Introduction
Professional conduct is crucial in any job, but there are some spheres where one’s behavior is being assessed even beyond the workplace. Politicians, teachers, nurses, and other professionals have to be careful about what they say or share not only during their working hours but also on their social media in their free time. As a person pursuing a career in nursing, I realize the significance of ethical behavior. Nurses must adhere to the standards of conduct in order not to violate patients’ confidentiality.
Personal Posts/Conversations
I am not very active on social media, so my discussion will be focused on reposts and conversations rather than personal posts. I remember that during the COVID era, I used to share the videos made by first responders in the hottest epicenters of the pandemic. I now realize that sharing, let alone making, such videos is highly unethical due to several reasons. Firstly, there is a fact of violating patients’ confidentiality (Turale et al., 2020). However, other outcomes of such posts can be very traumatizing not only to the individuals taped but also to the public. I remember that one of the videos I reposted depicted a desperate nurse saying that they were losing a lot of people and complaining of a lack of supplies. Such information can be both disturbing to the viewers’ mental stability and undermining the government’s activity.
Nursing Standard of Conduct
Nurses have to uphold professional standards of conduct since their actions and behaviors affect not only them but also their administration, facility, and, most crucially, patients. Article 1.5 of the Code of Ethics for Nurses issued by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) (2021) states that nurses must respect the confidentiality and privacy of their patients and coworkers. Thus, for instance, what seems to be an innocent photo of oneself in the working environment can turn out as a serious threat to someone else’s confidentiality as there may be room number, a piece of prescription, or some other facts on the photo’s background.
Nurses’ conduct can violate the HIPAA even when one takes measures to follow the regulations conscientiously. Sharing photos or videos of patients, even without mentioning their names, is an example of HIPAA violation. Any details that can be used by third parties to identify patients’ personal facts is a breach of confidentiality. To promote nurses’ adherence to regulations, additional training on HIPAA standards may be offered (Alder, 2023). Still, the best way to eliminate the slightest possibility of misconduct is not to post anything from work on social media.
Analysis of Personal Social Media
The areas of my activity on social media that reflect Christianity include compassionate communication, advocacy for vulnerable populations, and promoting well-being and health. I often share posts with relevant data on volunteer services required in the area. I also tend to share empathy through posting and reposting issues about people in need. Not less importantly, I like posting the before/after pieces about people whose lives have changed due to a community’s support.
Conclusion
While the primary goal of nursing is to help those in need, we should also bear in mind that we must not cause any harm to our patients. A self-analysis of my social media posts allowed me to realize that I need to be more cautious concerning what I share with the public. I believe that nurses should encourage the public to support those who need kindness and reassurance rather than reveal any information that can harm themselves or others.
References
Alder, S. (2023). HIPAA compliance for nurses. The HIPAA Journal. Web.
International Council of Nurses. (2021). The ICN code of ethics for nurses. Web.
Turale, S., Meechamnan, C., & Kunaviktikul, W. (2020). Challenging times: Ethics, nursing and the COVID-19 pandemic. International Nursing Review, 67(2), 164-167. Web.