Step 1
Social media is a fast growing online reality that is quickly becoming everyday life. From checking Facebook in the morning before getting out of bed, to keeping up with more than just the Kardashians, it seems hard to imagine a world without such technology. Many workplaces had to adapt quickly and create policies to regulate these technological advances with healthcare being no different. Social media could easily positively influence health care by creating a place for discourse between professionals, professionals and patients and between the patients themselves. It also provides an opportunity for professional networking and widespread correct and full information promotion, (Ventola, 2014, p491-499). The use of social media would …show more content…
Information on social media and the internet in general, spreads incredibly quickly and content can never be truly erased once posted. Thus the dangers of defamation of both workplaces and healthcare workers can happen much quicker and the information however true, or untrue can be spread across the internet (Mansfield, S, J., Morrison, S, G., Stephens, H, O., Bonning, M, A., Wang, S-H., Withers, A, H, J., Olver, R, C., Perry, A, W. (2011), p642-644). This poses a risk to the entity and the professional themselves as false allegations can be taken as true and thus serious consequences could follow, including termination or loss of licence. Incorporating social media in any workplace that has interactions with the general public can led to the danger of breaching professional-personal boundaries very easily warns Ventola, (2014, p491-520). It is inappropriate for any kind of relationship to form between a patient and healthcare provider whilst the patient is still under the direct care of said healthcare provider. It may seem simple enough accepting the friend request of a patient that the healthcare worked has formed a bond with, however by accepting this request it allows the patient to see the whole of the healthcare workers personal profile. Most likely exposing the patient to parts of the healthcare workers personal life that might not …show more content…
The AHPRA Social Media Policy (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, 2014) is very clear and direct in regards to the use of social media. The main point which is relevant to a student of nursing are for the student to not post to social making claims which are unsubstantiated or give out information which is biased or without context. Thus a professional would avoid posting to any social media sites as information over the internet can be taken out of context very quickly and then spread across the world in a matter of moments. Another code put forward by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, the Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses in Australia is a great source for understanding how to appropriately behave and react in a healthcare environment. One of the key points in this code related to having to treat each patients information received in confidential work environment, private and this information is only shared with other professionals who are directly involved in the patients care (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2013). This means that posting to Facebook or Twitter about a patient’s condition, even if they are unidentifiable would be extremely inappropriate. Finally the QUT Student Code of Conduct forbids students from sharing or using confidential information. In the
Social media is a fast growing online reality that is quickly becoming everyday life. From checking Facebook in the morning before getting out of bed, to keeping up with more than just the Kardashians, it seems hard to imagine a world without such technology. Many workplaces had to adapt quickly and create policies to regulate these technological advances with healthcare being no different. Social media could easily positively influence health care by creating a place for discourse between professionals, professionals and patients and between the patients themselves. It also provides an opportunity for professional networking and widespread correct and full information promotion, (Ventola, 2014, p491-499). The use of social media would …show more content…
Information on social media and the internet in general, spreads incredibly quickly and content can never be truly erased once posted. Thus the dangers of defamation of both workplaces and healthcare workers can happen much quicker and the information however true, or untrue can be spread across the internet (Mansfield, S, J., Morrison, S, G., Stephens, H, O., Bonning, M, A., Wang, S-H., Withers, A, H, J., Olver, R, C., Perry, A, W. (2011), p642-644). This poses a risk to the entity and the professional themselves as false allegations can be taken as true and thus serious consequences could follow, including termination or loss of licence. Incorporating social media in any workplace that has interactions with the general public can led to the danger of breaching professional-personal boundaries very easily warns Ventola, (2014, p491-520). It is inappropriate for any kind of relationship to form between a patient and healthcare provider whilst the patient is still under the direct care of said healthcare provider. It may seem simple enough accepting the friend request of a patient that the healthcare worked has formed a bond with, however by accepting this request it allows the patient to see the whole of the healthcare workers personal profile. Most likely exposing the patient to parts of the healthcare workers personal life that might not …show more content…
The AHPRA Social Media Policy (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, 2014) is very clear and direct in regards to the use of social media. The main point which is relevant to a student of nursing are for the student to not post to social making claims which are unsubstantiated or give out information which is biased or without context. Thus a professional would avoid posting to any social media sites as information over the internet can be taken out of context very quickly and then spread across the world in a matter of moments. Another code put forward by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, the Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses in Australia is a great source for understanding how to appropriately behave and react in a healthcare environment. One of the key points in this code related to having to treat each patients information received in confidential work environment, private and this information is only shared with other professionals who are directly involved in the patients care (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2013). This means that posting to Facebook or Twitter about a patient’s condition, even if they are unidentifiable would be extremely inappropriate. Finally the QUT Student Code of Conduct forbids students from sharing or using confidential information. In the