Friend is sending FB requests to all ICU/ER nurses

[NurseSince2014]

I have a friend/coworker that really wants to work in the ICU or the ER. She was thinking about looking up ALL the nurses at a hospital who work in any ICU or the ER and sending them a friend request on Facebook. This would mean sending hundreds of Facebook friend requests. She feels this may be a good way to network. I've told her that it is probably not a good idea. Nurses talk to each other, so they may pick up on her odd behavior, which could actually hurt her chances of ever landing one of these positions. Some may consider it to be stalking and report her to Facebook. Her account could be closed if she sends too many friend requests to people who don't know her or don't want her friend request. Her obsession with these positions and the people who work them is a bit excessive, really. Anyway, I haven't been able to convince her that this is a bad idea. I'm pretty sure she's already sent out Facebook requests to these people. What would you to say to someone like this?

[RNperdiem, RN]

I suspect this is where people misinterpret job advice that recommends networking as a good way to land a job. It is who you know, so why not "friend" everyone in the department?. There is a lot of misguided job advice out there.

[/username, BSN, RN]

If she wants to ensure that not only does she not get a job in the ICU or ER, but also blackballed from the hospital, she's doing a great job!!!

[klone, MSN, RN]

Do you consider everyone who has sent you a friend request (that you ignored because their name didn't strike you as familiar) a "stalker"?

IK, R? I find all the claims of "stalking" for a simple friend request to be so bizarre!

[Creamsoda, ASN, RN]

definately a terrible thing to do. This will not get her networking like she thinks. It will make the whole "network" think shes crazy.

[broughden]

I have a friend/coworker that really wants to work in the ICU or the ER. She was thinking about looking up ALL the nurses at a hospital who work in any ICU or the ER and sending them a friend request on Facebook. This would mean sending hundreds of Facebook friend requests. She feels this may be a good way to network. I've told her that it is probably not a good idea. Nurses talk to each other, so they may pick up on her odd behavior, which could actually hurt her chances of ever landing one of these positions. Some may consider it to be stalking and report her to Facebook. Her account could be closed if she sends too many friend requests to people who don't know her or don't want her friend request. Her obsession with these positions and the people who work them is a bit excessive, really. Anyway, I haven't been able to convince her that this is a bad idea. I'm pretty sure she's already sent out Facebook requests to these people. What would you to say to someone like this?

That they need to seek professional counseling, as this is a spectacularly bad idea and as you said they seem to be obsessed with it which can be unhealthy to this degree.

[Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN]

Too much involvement in social media is unhealthy.

Get outside. Be fully present wherever you are.

Go meet folks. Have conversations. Join groups.

Don't get too interested in the lives of others on the net. Stalky behavior among "friends" and policing the behavior of friends/acquaintances/others is not going to end well.

Your life will best served by devoting your time to improving your lot. Just a thought.

Take care. Good luck.

:angel:

[chwcbesteph, RN]

Unfortunately, many nurses do not have the art of professionalism down and have to learn the hard way. If you've said your piece, let it be. I wouldn't touch this person's career with a ten foot pole!

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

Do you consider everyone who has sent you a friend request (that you ignored because their name didn't strike you as familiar) a "stalker"?

I agree that the friend request in of itself is not a stalker action; however, the motive and the way my name would have been found out by her? Yes, that's getting there with the stalker thing.

Perhaps stalker was too harsh; however, in this case, I might note that we had multiple friends in common but that we didn't know each other.

That, to me, indicates something strange. Perhaps not stalking action, but clearly for some specific purpose.

Again, the MLM thing. I receive friend requests from friends of friends who are attempting to get me to join their teams.

Also, I have a friend who friend requests the attractive girls who are friends of his Facebook friends.

And the last point of mine...word might get around through the departments that chica has requested EVERYONE. Now, again, is that stalking? No, but it's not going to bode well when considering a person for a job.

I hope no one was playing a drinking game with the word "friend."

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Does OP's friend remind anyone else of a certain past poster who was obsessed (unhealthily so) with getting a CVICU position?

Glad I wasn't the only one with this thought!

[Megan1977, MSN, EdD, RN]

That's insane that there is a lost available like that to the public. I can think of so many scenarios where that can end badly for

I ignore friend requests from people I don't know. I also have my profile set so people can't search for me, it doesn't have my last name, and it doesn't list where I work.

I agree

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Strange way to try to network for future job opportunities to be sure. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's stalker behavior like some have, but I also don't think it'll be in the least bit useful professionally. While employers are known to look at a candidate's social media profile before deciding on employing somebody I don't think trying to friend everybody in the department is going to be seen as a positive.

While it may be strange behavior I doubt if it's the career suicide some are saying it might be though. I don't think I've ever mentioned friend requests to any of my co-workers so unless staff of that unit start discussing their random friend requests how is it even going to be on anybodies radar that this person sent multiple requests? Unless enough people say yes that their co-workers that aren't their friends start showing up on their feed as friends of this one friend why would anybody even notice or care about the multiple requests sent? If she already works for the hospital, and it seems like she must to be able to access the employee list I doubt if Facebook would flag the friend requests as spam either since they are going to people that have a workplace in common.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Strange way to try to network for future job opportunities to be sure. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's stalker behavior like some have, but I also don't think it'll be in the least bit useful professionally. While employers are known to look at a candidate's social media profile before deciding on employing somebody I don't think trying to friend everybody in the department is going to be seen as a positive.

While it may be strange behavior I doubt if it's the career suicide some are saying it might be though. I don't think I've ever mentioned friend requests to any of my co-workers so unless staff of that unit start discussing their random friend requests how is it even going to be on anybodies radar that this person sent multiple requests? Unless enough people say yes that their co-workers that aren't their friends start showing up on their feed as friends of this one friend why would anybody even notice or care about the multiple requests sent? If she already works for the hospital, and it seems like she must to be able to access the employee list I doubt if Facebook would flag the friend requests as spam either since they are going to people that have a workplace in common.

Agree with all of the above.