Nursing Identity in the Digital Age of Social Media
As part of exploring my role in social media, a realization about my lack of participation in social media has prompted me to explore how this may benefit or potentially limit my professional connection to areas of nursing and modern health care.
"The imbalance of power between a health professional and client means that the responsibility of maintaining professional boundaries lies with the professional (Baker, 2013)" (Slobogian, Giles and Rent, 2017, p.394). The vulnerable state of patients in times of distress gives nursing control and power and though this is often not forced upon the patient and is a consequence of situation and environment, it does put the responsibility of maintaining boundaries in day to day nursing and in social media on the professional not the patient.
My hesitation to use social media as part of my professional identity did not stem from my role as a nurse but instead my own feeling that social media often encroaches on personal privacy with even careful consideration of content or privacy settings. That being said, my professional identity is tied with the importance of maintaining boundaries as I have often worked in areas with chronically ill patients many who I have developed relationships with over years.
RNANTNU's (Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut) position statement regarding Social Media outlines the responsibility of the professional in regards to the use of social media and states that "accountable use of social media is a multidimensional responsibility" (RNANTNU, 2015). The organization emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility for the use of social media. Personal and professional responsibility collide in social media and social representation of ourselves has a profound affect on professional reputation.
Social media has changed the way in which professionals interact and connect with colleagues. "The rapid emergence of social media will be fundamental to the evolution of nursing into the contemporary world of communication" (Casella, Mills & Usher, 2014, p.122). The discussion regarding social media and professionalism prompted me to look at my own professional values and how I ensure that I am current while keeping in line with my own bias towards absolute privacy.
My values in relation to the digital reality that we live in leave me conflicted as I still shy away from interactions that may reveal too much to patients, colleagues and friends. We are taught that the privacy of the patient is paramount and that it is our professional responsibility to maintain that balance between potential patient relationships and ensuring boundaries and confidentiality.
The use of social media is clear in our politics, activism and relevancy in the present time but the misuse of this media can lead to a breach of confidentiality and tarnish reputations. As Registered Nurses, we are bound to our professional association and it is our responsibility as nurses to ensure that we follow recommendations and guidelines of that organization.
The moral conflict between developing therapeutic relationships with patients while maintaining boundaries and privacy is an ongoing part of nursing but essential to developing an environment that provides safe, competent, and discreet care. As healthcare professionals we need to be aware of our use of social media and how this may impact our professional life but as we change the way we communicate, it is important to keep ourselves relevant and current in the digital world.
This realization for myself has altered my way of thinking and likely my way of communicating.
References
Casella, E., Mills, J. & Usher, K. (2014). Social media and nursing practice: Changing the balance between the social and technical aspects of work. Collegian. 21(2). 121-126.
Giles, J., Rent, T. & Slobogian, V. (2017). #Boundaries: When patients become friends. Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal. 27(4). 394-397.
Registered Nurses Association of Northwest Territories and Nunavut. (2015). Position Statement-Social Media. Retrieved January 27, 2018 from http://www.rnantnu.ca
