of all patients' info!! I believe that nothing is ever 100% secure and there are plenty of hackers around the world.

Well one may think that hospitals' HR department is over sensitive about such issues but how about putting yourself in that patient's shoes should everything about you is being posted and shared in FB, how will you feel?? :eek: :o :mad:

I've constantly remind my nurses not to do this cos I've seen info related to our patients, colleagues and even bosses are being posted on FB!! Most of the time it's just merely ventilation of frustration and unhappinness. This is definitely not acceptable at all. :no:

Be careful everyone..... :nurse:

Make a second page for friends you trust using misspelled name. I would still not put anything on it you could not shout at a crowd of all your "friends".

Specializes in Emergency Department.

My previous "life" was as a journalist. Let me tell you - NOTHING ever leaves the Internet. I do have Google alerts on my name (sounds egotistical, but it also lets me know if people are using my writing without permission), and it always amazes me where my stuff turns up. Singapore? Thailand? Africa? And this is stuff I wrote years ago.

On Facebook, I keep things VERY tame. No party pictures (not that I party anymore), no controversial posts, no crazy rants. I mainly use it for showing off pictures of the kids to various relatives. :D I do have my profile restricted to "friends only," but I still presume that a future employer can see EVERYTHING. I also don't friend random people (I've never understood this practice).

In addition to posting ill-advised things about work, the other disturbing thing I see is people posting WAY too much information about their movements. I never post when I leave the house, go on vacation, am home alone, etc. It's just not safe, in my opinion. Maybe I'm paranoid from all the military and police in my family, but what if a patient (or anyone else) was stalking you? Would you really want them knowing you're at Chili's right now with Susie and Bobbie? Or that you're home alone for the next 12 hours? Or that you're leaving your shift at the hospital RIGHT NOW?

Just something to think about. I think Facebook is fine, if you use it responsibly and if you don't have the compulsion to tell everyone everything about your life. No one needs that much information anyway.

And, if you're having/had a bad day, find a good friend and go "old school" - go out to dinner or drinks and vent quietly (while maintaining HIPAA, of course).

ah, i cant be reading all 100 posts but I am dead proud that I am the only person I know who has never used or seen facebook:D

i'm too damn lazy when it comes to technology and my mental span for anything techno related is about 10 minutes...dead embarrassing really...i rarely sent texts, i rarely reply to them but I am bnot that old..43...dont own an ipod, just a laptop (secondhand) cause I have no patience for technology!

Specializes in Mental Health.

i never post anything about my job! i don't even have where i work! it is just too risky!

#1 there are too many nurses looking for jobs for you/me to give ours up because we needed to vent or say something that was taken the wrong way on fb.

#2 i'm a psych nurse....the patients seek staff out when they get discharged. fb an easy place to find where someone lives and their every move. :eek:

#3 not everybody needs to know your/my every thought.

#4just keep your fb private from your work life unless you have general statements that are positive!

#5 we all get patients that are unappreciative with attitude, too bad they cannot relax and enjoy life!

#6 those patients may make a day crappy but you ultimately get to make or break your day! :nurse:

Specializes in OB.
i never post anything about my job! i don't even have where i work! it is just too risky!

#1 there are too many nurses looking for jobs for you/me to give ours up because we needed to vent or say something that was taken the wrong way on fb.

#2 i'm a psych nurse....the patients seek staff out when they get discharged. fb an easy place to find where someone lives and their every move. :eek:

#3 not everybody needs to know your/my every thought.

#4just keep your fb private from your work life unless you have general statements that are positive!

#5 we all get patients that are unappreciative with attitude, too bad they cannot relax and enjoy life!

#6 those patients may make a day crappy but you ultimately get to make or break your day! :nurse:

while you are being very cautious about facebook, i hope that your allnurses "name is not related to your actual identity. this site is no more secure than any other.

Specializes in psych, general, emerg, mash.

Remember, Facebook is a public forum. Its similar to putting, I hate Lucy Ricardo, on a billboard in downtown. and SIGNING IT!!

But for those that are still following the herd mentality, beware!

Specializes in MDS RNAC, LTC, Psych, LTAC.
DOn't put anything at all on there. Anything. I see others put things like "wow work was tough tonight" etc or "How many patients are on the floor now?" I am just flabbergasted. Just Don't. Nothing. And I wouldn't friend patients or their family either.

Silvergirl,

I see that done by a former classmate of mine a year behind me in school and her other nurse friends they work for agency and they openly discuss the facilities where they are working, the census whether they are on diversion on Facebook with her I phone if the Midwest ever gets with it in my small southwest Missouri town she is going to be in alot of trouble she even says what unit she is working. I want to say something to her but I dont how to without looking like a old nag because she is in her 20s . Very smart girl and a critical care nurse but I dont know why people feel the need to say stuff about work I never do I use Facebook for family and friends and everyone has bad days at work and I just prefer to not talk about it on the internet. Everything on the net stays forever . :uhoh3:

This site is just as bad be careful

Specializes in Women's Surgical Oncology, MIU,MBU.

I am so glad that you did not loose your job behind this...its so hard to find a position and you really don't want to be out here like I am. Suggestion be grateful that you have a job and when those challening days come just say you know what "At least I have a job and I am going to do my best today."

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