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.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

1 minute ago, DavidFR said:

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.

Gotcha. I didn't see that post and was just making a guess from my own personal experiences 

[Katie82, RN]

On 9/20/2020 at 7:28 PM, Chickenlady said:

They are excited to be a nurse.  Leave them be.  If you don't like it, don't do it. 

We have worked hard to be classified as "Professionals". Personally I do not like being associated with dingbats who have to sneak off to the bathroom to take selfies in PDE to gain "likes" on social media. Especially since cell phones are banned in many clinical settings. 

[Nurse SMS, MSN, 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.

I don't see it as showing off. It's part of my identity to be a nurse. There's nothing wrong with owning that. Other people don't feel the need to keep their profession "private" unless they are doing something illegal. Every doc, lawyer, teacher, legislator etc etc etc I know is pretty open about what they do for a living. Why on earth would it be shameful to own up to being a nurse and to express pride in having done so? Selfies at inappropriate times are selfies at inappropriate times. It has nothing to do with being a nurse who shows off. It's just a person who likely shows off, whether its PPE or a bikini.

Nursing has been voted both the most trusted profession and one of the hardest degree plans to graduate from on more than one occasion. Let's not shame people for being proud of their accomplishments please.

[amoLucia]

On 9/29/2020 at 12:50 PM, Nurse SMS said:

Nursing has been voted both the most trusted profession and one of the hardest degree plans to graduate from on more than one occasion. Let's not shame people for being proud of their accomplishments please.

I know about those surveys. I remember one from a few years ago - the second part of the survey was asking "would you encourage your child to become a nurse?". And the OVERWHELMING response was a big fat NO!

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

4 hours ago, Katie82 said:

Personally I do not like being associated with dingbats who have to sneak off to the bathroom to take selfies in PDE to gain "likes" on social media. Especially since cell phones are banned in many clinical settings. 

Yet some hospitals in my area have also taken to requiring nurses to download apps onto their personal phones in order to page providers. I hope this doesn't become a trend, but it's happening, and I think it blurs the lines of what's acceptable for everybody. I definitely don't want my patients getting the impression I'm answering my own texts when I'm in their room and am supposed to be taking care of their needs. But there's a significant difference between that and a breakroom selfie during lunch.

I guess I don't understand what about someone else's selfie or social media posts about nursing affects whether someone else is seen as a professional. If another nurse is really bad at documenting on restraints, that doesn't mean I am. If another nurse is always ten minutes late to work, that doesn't mean I am. If another nurse is constantly off taking selfies while the rest of us are running ourselves ragged, that doesn't mean I am. The only reason I would be upset is if someone else's actions hurt a patient or make it harder for me to do my job - or prompt a million emails from management and annoying policy changes. ?

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

I don't see it as an issue as long as they aren't breaking the law. If it helps the nurse to cope with the job and pads his/her pocket some because raises rarely happen and if they do, they are nickles and dimes, so be it. 

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

19 hours ago, amoLucia said:

I know about those surveys. I remember one from a few years ago - the second part of the survey was asking "would you encourage your child to become a nurse?". And the OVERWHELMING response was a big fat NO!

I guess I am confused why that would change the fact that we can be proud of our jobs? The fact that its hard enough to make people not want it for their kids makes me pretty pleased that I have the inner fortitude to deal, ya know?

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

I think it's fine to post pictures about being proud to be a nurse, as long as you're not taking pics when you're supposed to be working. I know it's easy to get sucked into "living for likes." My coworker and I were contacted by companies to be "ambassadors" on social media. You get free products and advertise them on your account and the company posts you on their account. At first we were flattered/excited, but it made us feel pressured to post more and get likes so the company is happy. Worrying about whether you can live up to their expectations causes anxiety.

We have enough to worry about as nurses! In my (new) opinion, better to make connections in real time with people you know in real life, with no screens in between! I guess I'm a reformed millennial now LOL but no shade to those hustling on social media. Just try not to let it affect your mental health/self esteem and suck up time you could be spending with people.

[ThursdayNight, CNA]

It boils down to what I'm comfortable sharing. The only one I posted was about the COVID-19 precaution. Being a student nurse, not many know. I'm proud, but I don't like to tell everyone how proud I am. The most important person that knows I'm proud is me.

I glorify freedom unless it's harmful. They post if that's what they want. 

[0.5GPA, ADN, CNA]

I don’t agree with it but I’m sure as a student I’ve done it. I do not talk about my job or profession on social media. I don’t want people knowing my business and I don’t want to make my profession look bad by anything I may say (or possibly misunderstandings). I’d be the same way if I was a Cop or a Fire fighter or a teacher. 

In the same vein (possibly a pun ? )Since I’m on the subject of people on the net telling people what they do, I definitely hate the “I’m Essential” meme. Someone who works where I do has a bummer sticker of that 

#I’mEssential

to me it’s rude a lot of people don’t have work or an income and would likely at this point trade. There are hungry people we don’t have #I’mfull bumper stickers.

Im old and like to complain

Don’t gloat!! LOL

[CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN]

On 9/27/2020 at 1:26 PM, 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 actually used it once. I brought my badge because I knew the policy (when they were still having long lines form). I was ready for the line, but when they changed it and the line was way way way back, I was just hangry and brought out my get in no wait badge. Just one time, but glad I had that option that day.

[amoLucia]

0.5 - I get what you're saying!

But it weird to think that some jobs really are critical and essential (in its own odd way). Even as UNglamorous as they sound! About 3 months ago during one of those multiple BLISTERING short run heat waves here on the East Coast, my AC/heater unit broke down.  I have CHF and use O2 /Cpap. NO WAY could I go without climate control!.

A repairman was out within an hour to fix the AC. He explained that earlier in the year the shop had been closed in the shutdown, but had only just reopened. I consider his an 'essential' service.

But back to the topic, it's a sign of the times that so many want to garner some measure of recognition for themselves. It's just how it's done that's of import.