Inappropriate Post Based on Professional Nursing Standards (Essay Sample)

Professionalism and Social Media
Introduction
Over the years, the use of social media in the various workforces has expanded and more people continue to flock on social media sites for various reasons. Nurses and other caregivers use networking sites, forums, blogs, and other social media sites to learn and communicate with other nurses around the world. Social media as technology have made communication and interactions much easier. Examples of social media sites include Tweeter feeds, Facebook, and blogs. However, the code of conduct dictates that nurses should always uphold confidentiality when they are on these sites. This paper will discuss a post that I have been engaged in that was considered inappropriate, why a nurse should be responsible for protecting the standards of conduct and areas in social media that reflect Christian values.
Inappropriate Post Based on Professional Nursing Standards
At times posting inappropriate conversation by nurses on social media violates their confidentiality yet they have the best intention of their patients at heart. In my case, I had a conversation which I never realized the harm it would bring to my patient. One day at work, I used my cellphone to take photos of my client in a home group. I had received approval to take the photos by his brother since he was unable to give an agreement because of the mental condition he had. Few days after, I posted the picture on my Facebook page with the title “The Reason why am Proud to be a Nurse that is this Patient.” This happened when I joined this profession but I had no intentions of breaching the patient’s confidentiality. Luckily a friend in my Facebook called me and enlightened me about the situation and quickly I deleted the post.
Responsibility of a Nurse to Protect the Standards of Conduct
Upholding the standards of conduct by nurses is a responsibility which should be constant with the standards governing the profession of nursing. The standard governing the nursing profession dictates that confidentiality and privacy of the patient should be upheld by nurses at all time. Nurses should safeguard patient confidentiality and information should be shared only with the patient’s permission. Nurses should also uphold the standards of conduct so that they can gain trust from their patients. Sharing patient’s information lowers the patient’s respect and dignity which also damages the trust. Losing trust from patients may tarnish the patient-nurse relationship and consequently the trustworthiness of the whole nursing profession. The enactment of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPPA) Act into legislation limited the number of people who have access to patient’s information and the general use of the information. Individually identifiable information may include patients past or present mental or physical