Please use some common sense on Facebook.

Schmoo1022 · Nov 20, 2009

You also have to remember that if you respond to someones post...all of their friends can see it. Even if they are not your friend. It really isn't just all about personal information, stupid comments and putting down your workplace, those "partying pictures" all could do damage to your career!

NewTexasRN · Nov 20, 2009

I was just talking to my mother about this today. Facebook is dangerous and you have to be careful about everything you say!!! You never if you'll end up getting sued in the future and if someone will pull something you said years ago to use against you. I'm thinking about getting rid of my account. On this site, a nurse got fired for a serious med error and came on allnurses to talk about it. Now the board of nursing wants him to write a written letter about the incident. I really don't see things going well for him. The problem is, he went into so much details on allnurses about the incident. The BON can easily read all his posts about what he said about the incident. I mean that's pretty serious. The guy could loose his license and get into legal problems. I'm starting watch everything I say. Even right now!!!! Ya never know. Also, I just can't understand why some nurses have pictures of themselves drinking and in their bikinis on facebook. Don't you know that potential employers will look at that stuff? I really hate the fact that people can post pictures on there of you without your permission. It shouldn't be allowed. Come on people we are professionals here.

Lefty Lou · Nov 20, 2009

I do understand that people should not post things on facebook such as co-workers or patients names obviousuly because of confidentiality and privacy issues; however, I dont understand why everything else on the site is such a big deal. I feel as though your actions at work and your professionalism there is whats important. Everyone wants to go out and have a good time, and as long as the pics posted arent of illegal activity or indecent exposure I dont see why its such an issue. I dont feel as though your social life outside of work should negatively impact your job in any way, unless it is having a direct affect on your work performance. There shouldnt be enough reason to fire someone because there is a picture of them at the bar with a beer in their hand. Im sure alot of people wont agree with me, but if youre handling your job appropriately I dont see why things outside of work should really matter.

ankmama · Nov 20, 2009

I completely agree with Lefty Lou on this issue. While I would never be stupid enough to violate a patients privacy, slam my boss, or my school I do think there is a limit. I am old enough to go and have a beer at a bar, and have a good time. That should no way directly affect my job unless a drinking problem presented and is affecting my work. It isn't alot different than seeing a co-worker in a bar drinking and them going back and telling people you aren't a good nurse because you had a beer or two.

MedSurgeMess · Nov 20, 2009

I do understand that people should not post things on facebook such as co-workers or patients names obviousuly because of confidentiality and privacy issues; however, I dont understand why everything else on the site is such a big deal. I feel as though your actions at work and your professionalism there is whats important. Everyone wants to go out and have a good time, and as long as the pics posted arent of illegal activity or indecent exposure I dont see why its such an issue. I dont feel as though your social life outside of work should negatively impact your job in any way, unless it is having a direct affect on your work performance. There shouldnt be enough reason to fire someone because there is a picture of them at the bar with a beer in their hand. Im sure alot of people wont agree with me, but if youre handling your job appropriately I dont see why things outside of work should really matter.

I completely agree with Lefty Lou on this issue. While I would never be stupid enough to violate a patients privacy, slam my boss, or my school I do think there is a limit. I am old enough to go and have a beer at a bar, and have a good time. That should no way directly affect my job unless a drinking problem presented and is affecting my work. It isn't alot different than seeing a co-worker in a bar drinking and them going back and telling people you aren't a good nurse because you had a beer or two.

In a perfect world, this may be true....but as professionals, everything you do at work, at home, on the job and off is under scrutiny. It may not seem fair, but that's how it is....it's a matter of perception. In any profession, perception is a big part of the picture. Believe me, I've been passed over for prime jobs and promotions because of certain perceptions about me, that while they aren't fair, are just part of it. I've spent the last couple of years repairing perceptions about me. And while for the most part my reputation is good, some of those who can make or break my future are still hanging on to old perceptions. My advice to someone new in their career is to take care of your reputation and keep it sterling.....you never know who is watching and who may be making the decisions about your career in the future.

floridarose · Nov 20, 2009

i realize someone can have their profile hidden; however, nothing is really hidden online. absolutely true!

why incriminate and play career suicide?

good question! which i think is senseless, after so much hard work in ns... oh well, not sure what such people are thinking, obviously not thinking critically in my opinion.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Nov 20, 2009

i have many coworkers that are my friends on facebook. the site has their picture, full name and place of work. they'll post negative comments about patients in general or criticize their place of employment. i realize someone can have their profile hidden; however, nothing is really hidden online. why incriminate and play career suicide?
has anyone else noticed this trend? know anyone fired for facebook posts or comments?

i know two people who have been suspended over facebook photos -- and one who probably doesn't know it but is about to be. also a few more whose behavior on facebook has been soo inappropriate that the next time our manager signs on and looks at her newsfeed, she'll probably suspend them, too. one after-work party that was attended by most of the newbies at my job got so out of hand that the police were involved. there's a picture on fb of one of my co-workers flashing her boobs at the police, and another of a male co-worker mooning them.

tokyoROSE, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2009

As soon as I realized this, I deleted my FB. Best solution.

Bill E. Rubin · Nov 20, 2009

There is a large difference between pictures of people having a good time and pictures of mooning/flashing the police. Personally, I just give it the test... would I care if a potential employer saw the pictures? If a potential employer has a problem with pictures of people having a legal good time with all of their clothes on, then I wouldn't want to work there. I mean, my FB pix are pretty tame, but some of my coworkers have posted party pix but nothing tasteless. No need to be overly paranoid about everything... just use some judgment and assume that everyone can see them. :cool:

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2009

Why would anybody post negative things about work, coworkers, or patients on FB, especially if they're FB friends with people from work? That's just stupid.

Otessa, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2009

No information regarding co-workers or place of employment is posted on my FB account. I spend enough time with them already, why would I comment on them on FB?

otessa

jessiern, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2009

One of my best friends from nursing school lost her job r/t pics her and another nurse posted on their myspace page. Pics were taken at a bar, and showed the girls groping each others breast. Not in uniform, not at work, but still both were terminated.

I think that was a little extreme, as they were on their own time. What really ****** me off though was within the next week me, my husband (works as a PT director as the facility), and numerous co-workers got friend invites on facebook and myspace from an individual that sounded vaguely familiar to all of us. We later found out it was a couple of nurse managers sharing an account under a fake name to "see what we were posting".