Nurses? What next?

For my topic I wanted to look into different areas of social networking and who it does affect, I found this journal article on how social networking can affect nurses. I found it quite interesting, although short it has I believe a powerful impact on you, I never thought that social networking sites could be such a problem for nurses. The author Linda Keech was quoted saying

“Nurses and midwives who use these sites to engage in conversations or share files online must be careful, therefore, that they do not breach the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NM C) (2008a) code, which states that nurses must ‘respect people’s right to confidentiality’ and ‘uphold the reputation of the profession at all times’. If information that identifies patients is put on the internet, patient confidentiality has been breached. This principle is not only enshrined in the midwives’ code of conduct, but is also part of every employee’s duty of confidence, and those who breach patient confidentiality in this way face disciplinary action, perhaps leading to dismissal.” [3]

It’s hard not hard to believe that anyone hasn’t done the same thing, whinges about work or had a issue that they have at work, they published on their facebook account. But just like teachers, nurses also have to be careful about their reputations and careers. So in the end is it just safer to not have a social networking page? Evidence suggests that it would be, but some are fighting this as they feel that just because you have a career in the public eye doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to have the benefits of socialising on Facebook or MySpace just like every other person that doesn’t have that problem.