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Securing Safety in Social Media: Pitfalls and Potential

Tori McCormick

Department of Nursing, Youngstown State University

NURS 6900: Professional Issues

Dr. Valerie O’Dell

November 22, 2020

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Abstract

The use of social media in nursing is accelerating rapidly after its relatively recent

commencement in 1989. These continuing enhancements have led to today’s social media

platforms, including Facebook, Blackboard, and YouTube, among many others. Even with

organizations such as The Truth About Nursing and The World Health Organization set in place,

predators still lurk within the realm. Unaccredited sources are taking the forefront and potentially

providing harmful information to the public. Maintaining an open forum environment that is safe

for users is a major obstacle currently faced. Misconstrued public images of nurses related to

personal posts, untrustworthy information, and pitfalls of web-based educational systems all play

a role in the risks related to this professional issue. Decisions to abstain from using social media

are often made to avoid all consequences; however, it is a disservice to the nursing community

and public to boycott all social media because of the potential benefits, including public support,

professional networking, and helpful accredited information supplied by social media. Nurses

possess the potential to positively impact this matter by educating patients on safe practices and

applying those practices themselves. In conjunction with professional organizations, nursing

professionals and students have the ability to impose safe practices, visit monitored internet

pages while reporting prospective threats, and coach patients on deciphering accredited

information from misleading data. Further research to improve current standards is necessary to

develop secure platforms for the public and professionals. Safe platforms and accessible outreach

will provide a better experience for the public as well as healthcare professionals.
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Securing Safety in Social Media: Pitfalls and Potential

The social media arena of nursing continually evolves because of worldly social media

and technological advancements. When connecting social media to nursing, many health care

professionals, nursing students, and the public have a negative connotation. However, with this

influx of social media use related to healthcare, safer, more efficient ways of using social media

are being established from previous mistakes and shortcomings. The patient experience, nursing

professionals, academic references, and web-based nursing education systems are all affected by

social media trends. Gorea et al. (2016) explain, "Social media is defined as a constellation of

internet-based tools that help users to connect, collaborate and communicate with other users in

real-time" (p. 2). With social media proliferating, it is now considered the mainstream

communication method for the population (Gorea et al., 2016). Identifying social media issues is

integral in providing the best patient experience, maintaining nursing professionals' safety, and

accelerating web-based nursing education systems. There are multiple negative factors on social

media issues in nursing, including but not limited to; patient privacy, unfavorable representation

of the nursing profession, the anonymity social media allows, accuracy concerns,

unpredictability, and digital divides (Huston, 2020).

Social media's focus population has mainly been younger adults who have the most

access and most remarkable ability to use technological techniques for information. With this

revolution of social media, including access to patient charts online, web-based meetings, and

education systems along with continuing education credits for nursing becoming more web-

based, clearly, the focus needs to shift to a more general population including middle-aged to

even elderly adults. The known risks of internet scams, false information from people posing to

be health care professionals, and the consequences of using social media influence consumer
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utilization. With the negative factors preventing patients and health care professionals from

getting quality usage, nursing committees, internet boards, and information technology groups

are all working on enhancements to give the best experience possible.

Historical Aspects

Engineers used the revolution of the internet and Web 2.0, founded in approximately

1989, as an advantage to help design a platform for virtual interaction. Furthermore, social media

is a newer platform first utilized by internet users in the late 1990s and early 2000s (Boyd, 2015).

One of the first social media platforms was instant messenger designed to communicate and

share thoughts with others (Boyd, 2015). Although functional, this is where the issues began;

intended for personal communication between friends and family, the internet allowed users to

remain anonymous and claim to be anyone in chatrooms while communicating with others. This

anonymity matter is prevalent today. As stated by Korda & Itani (2013), "The nurse or patient

may believe they are interacting with a highly trained medical professional or caring friend and

find the individuals are not whom they say they are" (p.189). This issue is especially significant

regarding online education systems that rely on information from social media sites.

The first web-based learning education systems were adapted in 1996 and have

developed tremendously since that time (Schmitt et al., 2012). Additionally, Schmitt et al. (2012)

explain, "Social media is more than an emerging technology platform or cultural trend, but a

method of communication that is changing the way individuals and organizations throughout the

world transmit and receive information" (p.1). New platforms adapted by schools such as

Blackboard and real-time lectures in Zoom make the online world of learning easier. Another

platform worth mentioning is YouTube, which includes procedure walk-throughs, learning

channels like Osmosis, and lectures from various colleges that play an integral part in continuing
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education. Huston (2020) states, "For the practicing clinical nurse, there are thousands of videos

devoted to nursing skills and the management of illness. Nurse educators can use YouTube to

store and distribute videos to students or the nursing profession in general" (p. 193). Shortly

after, web-based social media learning got its start, Wikis formed in 2001. These Wikis offer an

open platform where multiple users can post new content, edit others' content, and create online

communities (Huston 2020). One of the most popular Wikis is Wikipedia. Cross-referencing is

vital while using Wikipedia because a non-accredited source can edit material to portray

inaccurate data. Ventola (2014) states, "The main limitation of health information found on

social media and other online sources is a lack of quality and credibility" (p. 496). However, a

study evaluating nursing students' contributions to a Wikipedia subject shines a light on an open

forum's positive side. The results inspired the students, explaining they were impressed with how

quickly their work was edited and corrected (Schmitt, 2012). Because of social media evolution,

a new model was formed that molded the basis for information access, connecting information,

ideas, and content (Boyd 2020). Although problems arise, social media is continually developing

by improving the quality of overall content.

In approximately 2010, the e-Patient emerged. An e-Patient is a consumer of health care

who actively uses social media to enhance their experience (Huston 2020). Specifically, Huston

(2020) reports, "People who are empowered, engaged, educated, and informed are sometimes

known as e-Patients" (p.186). Because the e-Patient exhibits these qualities, it is no surprise they

also; seek out the most up-to-date, well-rounded evidence-based practice. They also engage in

social media platforms with peers who are also affected by the same diagnosis and use social

media's collective wisdom to their benefit. For example, these super users are using Facebook, a

platform created in 2004 for a support group and information center for many different
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conditions; one well-known condition that has been taken to many social media platforms for

support and information is diabetes. In the fairly short time that social media has been in nursing

prospects, major strides have already taken place. Regarding the nursing profession, patient

experience, and education, social media is predicted to continue the fast-track development as

seen since 1990; with that being said, creators work every day to improve kinks and negative

influences.

Nursing Implications

Health care professionals, including nurses and students, have a responsibility to explain,

enhance, and refrain from misusing social media. This responsibility is climbing in severity due

to the significant rise in utilization of social media in the practice. Greenwood et al. (2016) noted

that there has been a significant rise in multiplatform social media use from 2013 pertaining to

online adults. With this incline the nurses' responsibility to protect patients-rights to privacy,

educate about new platforms that may be beneficial to patients, and portray a positive image of

themselves and the company they represent is raised to an even higher standard.

The rules of HIPPA apply in the realm of social media, which plays a major role in the

discipline of healthcare professionals that use social media to vent about work or post protected

patient information (Huston, 2020). Even in a protected group on social media such as a nursing

school chat or private web page, patient information should never be posted or spoken about.

Specifically, there is a scenario of a nursing student that had been perused by a patient, where the

patient adds and messages the student. The student posted this in a private blog for students in

their class, but the post included the patient's full name. When this was copied to social media,

the students were reprimanded for breaching patient-rights privacy (Huston, 2020). It is the duty

of the health care professional to refrain from posting information about patients or anything that
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can be linked to patients, in addition to not giving medical advice through social media.

