Is it appropriate to "show off" that you are a Nurse on social media?

[Convoy2022_TrumpSupporter]

I have friends who are Nurses and friends who are Student Nurses.

Student Nurses:

I see them always posting on their story either IG or SC, about the medications they learned that day, them being able do a health assessment showing off their stethoscope, showing their skills all through social media.

Friends that are Nurses:

they always posting stories of themselves in full PPE at work obviously not showing other staff or their workplace due to confidentiality, showing off that they are working night shifts and stuff etc...

I may be exaggerating, but I always thought of this career as very rewarding being able to impact peoples lives in a positive non religious way. I never thought or have shown off on social media for privacy reasons, and to always respect the profession. I see nowadays people in my generation using Nursing as a way to glorify themselves and such.

[Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN]

I don't totally think it's intended to just "get attention for attention's sake," at least. From the individuals that I work with, and know - it became a huge thing to somewhat "share" what being a nurse is like when it was realized how much public knowledge is lacking on what we really do. Showing images of being in full head to toe gear for PPE, etc is more just showing the reality of the situation. I think the more playful ones also shows that we are still real humans, even if we are taking care of your health/wellbeing. 

Maybe I'm just optimistic about the viewpoint of this, but I see it more as being a hey-look-we-do-more-than-wipe-butts-and-we-are-real-people-too. 

Edit to add: Just to clarify, I am definitely one of those who wants no one to know they are a nurse unless I feel like it. LOL. 

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

On 9/20/2020 at 12:26 AM, DribbleKing97 said:

I have friends who are Nurses and friends who are Student Nurses.

Student Nurses:

I see them always posting on their story either IG or SC, about the medications they learned that day, them being able do a health assessment showing off their stethoscope, showing their skills all through social media.

Friends that are Nurses:

they always posting stories of themselves in full PPE at work obviously not showing other staff or their workplace due to confidentiality, showing off that they are working night shifts and stuff etc...

I may be exaggerating, but I always thought of this career as very rewarding being able to impact peoples lives in a positive non religious way. I never thought or have shown off on social media for privacy reasons, and to always respect the profession. I see nowadays people in my generation using Nursing as a way to glorify themselves and such.

Much care should be used as to when and what to post-or not post-on social media. When in doubt-leave it out-too many have lost their jobs due to stupid posts on social media-and nursing is a much smaller world than people think.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

I'm so much happier since I deactivated my facebook. 

 

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I don't necessarily share on social media because I want to show off that I'm a nurse.  But yeah, sometimes I'm proud to be a nurse and love to show off.   But like I take pictures and selfies when I'm out and about, of food, of my pets, I will occasionally post a picture of myself at work.  Mainly I do because it's part of my life like the other times are.  I know it's probably just for attention but isn't that what social media is for...a "look at me and give me attention".   

I am pretty careful in what I say and do on my social media about work and it really isn't all that often.  I never did the "I can't not got to work, I'm a nurse" or post things about being a hero, and never talk about how dreadful my employer is (we're being bought out on October 1st and I am counting down the days). I did post a pic in covid gear a few weeks ago to remind folks as we were opening up that it isn't over yet.  

At the end of the day, rather than be judging, why not just a "you do you, and I'll do me" and scroll on by.

[eternalbride]

On 9/20/2020 at 12:26 AM, DribbleKing97 said:

I have friends who are Nurses and friends who are Student Nurses.

Student Nurses:

I see them always posting on their story either IG or SC, about the medications they learned that day, them being able do a health assessment showing off their stethoscope, showing their skills all through social media.

Friends that are Nurses:

they always posting stories of themselves in full PPE at work obviously not showing other staff or their workplace due to confidentiality, showing off that they are working night shifts and stuff etc...

I may be exaggerating, but I always thought of this career as very rewarding being able to impact peoples lives in a positive non religious way. I never thought or have shown off on social media for privacy reasons, and to always respect the profession. I see nowadays people in my generation using Nursing as a way to glorify themselves and such.

Hi, There is also a positive side to it. there are people that use it as a platform to educate the other nurses and the public abouts issues, new medical advances, and etc. It's a way to network with others, to relate to other, to ask questions. I could say it's similar to allnurses.com. It's just a bit more modern and somewhat less anonymous. (anyways I still really like allnurses ? )

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

4 hours ago, eternalbride said:

Hi, There is also a positive side to it. there are people that use it as a platform to educate the other nurses and the public abouts issues, new medical advances, and etc. It's a way to network with others, to relate to other, to ask questions. I could say it's similar to allnurses.com. It's just a bit more modern and somewhat less anonymous. (anyways I still really like allnurses ? )

Unfortunately SM has turned out to be quite the source/delivery method of huge amounts of misinformation, sometimes mistakenly, but often done on purpose.

