Social media, it's use, as common as a telephone. Nurses everywhere have cared for a patient that, well, could act inappropriately. After 12 years, I have had my share, remained caring and ethical. I was recently thrown into a very uncomfortable situation and social media was the vehicle. Let me set the table...
A male vascular surgery patient had a successful outcome after a five week stay and was discharged. During treatment he would specifically ask if so and so was working, these were 3 specifuc nursing assistants. He would ask when they were working next, I deferred the question properly, but found it a bit odd, as it happened a handful of times. The patient was discharged after his AKA.
Approximately 3 weeks later, one of these LNAs he consistently inquired about, shows me pictures of our former patient, and she friended him on facebook. She informs me he broke up with his girlfriend, is doing well, and needs rides to get errands done, and her boyfriend will be with her.
I couldn't breathe. I was instantly worried about her safety first, ethics a close second. She is a 19 year old girl, newly licensed. My gut told me this former patient 30 years her senior, had alternate thoughts...
I was an emotional wreck during my days off. I thought I had seen and heard it all, but this...My girl radar was telling me a former patient had my co worker in his sights, and using Facebook as his platform. I anonymously contacted HR, then my nurse manager.
As nurses, patient safety, advocacy, and ethics are the trifecta of this journey we are on, in a million years, I never thought I would have to defend the safety of a co worker from a patient via social media.
