Patients adding me as a friend on facebook...

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Med/Surg.

I have had several cases recently where patients have added me as a friend on facebook. I never add anyone I don't know but I realized on several of the occasions that they were patients I had recently.

I declined each one of course.

Anyone else have this problem?

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Specializes in Ortho and Tele med/surg.

Yeah, I have some issues with facebook. Most of friends are posting personal pictures of themselves and family members. I tried to explain to aunt that you NEVER know who is looking a your profile: creeps, potential employers, friends etc. As for patients, you did the right thing. You are now a professional don't mix that up with your social life on facebook. Patients should stay at work.

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You can block these people if you wish.

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As for pictures, I have changed my FB settings so ONLY my friends can see them -not friends of friends or everyone, etc. I have deleted some 'friends' recently because they weren't on much and I decided to narrow my friend list to those who truly are friends and not just accquaintances.

otessa

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

I wouldn't add patients unless they were also friends before you took care of them. I keep my FB set to private so only friends can see pics, then I also narrow it down to WHAT friends I want to be able to see what pics.

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

I have a Facebook account, but only for the communication aspect. My page has no photos on it. I agree with Gooey - don't add patients as friends unless you knew them beforehand.

I work for a criminal justice agency, so I have to be very careful about anything online.

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Hmm this post peeked my interest. Did you know you can set facebook so that your name cannot be searched? It's a fantastic little setting! Also I agree with previous post, adjust your settings so that only friends can see you pictures (not friends of friends or groups or networks). This should help in keeping your profile private.

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I have one person on my facebook that I had as a patient once. I actually took care of her for 2 days before we found out that her best friend was my neighbor and we'd hung out casually. A few months after she was discharged, we started hanging out more. So we actually knew each other before hand.

I agree with the others... make your facebook as private as possible.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

My last name is concealed on my ID badge, so unless I've done their discharge paperwork or they ask, they don't know what it is and would have a hard time finding me by first name alone.

I set mt FB so that everything is private--not even my user pic is visible unless you are my friend. Nor do I add people that I don't know...if I know them but not well, they go in a seperate filter so they don't get all the family pics and personal info.

I also do not list my workplace on my profile because even if your settings are private, if they search by employer they may still be able to find you--I did a test search using my employer and even though my account is private, I still came up in the search results. If it's a small facility that you work for, a first name and a place of work may be enough for them to find out that it's you.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I would not befriend them, either, unless (as mentioned before), we were friends prior to the hospitalization or clinic visit. It either allows them to think that they have free access to medical advice or that they can judge my lifestyle...not that I am immoral, but you never know how people judge you according to your hobbies and interests. I just want them to be seperate from my life...period.

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Specializes in Med Surg/MICU/Pediatrics/PCICU.

This wasn't a patient but I had a friend one time who forgot her manager was her fb friend. After she came home from work she posted how horrible her manager was and so on. Needless to say she was fired the next day, so I agree keep it private and don't add anyone you wouldn't want to read and see everything.

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.
My last name is concealed on my ID badge, so unless I've done their discharge paperwork or they ask, they don't know what it is and would have a hard time finding me by first name alone.

Patients have a right to know who is taking care of them.

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