Social Media and the Workplace-Don't do it

There are SO many posts here about social media, posting about work or patients.

I just wanted to write a quick post about this, why so much confusion on the topic? Honestly, no one should ever write on social media about work.....ever. I am not a nurse yet, just a student who has completed prereqs and starting school in the fall.

Even if the post seems innocent, I still believe no one should post about work. I have seen several people respond with stating that they may have posted, "had a great shift today" or something similar. That sounds fine to me.

BUT......whenever posting anything negative automatically it's a no no for me. Even though I have never had a nursing job, when I do I intend to vow never to post about work or even classes on social media. There are so many wrongs not even including the fact that HIPAA laws might be violated. Most people, when considering you for an interview, will pull up your social media accounts to browse you first, before you are even offered an interview. Some information you put there could even get you put in the "don't bother to interview" pile, such as bashing other workplaces for example. They might assume that if you bash another workplace, what will stop you from bashing them? A reputation is hard to gain, and super easy to lose. Workplaces know this, and this is why this is such a hot button issue. Many of us use this platform to vent, but I suggest another option.

Why not vent to a loved one at home? You can protect HIPAA laws by not telling your loved one pt details, and it's likely they don't care. My significant other and I vent to each other quite often about things at work, or otherwise. Not only does it provide some relief by venting, but you may feel better just by talking to someone about it....in person....not in a place for the world to see. Plus, there seems to be a perfect community, such as AN, that will provide another outlet for you, so long as you keep your workplace and pt names and details out of the post.

This is my opinion, and I don't claim to know everything. But the answer to all of this seems very simple, keep your professional life separate from your home life as far as social media goes. In general it's not a bad idea to begin with. I used to use my drive to work as a way to get in the zone to separate whats going on at home from work, and the same on the drive home, trying to separate what happened at work from my environment at home. Just some advice to throw out there for those who may be struggling with whether or not to post an aspect about work to the social media outlets. Just don't do it.