The invention of modern electronic technologies has affected people’s lives and access and sharing of information. Social media has become a powerful tool in connecting individuals internationally. People have adopted using this medium that keeps them connected with others, which has led to innovation and jobs efficiency. Healthcare professionals are grasping social media as a fantastic instrument in careers advancement. Registered nurses and health practitioners must be registered for vocational or personal reasons.
Social media has several pros, such as; the first, it provides applications of sharing health information, for instance, debate health practice issues, public communication, and promotes the primary healthcare behavior. Nurses can participate in online forums, discuss health issues with peers with similar interests, and pose questions. The second benefit is it provides clinical education to healthcare professionals. Social media provides effective communication used in professional training. Nurses working in rural areas access online courses through social media websites. Lastly, the connection between healthcare providers and patients has facilitated the training of patients. Patients are quickly accessing healthcare information and essential medical sources.
The disadvantages of social media include; the first is low quality or unreliable health information online. False information found on the internet misleads patients and ends up harming their health. The second cons lack of privacy and confidentiality of patient information. Once the patients’ privacy has been violated, they lose their dignity and the destruction of the therapeutic relationship between the patient and nurses. The third disadvantage is that social media can cause interruptions and destructions during working time. Modern technologies such as mobile phones destroy the nurses’ concentration when providing services.