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.
I guess my thought process is to each their own....if they are proud of their profession, then that’s OK. I don’t do any social media. I prefer actual conversations. However, everyone is different. And that’s OK!
I think it's unprofessional. There is mention of the fact that I graduated from nursing school on my profile should someone choose to dig, and I have occasionally offered my credentials when questioned during a comment, but I would never post a picture of my self in scrubs or wearing a stethoscope. A little tacky, in my opinion.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
1 hour ago, Hoosier_RN said:
The nearest Costco is over an hour away, so I don't shop there. Even if I did, I probably wouldn't use that "benefit"
I an not a badge waver or name dropper as a general rule. My DH has a habit of telling people about his Top Secret Govt job but I am just the opposite. This is especially true if anyone in the immediate family myself included has to go to the ER or be inpatient. Everyone has to swear not mention I am a nurse.
Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.
I have never been on facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any of them and I'm sure my life is richer for it.
Forums like this one are the closest I get to "social media"
I guess there's nothing wrong with saying you're a nurse, it happens to be true. I think it's a question of how you use it. I used to post on a music orientated forum, and in the general chat section, to my horror, some nurse started a health care thread and invited people to post their health queries and started dishing out advice to people based on the few lines they posted. Dangerous? Inappropriate? I certainly think so.
I'm not sure photos in scrubs do any harm. Yes newbies like to show off. It soon wears off. I prefer that they're proud to be nurses rather than the guy who once posted in the Men in Nursing section that he deliberately hides the fact that he's a nurse - that's more of a worry, that someone is ashamed of it being known he's a nurse..
deliberately hides the fact that he's a nurse - that's more of a worry, that someone is ashamed of it being known he's a nurse..
It's not out of shame, it's self preservation from the standpoint of the "I've got a rash (or other concern) can you tell me what to use on it ". That's why I don't advertise. Because even with addressing it to see their MD, many still persist to the point of annoyance
They are excited to be a nurse. Leave them be. If you don't like it, don't do it.
I agree with this sentiment until their excitement at being a nurse starts impacting work, and it does. Too many of these excited nurses posting on various social media while at work!
They do it, so others start surfing on their phones. Next thing you know management is putting out memo's reminding staff not to use their phones on the floor, after all it's "against policy." But that's a little hard for them to enforce when they are just as guilty. Kind of hard to chastise staff for using their cell phones when management is doing the same darn thing.
Heck I have worked with experienced nurses and techs that will even use their phones while providing patient care and that's where the line is crossed into this is not OK for me. It's one thing to post a cute picture of yourself or your friends in the hallway as long as nothing identifies your workplace and there are no patients in the frame but as usual if you give people an inch they will take a mile until somebody finally gets themselves in real trouble.
Heck I have worked with experienced nurses and techs that will even use their phones while providing patient care and that's where the line is crossed into this is not OK for me. It's one thing to post a cute picture of yourself or your friends in the hallway as long as nothing identifies your workplace and there are no patients in the frame but as usual if you give people an inch they will take a mile until somebody finally gets themselves in real trouble.
Sort of a sidebar, but I definitely agree that it's not okay to be using your phone while physically in with a patient. One of my biggest pet peeves is when Bluetooth is used for this purpose. I used to work with a tech who would be having full in depth conversations with friends or family while giving bed baths. I can't imagine how odd and uncomfortable that is for the patient!
Sort of a sidebar, but I definitely agree that it's not okay to be using your phone while physically in with a patient. One of my biggest pet peeves is when Bluetooth is used for this purpose. I used to work with a tech who would be having full in depth conversations with friends or family while giving bed baths. I can't imagine how odd and uncomfortable that is for the patient!
Once again, I mourn the death of privacy. (and of common sense and politeness as well...)
Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.
11 hours ago, Hoosier_RN said:
It's not out of shame, it's self preservation from the standpoint of the "I've got a rash (or other concern) can you tell me what to use on it ". That's why I don't advertise. Because even with addressing it to see their MD, many still persist to the point of annoyance
That's a perfectly good reason for not advertising your profession. However in the thread I was referring to the guy specifically had an issue with the way he might be perceived as a male nurse. My point was that I prefer people to be proud of our profession rather than worried that people think being a nurse is weird. At the end of day, each individual nurse has the right to "come out" or not.
speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P
544 Posts
I guess my thought process is to each their own....if they are proud of their profession, then that’s OK. I don’t do any social media. I prefer actual conversations. However, everyone is different. And that’s OK!