Please use some common sense on Facebook.

Published

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?

Specializes in Retired OR nurse/Tissue bank technician.
Of course these were just his personal opinions and had nothing to do with his professional life.

Except that those opinions *do* affect his professional life. Had he said he thought the local sports team should relocate to another city because they were useless money wasters, that's one thing. His beliefs about other races would likely colour his professional life.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg.

[quote=RetiredTooSoon;3992577]Except that those opinions *do* affect his professional life. Had he said he thought the local sports team should relocate to another city because they were useless money wasters, that's one thing. His beliefs about other races would likely colour his professional life.

I keep forgetting that many people who read these tend to take everything literally. My post was a sarcastic reply to someone saying that personal opinions have no bearing on professional life. I DO have enough sense and life experience to know that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I heard of some summer interns getting fired at my facility for posting stuff about patients they were caring for on their facebook. They didn't use patient names, but apparently the info they posted made it easy to figure out who they were.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
[quote=RetiredTooSoon;3992577]Except that those opinions *do* affect his professional life. Had he said he thought the local sports team should relocate to another city because they were useless money wasters, that's one thing. His beliefs about other races would likely colour his professional life.

I keep forgetting that many people who read these tend to take everything literally. My post was a sarcastic reply to someone saying that personal opinions have no bearing on professional life. I DO have enough sense and life experience to know that.

Sarcasm can be difficult to pick up sometimes during text and emails.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg.
I keep forgetting that many people who read these tend to take everything literally. My post was a sarcastic reply to someone saying that personal opinions have no bearing on professional life. I DO have enough sense and life experience to know that.

Sarcasm can be difficult to pick up sometimes during text and emails.

That's why I have adopt the practice of adding a side note of "insert sarcasm here" to get the point across to those would aren't fluent in it. That's until they make a sarcasm font, which should be in Windows 7 since I helped make it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I know of someone who ended up in major trouble because of social networking posts, but that's all I've heard of. Can these folks spell "career suicide," for starters. Hasn't anyone heard of HIPPA? Argh.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Operating Room.

I have a FB account and don't mention anything about pts or about my employer. If anything, i use the site for fun and try not to bring work into it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't have a facebook account and refuse to have one. I've seen too many "friends" (including FAMILY) get in trouble or cause trouble on it. My daughter caused domestic problems for my son when answering a post on a wall (WHATEVER that means...) from a cousin. Now our Thanksgiving celebration at my son's home is being held with my daughter's family NOT invited...all because of some comment made on facebook. So sad...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This didn't happen in a hospital, or area of nursing, I do have a friend who works in retail, that three of her colleagues were fired for making comments about their store on facebook. So I would definitely watch out, as a nursing career is much more important, and if it can happen in retail, it can happen in health care!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Sarcasm can be difficult to pick up sometimes during text and emails.

That's why I have adopt the practice of adding a side note of "insert sarcasm here" to get the point across to those would aren't fluent in it. That's until they make a sarcasm font, which should be in Windows 7 since I helped make it.

That's a great idea, sarcasm font! I'm guessing you're being sarcastic about making Windows 7 though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I adore Facebook. Since I live several states away from my family it is a haven of connections with people I rarely see. I also have most of my co-workers on my Facebook. It has really brought the day shift and night shift closer together, now that we can share a little bit more of ourselves with each other.

That being said, no one talks about work, except for the occassional "phew it's busy today!" or "So glad to be heading home soon!".

I always keep my audience (aka family and friends) in mind when I post and I don't post things that could be troublesome. For the most part I post musings about my husband and way too many pictures of my cat on it!

Facebook is a wonderful tool, however a little common sense on it goes a long, long way.

Tait

Up Vote Up Vote ×
that's why i have adopt the practice of adding a side note of "insert sarcasm here" to get the point across to those would aren't fluent in it. that's until they make a sarcasm font, which should be in windows 7 since i helped make it.

>that's a great idea, sarcasm font! i'm guessing you're being sarcastic about making windows 7 though.

i guess you haven't seen the tv commercials about windows 7! very cute way of implying they listened to what people wanted in the new version. well done, microsoft.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion