Social Media And Nursing Research

Applications like the social network sites are useful and beneficial transmission to connect with people, which continue to grow. However, using the technology requires caution and safety. (Mitchell, 2017). The essay will explain a definition of the term “social media” and distinguish and analyze two possible opportunities and two possible risks which are associated with the use of social media for a nurse. Moreover, the essay will provide legal, ethical and professional standards of practice, for which are prominent recommendations of how a nurse can maintain their professionalism when engaging online.

The international Nurse Regulators Collaborative, 2014 describes social media as an electronic platform to communicate and develop relationships,
This practice keeps the health consumer safe and allows the nurse to care for the health consumer in the correct manner.This means that all health consumers have the right to receive quality care through proficient techniques and appropriate equipment (HDC,1996). However, it can become difficult for the nurse to attend classes and work full time nursing hours. The application called you tube provides the nurse with an opportunity to study conveniently. Sharoff, 2017 stated that social media is a beneficial tool in educating, therapeutic communication and bringing together of required skills which are a requirement for future nursing students. Various universities offer online training through the medium of youtube video clips,to support the hands on learning in a clinical laboratory. For example, the the lecturer will upload a video address hyperlink to the university moodle page demonstrating the steps to a bed bath, which the student can access and watch at a later time. Learning by way of videos can appeal to all learning styles. For example, the Audio learner can listen to the lecturer articulating the steps of a bed bath ,the visual learner can observe the presenter performing the the bed bath on a health consumer. Furthermore, the the kinesthetic learners can physically replicate the moments of a bed bath as they view the video (Mclean, 2010). Because, the videos are interactive it allows
For example, the nurse and their networks may agree or disagree on the steps of bed bathing they viewed on youtube. Which, the nurse turns to facebook forums to discuss the issues. During which the nurse may discuss her own experiences of a health consumer that they cared for and in the heat of the moment, they breach the health consumers privacy and confidentiality rights. Additionally, the nurse may engage in an emotional relationship with a current health consumer on facebook which will jeopardise the nurses professional relationship and the nurse may step overboard by sending a private message which they feel is innocent flirting which will encourage the wrong thoughts and behaviours. Although, The nursing council have developed a social media guideline document to assist nurses to adopt techniques on how to use social media and electronic communications wisely without breaching privacy or confidentiality (NCNZ, 2012).

Nurses are recommended to establish clear boundaries about who they connect with. Also, to be mindful of keeping their personal information they are sharing private and confidential. Nursing code of conduct 8.1 states it is paramount that the service provider’s professional and personal behaviour remain at a high standard