facebook and nursing school?

~KelRN~ · Jul 4, 2010

I guess it really depends on the person. When I started everyone was adding everyone left and right.

I would just be careful what you post to each other just in case..

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2010

I guess it really depends on the person. When I started everyone was adding everyone left and right.
I would just be careful what you post to each other just in case..

Agreed, but you'll probably find you don't have much time for facebooking. :nurse:

emtoh17 · Jul 5, 2010

Not real sure it's a big deal... as long as your not posting pics of drunken nights or times better forgotten... My classmates, intsructors and I use facebook alot to talk and communicate. I think it's a great resource. Our nursing program actually has it's own facebook page.

Calixan · Jul 5, 2010

I think it depends. A lot of students in my class have added each other on facebook and sometimes if clinicals are cancelled and somehow we missed the call, it's posted on facebook by someone. Or someone up late doing homework and you go OH YEAH, that's due tomorrow. So it can be beneficial but also can work against you. Some students like to talk about other students in the program via facebook, and then other classmates are posting under their status "what happened, I want to know" etc. Just be careful what you post. It can be a good thing and also a bad. Good Luck!

allnurses Guide · Jul 5, 2010

If you have classmates on Facebook, you just need to be aware that at least 7 people, students and working nurses here have been kicked off their clinical sites and fired for posting comments about and/or pictures taken at their clinical sites. One guy was completely misunderstood by the way he worded his comment on Facebook, he was still unable to keep his place.

Even if it seems drastic, people are so paranoid about HIPAA these days any innocent thing can be taken out of context. It might be safer to send out e-mails to share info.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 5, 2010

If you have classmates on Facebook, you just need to be aware that at least 7 people, students and working nurses here have been kicked off their clinical sites and fired for posting comments about and/or pictures taken at their clinical sites. One guy was completely misunderstood by the way he worded his comment on Facebook, he was still unable to keep his place.
Even if it seems drastic, people are so paranoid about HIPAA these days any innocent thing can be taken out of context. It might be safer to send out e-mails to share info.

This is the ABSOLUTE truth...a conversation can occur about clinicals, even without the name of the patient being mentioned can compromise you. Even mentioning symptoms, initials, identifying features ("the fat red haired lady that has herpes") can be enough to have you thrown from the program. Not only that, but compromising pictures of yourselves. While it is okay to post pictures of yourselves having drinks at a party under normal circumstances, it can be interpeted as ...the drinking is why you performed badly in clinical, the reason why you were absent from school, etc... And, while I hate to instil paranoia, you'd be surprized at how some of the classmates you may associate with may be the ones to turn you in, even if nothing else but to compromise you. Leave nothing to chance. Communicate via regular email. It's safer. And, even THEN, be careful of what you send and to whom. Do not say anything slanderous about the school administration, professors or even classmates.

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2010

We use use it. We don't tend to make all of our information available to each other. A coupe of people are daft and every picture seems to be them with booze in hand. It has been handy for quick questions about assignments -- our school's Blackboard and email system are slow and not very reliable.

We even have a Facebook group for our graduating year.

I agree w/ what Pagandeva said. Do not have ANY discussions even on no names basis about patients. First, it is the start of bad practice. Second, it doesn't take much for the person to be identified. Third, patients aren't shouldn't be fodder for facebook discussions anyway. Of course, refrain from remarks about instructors.

Still it is a nice place to have a laugh and commiserate about the trials of NS.

newmomspn · Jul 5, 2010

Thanks for your opinions on the matter. I think I'll just go without Facebook for a year. I don't need the distractions anyway.

dee78 · Jul 5, 2010

I set up a group on FB for our class, we used it a lot during first semester but not so much during 2nd. We have developed our friendships, know who we can go to when we need specific help. But it is still there if people have questions. I think it can be an excellent resource. You can post a question in your status or send a mass message to the group to get an answer quickly, instead of calling 3 people before you get the answer.

The class ahead of us had some issues with FB drama but we've been pretty good.

learninmama · Jul 5, 2010

Most of my classmates & instructors are on FB & I have added as my friends. We post mostly about everyday life...family, kids etc.....as far as school goes I think the most I've seen posted is posts about "loving clinicals", "only 3 more tests in the semester", "did awesome on my test", etc...so nothing specific at all. I could see where it could get you into trouble though for sure if you crossed the line.

allnurses Guide · Jul 5, 2010

Allnurses has a Facebook page! Facebook is a versatile medium. I'm not anti-facebook, I just put the information out there for people to consider (or not) when deciding how to proceed with it. Best wishes to all of you in nursing school! :up: