How far is too far?

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Hi Allnurses

Lately, I have been noticing more and more channels on YouTube of student nurses and registered nurses doing video blogs in regards to the nursing profession. Many of these "vloggers" have been uploading videos in which they offer advice, experiences, and opinions to millions of viewers who may be interested in a nursing career. I have found that student nurses and future nursing students have discovered an online community on YouTube where they can share their nursing school stories, and find support through other YouTube members.

First of all, I just wanted to say I wholeheartedly want to support these nursing students and nurses who are producing these videos. Many of these videos are personal in nature. These nursing vloggers have made the decision to make video documentaries of their lives during nursing school and life thereafter as registered nurses. I really do empathize with these people in the sense that they are making an effort to better themselves educationally, personally, and are reaching out to others for help when it is needed. This, is commendable. We all know how hard nursing school is and can be and often rely on our peers and mentors for support, this is nothing new. I find myself enjoying their videos and silently cheering these people on to success. Watching a nursing vlogger discuss how they passed an exam or completed a semester. Watching them talk about their clinical days and offer study tips, books and materials which might help others. Seeing a nursing student graduate and then go on to take the NCLEX, and pass the exam. Watching a graduate nurse talk about his/her difficulties and achievements as a first year RN. It is all very exciting and intriguing. The internet can be a wonderful resource for learning and socializing and educating people on many topics and issues, including nursing.

With that said, I find myself in inner conflict in regards to YouTube and nursing. How far is too far? And, how much is too much? Is it ethical for a licensed registered nurse, LPN/LVN, or student nurse to be producing these videos? As nurses, I realize we must abide by our state laws, our employer's policies, and conduct ourselves professionally, or suffer dire consequences. I somehow fear for these nursing vloggers and their futures. Are they putting themselves in jeopardy by exploiting themselves on the internet publicly, and putting their employment and/or future employment at risk? I realize that freedom of speech is a right in this country. And, we should be able to speak our minds openly and say what we need to say. I suppose then, the phrase, "Be careful what you say or it might come back to haunt you" would be appropriate in this scenario. Or, "Do not put or say anything out there, which you might regret" would apply as well. There are many sayings. My point is, is that employers perform background checks, and they do check nurses out thoroughly on several levels. I find it important to use caution and common sense when making these videos. You just never know who is watching.

And then, last but not least, we have HIPAA. Oh HIPAA, HIPAA, oh dear, sweet HIPAA. Oh, how I love, thee. Such, a sensitive issue. I feel nursing vloggers always run the risk of violating HIPAA, because they like to discuss nursing school clinicals. They want to share their stories of how their clinicals are progressing and share their experiences with patients. It does not get any clearer than this. Do not discuss patients. Any patient information. That information is not yours to share, it never was. I realize it is hard to not discuss clinicals and patients during nursing school, mainly because it is such an important part of nursing school. Be careful of what you say, and how you say it, and who you are speaking of. I remember fondly in my earlier high school years of a PBS NOVA documentary about several Harvard medical students titled "The Making of a Doctor", an excellent film. I believe, a film like this today is something which would have a very hard time being made in these current times, because of HIPAA. Please, check this out if you have not seen it, it is very good. It was made before HIPAA's time.

Anyways, I felt the need to address this issue since I have not found any solid topic on YouTube and nursing. This is only my opinion, and is up for debate and comment. I would really like to read your thoughts on this topic. I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. And, thanks for reading. :)

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No accreditation, no monitoring, no validation of information...... :down:

If it's JUST a personal record of their experiences but people have to be careful, and there should be some disclaimer that none of the information can be corroborated. JMO.

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No accreditation, no monitoring, no validation of information...... :down:

AGREE. AGREE. AGREE. BOO. :down:

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Although its just personal experience.

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I thought this post was going to be about how far you would drive for work.

I have watched a few vlogs they are nothing I would have used for info, too many schools have videos online that are so much better for that purpose.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I think it makes me uncomfortable. As we know many of us police ourselves but there are a few individuals who really don't understand boundaries.

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Specializes in ICU.

Wow, I just lost a whole long reply, and am typing on my phone, so it took forever. *Grrr*

ANYWAY. In a nutshell, I see nothing wrong with these vlogs as long as they do not violate HIPAA. Also, the watchers of these vlogs should hopefully realize that what they see is not the final word on anything. That being said, I think they can offer some valuable insight into the world of nursing which one would not find elsewhere.

I personally have not gotten into these vlogs, but I do like the documentary-style videos of nurses takimg care of pts in their own units with a running commentary for the camera. These can also give valuable insight into different areas of nursing and are a bit more professionally-made. :twocents:

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

I feel that Vlogs there are the same as threads started here. As long as they keep it appropriate and all non HIPAA violation-y they can say what they want. Those that choose otherwise will deal with the consequences when found out.

When I was a student i scoured the internet for people that understood what I was suffering at the moment. :D I think its a good idea, but whats "too far" is in the eye of the beholder.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

As long as they're violating neither HIPAA nor their state's Nurse Practice Act, it's fine by me.

Unfortunately, it may or may not be fine with their schools and/or employers...but they have to deal with those repercussions. Freedom of speech means you have the right to say what you want without censorship, but that doesn't mean that those listening have to like it, or that there won't be consequences resulting from it.

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As long as they're violating neither HIPAA nor their state's Nurse Practice Act, it's fine by me.

Unfortunately, it may or may not be fine with their schools and/or employers...but they have to deal with those repercussions. Freedom of speech means you have the right to say what you want without censorship, but that doesn't mean that those listening have to like it, or that there won't be consequences resulting from it.

THIS!

You know there was another thread that referred to this. I went to the link and ended up looking at another one. This Video Blog I ended up watching was interesting, I got hooked going through the entries. But, this new nurse mentioned what city she worked in and what department and the specific programs of that department as well as her shift and although in one case she did not mention names or patient specifics, she did mention a time she was thrown under the bus by someone and did say what the titles of those involved were, and I thought that she probably went too far for her own job security. However, you just don't know. It might have helped her in that specific case where she mentioned how despondent she was to have been falsely accused and written up.

If you are all of 20 years old or so, you are such an innocent in this world. I am sure there would be no way to get across to this person the problems she might cause herself.

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Specializes in PCU.

To each his own...until they end up getting sued or losing their license due to too much disclosure of info not theirs to give.

For myself, I love the how-to informational videos out there and love to surf for education, but would never post any of my own videos due to too much data could get back and bite me :eek: Leave it at work, have a nice day.

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