(Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2015a) have released a publication which refers to the responsible use of social media, it highlights that if used appropriately social media can have many benefits to nurse and nursing students. Benefits include being able to build and maintain professional relationships, access to support networks to discuss issues or research with others and it can help to get resources for ongoing professional progression.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council states that all nurses should ‘use all forms of spoken, written and digital communication (including social media and networking sites) sensibly’. Nurses or students who do not follow this, are putting their registrations or ability to register at risk. Key points in this guidance includes not sharing private information regarding patients, posting photographs or comments about patients, pursuing relations with patients, or provoking hatred or discrimination online.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council have included a few vital points for nurses and nursing students to consider whilst using social media which are to look at both advantages and disadvantages of different social media platforms. It is also important to think before posting anything as once it is online it can be copied or shared with others. Both nurses
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However (Oxtoby, 2015) states that nurses and students are exposed to risks, as they need to take into accounts of things such as patient confidentially which can be broken from things posted online. It also risks a nurse or student nurse’s professionalism when it comes to what they post regarding their personal lives or any photos that they may post. Boundaries may also be pushed if a patient was to add a nurse or student on Facebook, as this not