In a contemporary society that is rapidly changing, social media has become an integral part of our lives, both personal and professional. This assignment delves into the evaluation of individual and occupational responsibility regarding social media. Specified focus is made on the impact of social media in nursing. As a nurse, one should also consider the influence that social media has on their values and identity authenticity, as well as their legal consequences and impact on public trust.
I first opened my various social media platforms — Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok in an attempt to evaluate my profile and current engagements. This comprehensive study involved a detailed analysis of postings, discussions, and pictures in order to gain a full understanding of my online life. The posts on these sites ranged from personal thoughts and accomplishments to collective experiences and career milestones. The conversations ranged from simple chit-chats among friends to more profound talks dealing with healthcare and nursing topics. The images included a collection of personal experiences, achievements that garnered significant acclaim, and common items related to my field.
Reflecting on the content, I explored how my online activities align with both personal values and professional ideals that are characteristic of the nursing field. It was necessary to assess if the material provided online matches with what the nursing profession stands for in terms of ideals and ethics. As I carried out this task, I recognized the need to find a harmonious balance between self-expression as an individual and following the existing standards within healthcare. The authenticity of sincerity on social media not only fosters trust but also contributes to creating meaningful connections at a professional level as well (Haimson et al., 2021). It is, therefore, important to evaluate the reality of material in determining whether posts, bulletin boards, and photographs would be considered real by family, friends, or colleagues as evidence of my unique individuality.
Additionally, the social media involvement should be in tandem with Christian values regarding each person’s value and honor. This is both a personal and professional responsibility to ensure that online interactions preserve the essence of individuals. The shared information should incorporate empathy, compassion and a commitment to protecting the dignity of others.
Nurses are responsible for conducting themselves in keeping with professional goals, regulatory requirements and company guidelines seen not only at the workplace but also outside. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 puts forward the main idea that patient confidentiality is an important topic which will require nurses to be somewhat cunning when talking about issues concerned with patients on Internet (Nosowsky & Giordano, 2006). Since noncompliance with HIPAA laws not only threatens the confidentiality of patient information, but also has legal and professional implications.
One case which demonstrates this responsibility is a scenario whereby the nurse contrary to HIPAA requirements releases patient’s private information using social network sites. This security breach not only reduces the privacy of patients but also affects a nurse’s professional standing and lowers public confidence in healthcare system.
In essence, an impact assessment of individual and professional responsibility on social media is a significant endeavor for nurses. The relationship between activities in the internet space and personal and professional ideals, fidelity to oneself, concern for others is not only relevant when talking about an individual nurse but as a collective body of this profession too. Since social media is able to alter opinions, direct public confidence and impact the reputation of an entire profession nursing it makes adhering to legal guidelines as well workplace policies critical.
References
Haimson, O. L., Liu, T., Zhang, B. Z., & Corvite, S. (2021). The online authenticity paradox: What being “authentic” on social media means, and barriers to achieving it. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 5(CSCW2), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1145/3479567
Nosowsky, R., & Giordano, T. J. (2006). The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) privacy rule: Implications for clinical research. Annual Review of Medicine, 57(1), 575–590. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.med.57.121304.131257
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