Abstract
This article discusses issues surrounding online social networking, and the implications of the use of these sites by healthcare professionals. The article provides guidance to healthcare professionals, as the increased use of sites like Facebook and Twitter have the potential to bring risks to healthcare. Use of these websites can be a very grey area, and boundaries need to be clearly set to ensure protection of service users and healthcare staff alike.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.BBC News 2011 Nottingham nurse sacked over Facebook photo Available from: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottingham-shire-15492092?print=true [Accessed March 2013]
2.Channel 4 News 2012 Do we need a ‘green cross code’ for Twitter? Available from: www.channel4.com/news/twitter-sally-bercow-contempt-lord-mcalpine-schoolgirl [Accessed March 2013]
3.
Coates T
2012 Don't just tick it, talk it! Tweeted by Tracy Coates in reference to the surgical checklist Journal of Perioperative Practice 22 (7 ) 210
4.Department of Health 2006 NHS Code of Practice: Part 1 London , DH
5.
Griffith R
2012 Duty of confidence and the use of social networking sites British Journal of Nursing 21 (16 ) 988 –9
6.Health and Care Professions Council 2012 Guidance on conduct and ethics for students Available from: www.hpc-uk.org/assets/documents/10002C16Guidanceonconductandeth-icsforstudents.pdf [Accessed March 2013]
7.Health Professions Council 2011 Focus on standards – social networking sites In: Focus. Health Professions Council Newsletter 34 3
8.
Huxtable-Goy A
2012 Indemnity and liability [Lecture given to BSc operating department practice Year 3] October
9.Local NHS Trust 2012 Disciplinary procedure (Anonymised)
10.Nursing and Midwifery Council 2008 The code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives Available from: www.nmc-uk.org/Documents/Standards/The-code-A4-20100406.pdf [Accessed March 2013]
11.Nursing and Midwifery Council 2011 Regulators act to prevent nurses and midwives getting into trouble on Facebook Available from: www.nmc-uk.org/Press-and-media/Latest-news/Regulator-acts-to-prevent-nurses-and-midwives-getting-into-trouble-on-Facebook/ [Accessed March 2013]
12.Odom-Forren J 2012 Responsible social networking Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing 27 (1 ) 61 –3
13.
Pirie S
2012 Legal and professional issues for the perioperative practitioner Journal of Perioperative Practice 22 (2 ) 57 –62
14.
Ross J
2012 Social networking: possible risks to nurses Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing 27 (3 ) 212 –3
15.
Smith B
2012 Social networking and professional pitfalls International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing EDITORIAL 16 63 –4
16.
Zuckerberg M
2012 One billion people on Face-book Available from: http://newsroom.fb.com/News/457/One-Billion-People-on-Facebook [Accessed March 2013
