Rapid Information Dissemination Among Discussion
Part 1
Below is a post, provide a response. You should respond to the post by extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to the post. 150 words with reference.
Ethical Issues Related to Social Media
Nowadays, the modern utilization of technologies has become part and parcel of everyone’s life with features of remote and fast, transforming the way information is shared and accessed. Social media is a powerful tool that is connecting more professionals in the nursing field. Nursing professionals are now adept at using this tool to stay connected and make their profession innovative and efficient. At the same time, social media has potential issues that could be of concern with nursing use of social media. Nurses must learn to use social media sparingly to avoid it interfering with their professionalism. The ethical issues related to the nurse’s use of social media are confidentiality and privacy of the patient information and accountability issues.
Nurses must ensure that all the necessary patient information is kept confidential and only utilized for professional reasons. However, some nurses do not realize that they may post information considered a breach of privacy. According to Tuckett and Turner (2016), 28 percent of nurses are unaware of standards or policies of utilizing social media in their scope of practice. The group also includes the nurses unfamiliar with social media, and are at the beginning their profession. The breach may occur inadvertently and lead to potential harm to the customers and influence the careers of such nurses significantly. Any activities that the nurse posts on social media about the patient are considered public information. Such contents are not only directed to the nurse’s professionalism but also regarded as general information. Lastly, posting inappropriately through social media has grave consequences. The AHPRA may have to issue a verbal or written warning or even disqualify the registration for the nurse for inappropriate posts on social media. Thus, the confidentiality of information on social media affects the nurse’s use of social media.
Accountability issues arise when social media distracts and interrupts the nursing practice during working time. Social media is a distractor to the nurse because they already work in a complicated atmosphere that is vulnerable to interruptions. Modern technology like mobile phones could be major distractors when the nurse offers critical care to the patients. Interestingly, a nurse preoccupied with social networking messages may make mistakes in medication administration and medication calculation. These professionals can cause damage that extends to severe injuries or even death to the patients. Misusing social media has long-lasting implications for the registered nurses because they are supposed to adhere to the code of professional conduct when using social media (Hao & Gao, 2017). Spending too much time on social media, especially during working hours, can constitute an unethical use of social media so professionals must be careful in how they approach use the tool while undertaking their day-to-day activities.
In a nutshell, social media has opened the doors for nurse practitioners to change communication methods. When used unethically, social media has the disadvantages of violating the confidentiality and privacy of the patients as well affecting performance and quality of care. Also, nurses who are too preoccupied with social media than their work may have formidable consequences on their work. Thus, it is essential for all nurses, specifically those at the beginning of their professional practice as registered nurses, to know the national laws, guidelines, and policies that govern social media use. Inappropriate use of social media has serious consequences, and this can only be avoided when nurses exercise good use of social media. Nurses should adhere to ethical guidelines and standards to prevent the issues from arising.
References
Hao, J., & Gao, B. (2017). Advantages and disadvantages for nurses of using social media. Journal of Primary Health Care and General Practice, 3, 2.
Tuckett, A., & Turner, C. (2016). Do you use social media? A study into new nursing and midwifery graduates’ uptake of social media. International journal of nursing practice, 22(2), 197-204.
Part 2
Below is a post, provide a response. You should respond to the post by extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to the post. 150 words with reference.
In a technology-based society, there has been an increased rate of social media platforms. Social media has become an integral aspect of transmitting information as well as building organizational relationships. In the nursing profession, the use of social media is a wide range tool used to achieve effectiveness and efficiency. Social media platforms provide opportunities for rapid information dissemination among many people within a short time. Accordingly, nurses are obliged to understand the nature and benefits of implementing social media in their practice.
Some of the benefits accrued from the use of social media in the nursing profession include improved dissemination of educative health related materials. Nurses who are not in the same geographical region are provided with a platform for exchanging ideas as well as interacting professionally. Furthermore, social media nurtures relationships that help mentor developing and young professionals in covid-19 era. Dissemination of information not only helps the nurses but also helps educate the public on the healthcare system (O’connor et al., 2018). social media provides a professional presence for the community.
However, the use of social media may have negative impacts on nurses that may transfer to the patients. in addition, social media use may give rise to ethical issues in the nursing profession that may question the professionalism of nursing.
An example of an ethical concern that may arise is a breach of privacy. In a healthcare setting, patients are encouraged to be free with their physicians while nurses are urged to create a safe space for the patients to be honest. The patients are further assured that the conversations held are confidential and shall not be disclosed to anyone else without the consent of the patient unless, for medical consultations and decisions. confidentiality is a broad aspect in nursing s it encompasses medical records of patients, medical history of patients, and treatment plans. According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, patients have a right over their health information and may establish rules and limits as to who receives it. HIPPA’s protected health information defines it as anything transmitted in electronic media or any other form.
Breaching of patient privacy may be intentional or inadvertent. Examples include sending photos or videos of patients, description of patients’ records, health status and treatments, and addressing and commenting about patients in a demeaning manner.
Another ethical issue that may occur is the damage of professional boundaries and reputation. A professional boundary is the line that exists between patient vulnerability and nurse power (Scott, 2019). In the US, everyone has a right to speech and opinion. A nurse may over engage with patients and alter with the professional boundary that exists between them. As such, some patients may feel that they are close to the nurse and ask for favors outside the scope of the nurse. finally, a nurse may tweet a negative comment about the Obamacare and cause a bad reputation for the organization. As such, some patients may be reluctant to sign up for it due to medical personnel negatively commenting.
References
O’connor, S., Jolliffe, S., Stanmore, E., Renwick, L., & Booth, R. (2018). Social media in nursing and midwifery education: A mixed study systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 74(10), 2273-2289.
Scott, P. (2019). Nursing Leaders’ Ethical Decision-Making About Professional Boundaries and Nurse-Patient Relationships: A Mixed Methods Explanatory Sequential Design.