4th Year Nurse - Should I delete my tiktok content?

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jan 6

These days, yes it may. When considering applicants I checked to see if license active and online presence prior to forwarding to HR --which took 3 months to get background check done + hire offer. This way, I weeded out applicants quickly that I felt might not pass HR's check as conservative workplace; Got scolded by another manager for hiring a CLERK with a tattoo --who was an on-time, excellent clerk, office staff in a home health agency not seen by our patients!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 6

Depends on what the "highly inappropriate humor" is. I would say if it's exhibits any kind of "ism" such as sexism or making fun of the disabled, or employment related then perhaps you might consider toning it down some in the future or removing past posts. Plenty of nurses are on TikTok and some have gotten into trouble for content.

I'm not personally on TikTok but enjoy some of the content from nurses on Instagram Reels, some of whom are obviously employed and are remaining employed as their content isn't of the "highly inappropriate humor" variety.

JKL33 · Jan 7

It's possible that at least some places would find the content distasteful enough that they wouldn't pursue offering you employment. It's possible that some of those places would be places you'd really like the opportunity to work.

Another possibility you didn't mention is getting hired and then having people make the connection and decide to make your work life miserable based on their judgment of your taste and what they think your content says about you.

So then the only question is whether or not you want to take those chances.

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Jan 7

I don't know what you mean by "highly inappropriate". Inappropriate for a nurse? It isn't appropriate for a nurse to use patient information for jokes. But you aren't a nurse yet so it's not that. You're being too vague for me to have an opinion about the content.

I would encourage you to keep the tiktok if it still brings you happiness, fulfillment or money. And take it down if it doesn't. Since you're worried about it.

Career Columnist / Author · Jan 7

I agree with @NRSKarenRN, it's a question of risk. I'm sure it's been a fun, creative outlet, but an inappropriate online entertainment presence and a nursing career do not mix. You will find that nursing is very conservative at its core, and as a new grad seeking employment, you want to give yourself every advantage.

beachynurse, ASN, BSN · Jan 8

You know, this subject kind of troubles me. Why? Because Nurses are held to a higher standard that most other professions, even Medicine. If an MD loses his license, he or she can just go to another state and get a license there. Try that as a nurse, not going to happen, we couldn't get a license to save our lives. Mental health, we can't even be depressed, or have any other type of mental illness. We get put on some kind of program, or our license can get suspended. We should not be held to a higher standard than anyone else. I have 2 years till I retire... and after 39 years, I wish I could retire now..

Avonlea · Jan 9

sorry, but you asked for input. IF you have to ask that question, you never should have had the TIKTOK account to begin with. GROW-UP.

Emergent, RN · Jan 10

The government is getting set to ban tiktok in the United States. I read that just the other day. I think it's because China controls it, and they may be up to no good? I'm only familiar with it through reaction videos on YouTube, I don't use tiktok.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Jan 13

I work in a liberal-minded city in a work environment that embraces points of view that sometimes challenges societal norms. I've seen nurses with unusual hair styles and dyes, piercings and visible tattoos here. That said, even in our setting, managers are humans and as such they still have their own biases. We are also quite big on "political correctness" here and one must be careful not to offend especially a marginalized sector of society. If a manager in a unit you are applying to happens to find your Tik Tok account and finds the content distasteful, then they will likely not push through with an interview.

Lizzy George-Parkin · Feb 18

It sounds like you've had a unique journey, and it's awesome that you're so close to finishing nursing school! While some employers might be cautious about social media, your past TikTok content likely won't define your future, especially if you've moved on from it.

If you're worried, consider cleaning up your old content or setting things to private, but ultimately, your nursing skills and how you present yourself professionally will matter the most.

jadecat027 · Mar 19

If you are questioning whether you should delete questionable content, then you should actually go ahead and do it. Just be super careful about what you post online because of all the differing opinions.

I was a bit of a wild child, due to age, when I first started nursing.

I had a full-length sleeve from working at a tattoo shop, dumb, I know. I was always told I had to cover it, so I got it removed because I hate wearing long sleeves. I always burn up.

The talks from some of the DoN's, my goodness.

Point being....they always said that what I did outside of work reflected on the facility I worked at.

I only wish someone had told me that in nursing school.