Unprofessional behaviors, foul or discriminatory language, sexually suggestive images,

the portrayal of intoxication, and unfavorable comments about employers, nursing schools, or

patients themselves may reflect negatively on individuals (Ventola, 2014). Huston (2020) wrote

in her examination of social media in the professional nursing practice; "Although the social

media environment does contain some risks, carefully utilized Web-based platforms can

potentially enhance practice, education, and research" (p. 191). It is the nursing professionals'

obligation to keep the safety of themselves and the patients first. By using good judgement and

teaching proper usage nurses have the ability lead social media application in healthcare to the

right track.

Proposal of Resolution

Organizations, committees, leaders, and nursing professionals are working non-stop to

proactively change social media into a more usable, predictable source. Specifically, The World

Health Organization is currently working on a solution to manage accredited healthcare

information. This solution includes a request to establish a new social media domain that would

solely be used for accredited healthcare professionals (Ventola, 2014). The World Health

Organization's fight to give the public the most accurate information is admirable and will bring

trustworthy information to the public as long as it is easily accessible.

Another proposal to this issue is linked to accountability regarding degrading the image

of nursing. The nurse may not always be to blame or unfavorable portrayals regarding image.

The Truth About Nursing is an organization that addresses the media's negative stereotypical

portrayal of nursing professionals (Huston, 2020). This group's ultimate goal is to address the

media's disrespectful nursing stereotypes by starting petitions and bringing issues to the
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companies themselves when problems arise. Huston's (2020) example is the Heart Attack Grill, a

restaurant with waitresses dressed up as "naughty nurses." This particular restaurant depicts

nurses as female sexual objects and not well-educated people that include both genders. The

Truth About Nursing advocated for the image of nursing and ultimately had the owner of the

restaurant change the menu and merchandise by using asterisks to clarify the women working

there were not of the health care profession (Huston, 2020). Although a small step, The Truth

About Nursing organization was at the forefront of that issue, standing up for the nursing

profession. Groups such as these are integral in keeping the public's outlook on nurses as close to

true as possible. Propagating the good these organizations do and making them well known to

the public, will enhance support. It is important to aid these organizations by donating or

subscribing so they may continue making strides in social media issues.

At a more individual level, the nurse must take on responsibility themselves to teach

patients the importance of knowing what to look for when finding accredited sources and to

explain the various types of scams, including but not limited to requesting money and falsifying

credentials. Nurses are also expected to develop competencies with technology as advancements

are made (Jackson et al., 2014). By staying up to date on the latest trends and policies nurses

may better assist the public with the use of social media. Personal standards must be upheld by

nursing professionals and students regarding social media by not posting profanity or derogatory

statements and upholding a professional representation. Resolutions made at an individual level

have the potential to snowball into larger solutions incorporated in work facilities and

professional organizations.

Issues regarding social media in nursing will never subside completely; there will always

be new technological advancements and new hurdles to face. Nursing professionals must
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contemplate their desired outcome of social media use prior to taking action which will

ultimately provide a helpful guide when evaluating the positive or negative impact the actions

may have (Jackson et al., 2014). With the nursing community's support, students, and the public

working on the problems, new and old, the social media benefits will continue to outweigh the

risks.

Conclusion

Communication, furthering education, and accessibility are the primary reasons social

media is on the rise despite having negative issues such as scams, personal use downfalls, non-

accredited works, untrustworthy information, and digital divides. Leaders are working

continuously to making safer platforms for health care professionals, students, and the public. As

an integral part of the health care team, nurses’ responsibility for themselves and the public is of

grave importance. Approaches that nurses can take in aiding in the fight against social media

downfalls include; supporting organizations such as The World Health Organization and The

Truth About Nursing and educating patients on the risks and benefits of using social media in

relation to healthcare. Nursing professionals must also represent themselves and the profession in

a favorable way that attracts respect. The risks and benefits of social media in nursing have been

thoroughly examined regarding personal and professional use from healthcare professionals and

the public, academic references, and web-based nursing education. There are many positive and

negative factors with the subject at hand. Social media in nursing will only become more

prevalent in years to come, so for constructive change to happen, these obstacles need to be faced

with teamwork and positive attitudes.

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