It's Finally Happened!

skittlebear · May 5, 2013

Another thing, people who try to "connect the dots" to figure out who someone is has WAY TOO MUCH time on their hands. JMHO :-)

stephanie. · May 5, 2013

Another thing people who try to "connect the dots" to figure out who someone is has WAY TOO MUCH time on their hands. JMHO :-)[/quote']
Some people are so obvious that they connect the dots for you. JMHO :-)

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · May 5, 2013

I'm not putting my picture out there for all to see, that's for sure!

So that's NOT you in the pic?

Editorial Team / Admin · May 5, 2013

As another poster mentioned, it is a free country and one can express his/her opinion.

And the place one works for has the freedom to terminate employment. It is their reputation they are worried about, and what one posts in a public forum/Facebook/Twitter/etc. that is related to their job can bite them in the backside.

Freedom of speech doesn't mean saying something is without consequence.

Blackcat99 · May 5, 2013

Hey, you've given me a great idea!!! I will get a photo of that "obnoxious nurse" at my job and use it as my photo here on AN. :roflmao:

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 5, 2013

Another thing, people who try to "connect the dots" to figure out who someone is has WAY TOO MUCH time on their hands. JMHO :-)

Unfortunately as nurses we are taught how to connect the dots....it's called critical thinking...we can't help it....and sometimes the dots connect themselves.

Barnstormin' PMHNP · May 5, 2013

Garethaus, I remember that post and you are so right.

RNitis · May 6, 2013

And it's extremely naive to believe that this forum is "supposed to be anonymous" anymore than anywhere else online is really anonymous. Using a pseudonym doesn't make someone invisible. And with this she used a PHOTO of herself??
People leave trails a blind man could follow in a snowstorm and then wonder why they got caught.

Hehe!! I like that! "leave trails a blind man could follow in a snowstorm". That's awesome!

Rags2Riches RN · May 6, 2013

Honestly this sounds petty to me. Unless this individual is violating HIPAA or some sort of social media/internet use policy, you should base your evaluation on objectives not allnurses post. Also can you absolutely prove that it is indeed the person and not someone else? If by some small chance that maybe it's not who you think it is are you prepared for the consequences?

MrChicagoRN, RN · May 6, 2013

I recognized someone from the picture they're using as their avatar. Moreover, it's someone I'm responsible for evaluating. And what they're posting is not consistent with a good attitude or safe practice. I can easily see why they're having so many issues with their colleagues. And the amazing thing is that clearly they think they're doing just great and everyone ELSE is the problem!

Now what? I'd already written up the evaluation, but the pages I've printed off allnurses.com complete with the person's picture clearly support my conclusions. Do I include them? Or shred them and pretend I've never looked at allnurses.com?

Will it help if I tell you that my boss reads allnurses religiously? She's probably also seen the picture and the posts.

Anyone who posts their images and comments on a public forum has no reasonable expectation of privacy. You stumbled on these posts in a forum you frequent, so its not like your snooping. Its analagous to wandering into a Starbucks and overhearing inappropriate comments from a coworker. But pictures are so easy to copy, and she may simply deny it is her.

Go to your boss, and to HR. See what they recommend. Might be a teaching opportunity, even if it's not a part of her evaluation.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · May 6, 2013

I agree with those of you who said not to use the posts without checking with my supervisor first. But this nurse is pushing the boundaries of what's appropriate, and I wonder if I should sit her down and talk to her about it off the record, or if that's going to come back to bite me. Why anyone would use their own photo as an avatar boggles the mind, anyway. Even people who are SURE they're never going to say anything controversial are going to upset someone sooner or later . . . .

I would not use any of the online findings. What I would do, however, is to be sure that each of the people that you are responsible for evaluating are crystal clear on the rules regarding identifying their place of work, and any/all other details specific to their place of employment in a bad light. There is, I am sure, a policy and they need to review and sign it.

People have a freedom of speech. No matter how unbecoming. What is not usually allowed is facility names, geographical areas, and other identifying details. The picture of one's self on an avatar is not ideal when one is complaining about work, however, if one is using their own picture, they need to stand behind their words.

As far fetched as it may seem, there are cases where someone uses someone else's picture to just stir up drama. So no one really knows for 100% certain that this is the person themselves, or someone else taking on an online persona of the person. (The "new" identity theft).

A good evaluation also has the person being evaluated discuss their side of things as well. How they see themselves as a nurse. If you have specific issues with performace, what specifically they can do to improve their practice. It all needs to be measurable and timelined, and the person would have no clue of wrongdoing unless it is brought to their attention, as the evaluator has no clue of the thought process unless it is brought to their attention.

At the end of the evaluation, when all is said and done, and an improvement plan is in place if one is needed, I would then note that you need to review the internet posting policy, that you have been made aware that postings have been made under the picture of the employee, and although you may not agree, you agree with her right to say it, however, by identifying herself she could cross the boundry of the policy. If the employee says "what are you talking about" then it can alert her to the possibility that someone else is using her picture online. And I would want to be made aware of that, as most would. If it is her, suggest that the picture needs to be taken down, or it could be cause for discipline should the posts cross the line of the policy.

Part of the policies now of internet usage DO include a paragraph on managers checking social media and other websites. So that is not outside of norm for managers to do. However, to give the nurse a timeline to remedy the situation may be worth it.

Nurses do need an outlet to vent sometimes. In the heat of the moment perhaps not always well received. But they also deserve a chance to change it. Hence why I would not pull out the posts and comment on them, rather stick to the policy.

sandyfeet · May 6, 2013

I am surprised that people actually believe their postings here are private or protected. There is a post on Facebook right now with a link to an AN post, because it talks about a review manual and the author posted it to his Facebook page as self-promotion. I know this because I commented on the AN post! Was everyone's privacy on that thread violated, or was it info shared from one public site to another?

Ruby is in a unique situation because she's evaluating the work performance of someone, while having access to that person's unfiltered thoughts about their own performance. Obviously this person is not doing well. There is a possibility of changing this nurse's perception by using this information. The public information she posted. It's not as if Ruby is reading her diary.

Officially or unofficially, this nurse deserves to know that she's not posting anonymously.