[rzyzzy]

6 hours ago, eternalbride said:

Hi, There is also a positive side to it. there are people that use it as a platform to educate the other nurses and the public abouts issues, new medical advances, and etc. It's a way to network with others, to relate to other, to ask questions. I could say it's similar to allnurses.com. It's just a bit more modern and somewhat less anonymous. (anyways I still really like allnurses ? )

Less anonymous isn’t always a good thing.  There was a conversation in the “off topic” lounge recently where a couple of “new” members here were trying to say that those who disagreed with them were “racist”, and were pretty openly threatening to dox them and to attempt to get them fired.  
 

I set-up my social media accounts as a requirement of my lpn program.   Students were told that certain employers in my city only advertised openings on Twitter.  The argument from my college kinda fell apart over time, because that particular employer also only hired those with bachelor’s degrees.  I retained facebook throughout my ADN program only because there was a student group that had useful study materials and an opportunity to message my classmates for things that might have been missed during lectures- “is the quiz tomorrow, or Monday?”.  
 

After graduating and passing the NCLEX, there was no need for the facebook group & I deleted all my accounts.  It’d be nice to have the ability to chat with my old classmates and see how everyone is faring in life, but compared to the risk of those with an agenda and a chip on their shoulder having access to snippets of personal data that could be used against me, the risk is too great.  

[The0Walrus, BSN, RN]

I posted my BSN diploma and the dummies in school who I thought were creepy. I haven't posted myself in PPE when COVID hit because I just didn't want to. I posted my pinning ceremony because I was proud that I became a nurse.

This deals with personalities. Some people are totally happy with sharing what they're proud of and some people are more private. You can't knock people if they're proud of their career or proud of what they're doing. I haven't posted a picture of myself in scrubs or anything.

When I became a nurse after maybe a month to me it was just a job. I'm proud of being a nurse. When people ask what I do for a living I tell them I'm a nurse. The thing is when it comes down to it I see it as strictly clock in, do your job, clock out. It's a job. I'm also 39 so maybe that's why I see it that way, but others want to show off their career or what they're proud of. It doesn't bother me. It's their personality.

[Chazzie_Made_It, ADN]

Let people live. As long as they're not violating HIPAA it's all good in my book. They're proud of what they do and It humanizes the profession. There are other social media posts to gripe about. 

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

On 9/22/2020 at 11:48 PM, eternalbride said:

Hi, There is also a positive side to it. there are people that use it as a platform to educate the other nurses and the public abouts issues, new medical advances, and etc. It's a way to network with others, to relate to other, to ask questions. I could say it's similar to allnurses.com. It's just a bit more modern and somewhat less anonymous. (anyways I still really like allnurses ? )

many that I see post on SM platforms post so much misinformation, and yes, they are nurses who should know better. 

After 25+ years doing this, I have no need to advertise that I'm a nurse. Those that I care about already know. When I worked the bedside, I had an excellent reputation and was always a patient favorite, so needing to show off on SM platforms wasn’t necessary either. The positive reviews, glowing patient survey replies, and positive upper management comments gave me the validation that I needed then

[CR88, BSN]

On 9/20/2020 at 12:26 AM, DribbleKing97 said:

I have friends who are Nurses and friends who are Student Nurses.

Student Nurses:

I see them always posting on their story either IG or SC, about the medications they learned that day, them being able do a health assessment showing off their stethoscope, showing their skills all through social media.

Friends that are Nurses:

they always posting stories of themselves in full PPE at work obviously not showing other staff or their workplace due to confidentiality, showing off that they are working night shifts and stuff etc...

I may be exaggerating, but I always thought of this career as very rewarding being able to impact peoples lives in a positive non religious way. I never thought or have shown off on social media for privacy reasons, and to always respect the profession. I see nowadays people in my generation using Nursing as a way to glorify themselves and such.

Yeah, I think along the same line as you.  Realistically, I know it’s not going to change how or what others will choose to post while in the workplace.  Thankfully (!!) it hasn’t gotten to the point of violating patient privacy. ??

[MTRN]

Oh stop...they are proud to be nurses its nice to see....usually people hate their jobs