Nursing and being a youtuber

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Asking a question for my friend. My friend is a Youtube prankster (primarily makes non harmful pranks in the public) sometimes pranks where there are harsh reactions but nothing too crazy. He’s also just becoming a nurse. My question is: if the hospital was to find out about his prank channel, can they fire him for it? I’ve always been curious about this question myself because I would assume they can’t just fire you over something you do OUTSIDE of work that does not affect your actual job at all? Can someone give me quality information about the answer to this question? Thank you

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Its just a hobby outside of work, to be true. The crossover comes when people find out what kind of work he does and where and then match it up with the kinds of "pranks" he is pulling and whether they are cruel, distasteful, illegal, dangerous, show poor judgement or imply moral turpitude issues.

You may think the privacy thing not being violated you can't be harmed by these "pranks". However, the truth is, people get fired all the time for things they do in public that makes their employer rethink their relationship with them for any number of reasons. Causing people distress would definitely be a valid reason. Lots of people don't find pranks funny. Many states are employment at will. This means either party can terminate the relationship with or without cause at any time. 

You can go forward with this silliness, but it isn't without risk. Far from.

7
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in school nurse.
6 minutes ago, Nurse SMS said:

Its just a hobby outside of work, to be true. The crossover comes when people find out what kind of work he does and where and then match it up with the kinds of "pranks" he is pulling and whether they are cruel, distasteful, illegal, dangerous, show poor judgement or imply moral turpitude issues.

You may think the privacy thing not being violated you can't be harmed by these "pranks". However, the truth is, people get fired all the time for things they do in public that makes their employer rethink their relationship with them for any number of reasons. Causing people distress would definitely be a valid reason. Lots of people don't find pranks funny. Many states are employment at will. This means either party can terminate the relationship with or without cause at any time. 

You can go forward with this silliness, but it isn't without risk. Far from.

So true! Working up new ways to essentially humiliate people, video it, then pimp it out online for clicks is particularly abhorrent. Also not completely buying the "asking for a friend" angle...

9
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

NCSBN:  A Nurse's Guide to the Use of Social Media

Quote

This brochure is designed to help both new and experienced nurses understand how social media can be properly used in the profession without breaking patient privacy and confidentiality laws. It outlines:

  • Potential consequences for violating patient confidentiality by using various scenarios and situations
  • Uncovers common myths and misunderstandings about social media
  • Provides tips for how nurses can use social media appropriately while avoiding disclosing confidential patient information 

White Paper: A Nurse’s Guide to the Use of Social

Possible Consequences

Quote

Potential consequences for inappropriate use of social and electronic media by a nurse are varied. The potential consequences will depend, in part, on the particular nature of the nurse’s conduct. BON Implications Instances of inappropriate use of social and electronic media may be reported to the BON. The laws outlining the basis for disciplinary action by a BON vary between jurisdictions. Depending on the laws of a jurisdiction, a BON may investigate reports of inappropriate disclosures on social media by a nurse on the grounds of:

  • Unprofessional conduct;
  • Unethical conduct;
  • Moral turpitude;
  • Mismanagement of patient records;
  • Revealing a privileged communication; and
  • Breach of confidentiality.

If the allegations are found to be true, the nurse may face disciplinary action by the BON, including a reprimand or sanction, assessment of a monetary fine, or temporary or permanent loss of licensure.

NC: Social Networking AND NURSES

OJIN: Guidelines for Using Electronic and Social Media: The Regulatory Perspective

Employers and Boards of Nursing greatly concerned of any actions involving unprofessional conduct and moral turpitude.   Violations of these often cause for employee's immediate  dismissal when facilities name linked to pranks  viewed as unprofessional conduct;  What's funny to you may not be funny to another person/patient.

Moral turpitude clause has tripped up some nurses in PA.

7
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
6 hours ago, RNNPICU said:

How would the hospital find out about his Youtube channel unless someone specifically wants to "out" him. I personally don't see how this channel impacts his ability to be a nurse. As long as he doesn't identify his place of employment, that he is a nurse... however if vindictive people want him fired over something he does in his free time, it could happen. 

In most case people who post on you tube are not private. The whole point is for people to see and react to your posts. It only take one co-worker to be offended and report the post for the entire hospital administration to see it and decide to let a person go, especially in an at will employment state.

If the BON gets involved and decises the post does not represent the standards of nursing, They  can suspend or revoke one's license. 

Hppy

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
3 hours ago, xlightx said:

That’s how I see it. If my friend is a good nurse and doesn’t do anything bringing work into his prank channel, why would it matter? ya he’s doing for the most part non harmful pranks on his channel but why should that make a difference

You don't need to convince us, you need to convince the employer who decides to fire "your friend". I honestly wouldn't worry too much about managers seeking out your Youtube channel. The biggest danger, in my mind, is going viral with something that some large group of people find offensive. It doesn't have to be on Youtube, specifically.

