For a complete list of accreditations for this online CNE social media course, please see the accreditation information box below the author’s bio. All states (with the exception of Hawaii) recognize our courses for accredited continuing nursing education, CNE, contact hours.
Even if your employer is following patient privacy rules, staff can create big problems by irresponsibly taking photos of patients, and worse yet, sharing them on social media. That is just one reason why appropriate social media usage is an essential skill for nurses.
Earlier this year, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) released
survey findings, indicating 48% of responding nursing boards (33 in total) faced social media challenges. In some cases, complaints related to images of wounds and procedures photographed on personal phones and then shared.
Think of the senselessness, not to mention the consequences of a case reported recently by USA Today. A New York nurse took photos of an unconscious patient’s penis, and the shared the photos with co-workers. The nurse initially faced a felony charge but agreed to give up her nursing license for a reduced sentence. Nursing homes are particularly ripe for similar types of abuses involving nakedness, as
ProPublica has reported.
Education can:
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Prevent violations of patient rights
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Create a culture of vigilance within an organization
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Save healthcare providers the cost of fines and settlements, often in 7 figures
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Prevent the loss of your license and employment