As A Nurse Manager, It Is Important To Understand How Social

As A Nurse Manager It Is Imperative To Understand How Social Technolo

As a nurse manager, it is imperative to understand how social technologies can impact productivity, peer-to-peer relationships, and patient safety within the workplace. Collaborating with HR to understand policies and the organization’s expectations related to the use of social technologies allows nurse managers to more effectively and appropriately integrate today’s social platforms while mitigating the occurrence of inappropriate behaviors. For this week’s Discussion, your Instructor will assign you to one of the scenarios below. You will then use that scenario to investigate the social, ethical, and legal ramifications of social technologies. Scenario One: You have recently been promoted to charge nurse for the day shift in your department. As a result of this promotion, your former peers are now reporting directly to you. You have been working in your setting for five years and consider many of these peers to be your friends. The way that one of your friends posts on social media sites has always bothered you. Many times, her comments are inappropriate, discussing her negative feelings about “ignorant superiors” and “annoying patients.” You also know that she frequently accesses these sites for extended periods of time while patients are waiting to be helped. Now that she reports directly to you, how do you address this?

If your workplace does not have a formal policy on social media use, how can you adapt her behaviors to align with the expectations of nursing professionalism? Post an explanation of the possible social, ethical, and/or legal ramifications of your assigned scenario. Explain the policy your current or past workplace has on the use of social technologies and how effective you believe the policy is. If your workplace does not have a policy, explain what the accepted practices or expectations are for your setting. Has lack of policy led to any problems?

Support your responses by referencing authentic examples from the workplace and this week’s Learning Resources as appropriate. Alichnie, C. (2012). Social media and nursing. Pennsylvania Nurse, 67 (1), 3–10. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Paper For Above instruction

The advent of social media has revolutionized communication in numerous professional fields, including nursing. As nurse managers ascend to leadership positions, understanding how social technologies influence workplace dynamics becomes critical, especially when managing peer relationships and ensuring patient safety. The scenario described presents a complex challenge—balancing professionalism, personal expression, and organizational policies—particularly when social media behaviors of staff with whom one has personal relationships are problematic.

In this scenario, a newly promoted charge nurse must address a former peer, now subordinate, whose social media posts are inappropriate and who demonstrates unprofessional behaviors such as extended social media use during work hours. The critical considerations include social, ethical, and legal ramifications and how existing policies guide such situations.

Social and Ethical Ramifications

Socially, social media blurs the boundaries between personal and professional life, often leading to conflicts and misunderstandings. The nurse manager must navigate maintaining amicable peer relationships while upholding professional standards. Ethically, the nurse has a duty to promote a positive work environment and safeguard patient safety. Posting negative comments about colleagues or patients can damage trust, reduce team cohesion, and degrade the professional image of the nursing staff. Such posts, if visible to patients or the public, can undermine the credibility of the healthcare institution and violate ethical principles of respect, integrity, and confidentiality.

Legal Ramifications

Legally, inappropriate social media posts can lead to liability issues such as defamation or breach of confidentiality. For example, posting negative opinions about colleagues or patients could expose the nurse and healthcare facility to lawsuits if the content is deemed discriminatory or violates privacy laws like HIPAA. Furthermore, excessive social media use during work hours may breach employment contracts or organizational policies, leading to disciplinary actions or employment termination.

Organizational Policies and Practice

Many healthcare organizations recognize these issues and implement social media policies to guide staff conduct. For example, policies often prohibit posting identifiable patient information, making unprofessional remarks about colleagues or patients, and engaging in activities that could compromise patient safety or organizational reputation. Alichnie (2012) emphasizes that social media can be a useful tool if used responsibly within legal and ethical boundaries. These policies are generally effective when clearly communicated, consistently enforced, and accompanied by staff training.

In institutions lacking formal policies, the chaos can lead to inconsistent behaviors, increased risk of privacy breaches, and potential legal trouble. Staff may remain unaware of the professional risks associated with their social media presence. Therefore, establishing comprehensive policies tailored to healthcare settings is essential. Such policies should define acceptable behaviors, lay out disciplinary procedures, and promote ongoing education about ethical social media use.

Addressing the Scenario

As a nurse manager, addressing this issue requires sensitivity and professionalism. Initially, private, respectful conversations with the employee are recommended, emphasizing organizational expectations and the importance of maintaining professionalism online. It’s vital to differentiate personal opinions from professional responsibilities, reiterating that social media behavior can impact patients, colleagues, and the organization.

Developing a clear, consistent approach aligned with organizational policies or best practice guidelines ensures that expectations are transparent. If policies are absent, proposing the development of social media guidelines rooted in best practices, including respecting confidentiality, avoiding derogatory comments, and managing social media use during working hours, becomes a responsibility of leadership.

Continuous education and reinforcement about the ethical implications of social media use can mitigate risks. Encouraging staff to reflect on their online presence and its potential impact fosters a culture of professionalism and accountability.

Conclusion

In summary, the integration of social technologies in healthcare settings necessitates careful management to balance organizational policies, ethical standards, and individual rights. Nurse managers play a pivotal role in setting boundaries and modeling appropriate behaviors. Proper policies and ongoing education are instrumental in minimizing social, ethical, and legal risks associated with social media. Ultimately, fostering a culture of professionalism ensures that social media enhances, rather than harms, workplace productivity, relationships, and patient safety.

References

• Alichnie, C. (2012). Social media and nursing. Pennsylvania Nurse, 67(1), 3–10.
• American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. ANA Publishing.
• Carroll, J. R., & Stalter, A. M. (2017). Social media in nursing practice: Practical considerations. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 8(3), 50-54.
• Kaplan, A. M., & Haenlein, M. (2010). Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of social media. Business Horizons, 53(1), 59-68.
• McDaniel, R. R., & Garrison, B. (2011). Developing and implementing social media policies. Journal of Healthcare Risk Management, 31(4), 48-55.
• Rosen, M. A., et al. (2018). Ethical considerations of social media use. The Nursing Clinics of North America, 53(3), 321-330.
• Shen, N., et al. (2014). The use of social media to impact healthcare: What nurse leaders need to know. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 45(4), 176-183.
• Walden University Library. (2023). Academic databases and resources for nursing research. Retrieved from [library URL]
• American Medical Association. (2021). AMA policy on professionalism in social media. Journal of Medical Ethics, 47(2), 105-110.
• White, T. (2019). Social media and patient confidentiality. Journal of Healthcare Management, 64(6), 409-417.