Professionalism and Social Media Assignment Paper

Professionalism and Social Media Assignment Paper

Professionalism and Social Media Assignment Paper

The use of social media among nurses and other health care professionals is important at personal and professional level. Nurses can access a host of social media platforms that include blogs and social networks like Facebook (Hao & Gao, 2018). Social media facilitates and encourages sharing of ideas and information as well as professional networking as nurses use the different platforms to connect with colleagues. Conversely, social media use can pose risks to nurses, especially when they expose patient’s personal and confidential information that contravenes the privacy rule (Charry & Jacob, 2018). The purpose of this paper is to analyze my social media and posts that seem unprofessional with detrimental effects to my career as a nurse and reputation of the nursing profession.

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Analysis of Social Media Posts Considered Inappropriate Based on the Professional Nursing Standards

A review and analysis of my social media posts and pages shows a wide range of conversations that may be considered inappropriate based on the professional nursing standards. These posts are about both the profession and personal life. For instance, I posted images of the background of my workplace at one time after being excited on that shift when we had a chat on the successes that we had achieved as nurses. I posted my colleagues smiling and this may not have been good because it also captured some of the medical equipment and captured people who were not aware. One of the images shows a patient’s family member who may not have been aware. I also posted my opinions on a host of issues in the facility and positions on the way forward, especially long working hours. One of the posts also expressed my political stand on a number of issues that formed the campaigns of the previous state elections. All these posts demonstrate the free expression doctrine. However, they are not appropriate based on the professional nursing standards. For instance, exposing the workplace conditions and discussions on political issues may comprise my reputation and career as well as the reputation of the nursing profession.

Responsibility to Uphold Professional Ethical Standards

The American Nurses Association (ANA) (2022) developed the code of conduct to guide and govern the ethical behaviors and actions of nurses in their professional life. Nurses have a professional and ethical responsibility to adhere to the code of conduct in their work activities and practices. Nurses must ensure that they comply with the code of conduct and the biomedical ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) (2018) requires nurses to uphold professional conduct and desist from unprofessional and unethical behavior, moral turpitude, mismanagement of patient information and records, disclosing privileged information and communication and breach of confidentiality. Violation of privacy and exposure of protected patient information is a serious of the legal and professional mandates of a nurse.  

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has privacy rule that bars nurses from exposing personal information. Therefore, personal conduct can violate HIPAA’s protect health information (PHI) rule when nurses interact with patients and post such details on their social media accounts or posts (Balestra, 2018). Nurses also demonstrate inappropriate personal conduct when they discuss their organizations, patients and even colleagues online.

Social Media Activity Reflecting Christian Values

Christian values related to respecting human value and dignity are important in nursing. Nurses can demonstrate such values in their social media activities to encourage colleagues and their patients in different ways (Hao & Gao, 2018). My areas of social media activity that reflect these values include sharing biblical verses in the morning on my Facebook page. I have also posted information on health promotion activities and the benefits of regular physical activities. I have also advocated and educated my patients on the benefits of having routine checkups, nutritious diet and monitoring of body vitals using wearable devices, especially for individuals with chronic conditions. These activities demonstrate value and respect for dignity of human beings as consistent with Christian values.

The areas that I need to improve or change in my social media include sharing of visual content and personal information of patients and my colleagues. I also need to stop showing my political positions as that may be uncomfortable with patients who have a different opinion. Further, I should not post images and conversations of my workplace, unless areas that are general and do not reveal sensitive information or personal data.

Conclusion

Social media is a powerful tool for nurses and other health professionals as it enables them to share information and other aspects of care provision. However, it also presents risks that may lead to violations of legal requirements and even professional ethical standards. Therefore, nurses must ensure that they understand all aspects on compliance on the use of these networking sites.

References

American Nurses Association (ANA) (2022). Ethics and Human Rights.

            https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/

Balestra, M. (2018).  Social media missteps could put your nursing risk at risk. American Nurse

Today, 13(3), 20-21. https://www.myamericannurse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ant3-Social-Media-216.pdf

Charry, B., & Jacob, S.  (2018). Contemporary Nursing E-Book: Issues, Trends, & Management. 

            Elsevier Health Sciences.

Daly, J., & Jackson, D. (2020). Contexts of nursing: An introduction. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Hao, J., & Gao, B. (2018). Advantages and Disadvantages for Nurses of Using Social Media.

Journal of Primary Health Care and General Practice, 1(1), 1-4. https://scientonline.org/open-access/advantages-and-disadvantages-for-nurses-of-using-social-media.pdf

NCSBN (2018). A nurse’s guide to the use of social media. National Council of State Boards of

            Nursing, Inc. Web.

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Assessment Description
Social media plays a significant role in the lives of nurses in both their professional and personal lives. Additionally, social media is now considered a mainstream part of the process for recruiting and hiring candidates. Inappropriate or unethical conduct on social media can create legal problems for nurses as well as the field of nursing.

Login to all social media sites in which you engage. Review your profile, pictures and posts. Based on the professional standards of nursing, identify items that would be considered unprofessional and potentially detrimental to your career and that negatively impact the reputation of the nursing field.

In 500-750 words, summarize the findings of your review. Include the following:

Describe the posts or conversations in which you have engaged that might be considered inappropriate based on the professional standards of nursing.
Discuss why nurses have a responsibility to uphold a standard of conduct consistent with the standards governing the profession of nursing at work and in their personal lives. Include discussion of how personal conduct can violate HIPAA or be considered unethical or unprofessional. Provide an example of each to support your answer.
Based on the analysis of your social media, discuss what areas of your social media activity reflect Christian values as they relate to respecting human value and dignity for all individuals. Describe areas of your social media activity that could be improved.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Professionalism and Social Media – Rubric

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Assessment of Social Media Identifying Unprofessional Items 14.8 points

Criteria Description

Assessment of Social Media Identifying Unprofessional Items

5. Excellent 14.8 points

A detailed and transparent analysis of the appropriateness of social media activity based on standards of nursing practice is presented.

4. Good 13.17 points

An analysis of the appropriateness of social media activity based on standards of nursing practice is presented.

3. Satisfactory 11.69 points

A general analysis of the appropriateness of social media activity based on standards of nursing practice is presented but is unclear in some areas.

2. Less Than Satisfactory 11.1 points

A partial analysis of the appropriateness of social media activity, based on standards of nursing practice, is not clear; or the analysis fails to incorporate the standards of nursing practice appropriately.

1. Unsatisfactory 0 points

Nurse Responsibility to Uphold a Standard of Conduct 29.6 points

Criteria Description

Nurse Responsibility to Uphold a Standard of Conduct Consistent With Nursing Profession in Personal Life

5. Excellent 29.6 points

The discussion demonstrates an overall understanding of the importance of professional conduct in personal behavior and its implications for patients and the field of nursing. The discussion explains how personal conduct can violate HIPAA or be considered unethical or unprofessional. Clear examples are given.

4. Good 26.34 points

Human Value and Dignity for Others Consistent with a Christian Worldview (MC3

14.8 points

Criteria Description

Human Value and Dignity for Others Consistent with a Christian Worldview (MC3

Thesis Development and Purpose  3.7 points

Criteria Description

Thesis Development and Purpose

Argument Logic and Construction  3.7 points

Criteria Description

Argument Logic and Construction

Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use)

3.7 points

Criteria Description

Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use)

Paper Format (use of appropriate style for the major and assignment)  1.48 points

Criteria Description

Paper Format (use of appropriate style for the major and assignment)

Documentation of Sources  2.22 points

Criteria Description

Documentation of Sources (citations, footnotes, references, bibliography, etc., as appropriate to assignment and style)