Might not graduate over FB

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Can a nursing program not allow you to graduate for a post on FB that doesn't violate any school, board or HIPPA policies? I passed all my courses. Graduation is next week and they are letting people who failed exits graduate!

Anyway, I said I thought a tech was a *****. I deleted it. But someone on my friends list that goes to my school printed it out and gave it to my director. (Why would someone do that). So now the program is threatening to take my graduation away after I passed everything with really good grades. The dean doesn't seem to be helpful either.

Wait! How did they know that you are talking about a tech in your clinical site? Did you mention the hospital name? How did they know you are not talking about a tech that took care of you or a family member? I mean, if you made it like a generic statement without any name callings, I don't think that violet any rules!

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Pretty sure FB is considered along the lines of free speech. While it wasn't a smart thing to post, you could tell them you will be contacting the ACLU.

​No it's not protected speech. Sure, you can say what you want as long as it doesn't violate TOS. But if you wind up violating regulations for your job or school, you don't have a leg to stand on.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Frequently Asked Questions - Speech | First Amendment Center â€" news, commentary, analysis on free speech, press, religion, assembly, petition

Looks like number three on that list could apply in your situation.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Thank you, I contacted them. It was an employee at the place I was doing clinicals. I agree, it should have not ever been posted. I did write a letter of apology to the school and I'm currently awaiting for the phone call if I can graduate :(

It was a mistake and I feel bad about it. I will definitely not happen again if I where to graduate.

But can they do that? After finishing every course. I graduate next week if permitted. My classes are over. I finished all credit hours. So I'm wondering if this is legal?

You should write a letter of apology to the person you complained about.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

You should write a letter of apology to the person you complained about.

she said she didn't use names....I would let that sleeping dog lie.
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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

It seems some are confusing "illegal" with "prohibited by school/facility policy." I could post on Facebook "Memorial Hospital just cut staffing in the ER, and the very next day a patient died after no one responded to a monitor alarm!" What I stated might be 100% factual and totally legal. However, most likely Memorial Hospital has a social media policy and I would be out of a job....even with the First Amendment on my side.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

But, when you are a student at a hospital you are considered an employee. Most places have a social media policy. If I posted something like that I would be fired.

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But, when you are a student at a hospital you are considered an employee.
No, one is not. Employees have rights. Students are guests... and have no rights at all in the hospital.
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Thats why i was told in the beginning to never add classmates because you should separate work and personal life

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Honestly, I don't think what you did was wrong, just not smart. You should be allowed to call anyone an ass, whether it's smart or not, well, that's another story.

Also, the person who printed it is a total jerk.

Remove them immediately and keep this as a lesson to amp up your privacy setting and clean out your friends list.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Honestly, I don't think what you did was wrong, just not smart. You should be allowed to call anyone an ass, whether it's smart or not, well, that's another story.

Also, the person who printed it is a total jerk.

She certainly does have the right...but there are consequences that come with exercising free speech. I can call my boss an *** (choose whatever you like for this one) on FB, but that also means that I will not have a job tomorrow--in fact, it might be gone by later tonight.

As for the second statement, why do you classify the FB "friend" as a jerk? If I were an employer, I would want to know if a potential employee made such statements about techs. I would have to think seriously about hiring someone who might not be a very good team player. Also, how would the student feel if the tech posted on FB that "the students on the floor today were some of the most incompetent I have ever seen! One almost killed one of my patients!"

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Thats why i was told in the beginning to never add classmates because you should separate work and personal life

That's great advice. And while we're giving advice, this forum is not FaceBook. We tend toward anonymous (as much as anonymity is possible) for good reasons. It is a really BAD idea to use your own name as a User Name, and an even worse idea to use your own photo as an avatar. One day you're going to say something inappropriate, ignorant, ill-considered or otherwise not reflective of your good judgement and good sense. When that happens, you won't want your coworkers printing it out and sliding it under your manager's door with your name and face attached.

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