We see this "name them and shame them" type of game play out all the time. People do something distasteful outside of work, and everybody grabs their torches and goes hunting. 

If your hospital starts getting emails and phone calls and outraged posts concerning you, they're probably going to cut ties with you. 

7
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in retired LTC.
4 hours ago, Jedrnurse said:

So true! Working up new ways to essentially humiliate people, video it, then pimp it out online for clicks is particularly abhorrent. Also not completely buying the "asking for a friend" angle...

This is what pranking is all about. What if 'friend' lives in West Chester, PA just outside of Phila. (You know Philly, with mucho prestige facilities.) Somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody else knows 'friend'. And knows 'friend' works at Phila  XYZ Hosp and spreads the word for all to 'check out 'friend' on Youtube'.

The association gets made and while it's no crime to post on Youtube, image IS everything to employers. A prankster does NOT hold any prestige or position of honor among employees. Rather a prankster can be deemed as 'plain old mean' and that's not nec a person a prestigious hosp wants to be known for employing. And how might other staff, pts, families, benefactors, etc feel? That kind of notoriety quickly becomes fodder for the gossip mill.

Visitor: "Hey, Mom! Your roommate's nurse is that prankster guy from Youtube."

And staff joshing with each other re 'friend's' most recent post. You know word gets out!

Am I stretching things? Maybe, but nothing is protected on social media. 'Friend' has a suspect, tarnished image and there's no way to determine if that negatively influenced any disciplinary action in the mind of the employer. Or if an assoc is made when time comes for an employment application decision. What do you think? 

On a personal note, I'd be curious what some of those "non-harmful pranks were". I don't think a guy being hit in his ***** is funny (a common theme for pranks). And just to make this final point, society has a high opinion of nurses as respected professionals. A prankster knocks down that image quite a few pegs. Except for the few peers who tend to stick together. So I don't know that I'd hold their opinion in any esteem.

7
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Your friend might get away with this if the pranks were really non-controversial, and at work, they don't even hint about their pranking hobby.

Trouble is, part of the point of Youtube is to build yourself an audience and become well known. Isn't that what separates showing your buddies a few things on your phone and putting it out there for all to see? Wouldn't your friend want to let all their work buddies know about their Youtube videos? 

When you work with vulnerable populations, what you do outside of work is more carefully judged. 

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Does he use his own name?  Reveal he’s a nurse or where he lives?
If not, he can probably get away with it indefinitely.

And if he gets famous enough, he can monetize his channel, make a heap of money and never have to deal with secretions and excretions for the rest of his life.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community health.

It isn’t likely to be a problem UNLESS his channel suddenly blows up and he becomes super popular. Then all of the media outlets would be saying “the person who runs the channel is reportedly a nurse at XYZ hospital!” and the hospital wouldn’t be thrilled. 
 

OP: People on this site tend to be anti-social media. There have certainly been nurses fired because they’re posting racist content; stories about their patients; inflammatory stuff. I’ve never heard of anyone being fired for something like this Youtube channel. I suspect it has never happened, because when you asked about cases you were told to “Google it” and when you googled it, you found nothing. CAN they fire you for this?— yes, they can fire you because they don’t like the color of your lipstick too. But it’s unlikely. 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis.
On 10/22/2020 at 7:05 PM, hppygr8ful said:

It only take one co-worker to be offended and report the post for the entire hospital administration to see it and decide to let a person go, especially in an at will employment state.

 

Or one patient or family member who was pranked or viewed the prank. You never know who you'll run into in this field

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
On 10/23/2020 at 8:35 AM, xlightx said:

That’s how I see it. If my friend is a good nurse and doesn’t do anything bringing work into his prank channel, why would it matter? ya he’s doing for the most part non harmful pranks on his channel but why should that make a difference

Our code of conduct among other things says that nurses won't act in such a manner that undermines the public perception of nurses

IMO your friend needs to change the direction of his you tube chanel.

 

6
Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 10/22/2020 at 3:35 PM, xlightx said:

That’s how I see it. If my friend is a good nurse and doesn’t do anything bringing work into his prank channel, why would it matter? ya he’s doing for the most part non harmful pranks on his channel but why should that make a difference

Yup.  In a perfect world, this is correct.

OTOH, if your friend is working in this world,there may be risks.

One prank goes wrong, something gets connected to the hospital- whatever.  I have an awesome imagination coupled with an ER "worst case" outlook on things.  Somebody gets pissed and clocks him- he injures that person while defending himself.  Headline reads: Nurse Kills Retire Priest During Brawl.

You didn't ask whether he should be able to do what he wants out of work.  You asked whether there is a potential downside.

There are all kinds of activities outside of work that can get you fired.  He may do fine.  Or not.

 

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment