Social media use for health care workers can pose many benefits including the ability to promote health to a wide range of people, to assist with the development of a professional network, a way to increase personal awareness of health information, as well as a way to communicate with colleagues and clients (Ventola, 2014). Among the many benefits, the wrongful use of social media can cause havoc for a health care professional. The fine line between purposeful and damaging use of social media with health care professionals must be taken into consideration with each post on either a personal or professional level (Bernhardt, Alber, Glod, 2014). Working for the public as a health care worker, items and discussions posted to social media accounts have to take into account not only confidentiality of clients and other workers, but also must not damage or harm the reputation of the organization for which you work. The Canadian Nurses Association of Canada posted an excellent article to help guide nurses’ practice in terms of social media. The article brings home the fact that although we have our privacy settings set to private, it only takes one screenshot or “share” of a post too negatively impact a person’s profession or organization (Canadian Nurses Association, 2012). Personally, prior to making any posts on social media I ensure to think of the values which make up my professional identity. 

 

     According to Adams, Hean, Sturgis and Clark (2006) professional identity can be defined as the attitudes, values, knowledge, beliefs and skills shared with others within a professional group. I believe that my professional identity is shaped by my many experiences in both my education and my career. Prior to nursing school, I considered myself a very caring and compassionate person, these qualities continued to develop as my nursing career shaped my professional identity. I believe that a being a registered nurse, my professional identity is not only shaped by my nursing peers but by the collaboration that takes place with multiple other health care professionals during every single shift.

 

The values which I believe help shape my professional identity include:

 

Safe and Ethical care- Keeping with my code of ethics as a Registered Nurse (Canadian Nurses Association, 2017), I maintain safe and ethical care as the foundation to my professional identity.

 

Empathy and Caring- Being a Registered Nurse, I believe that that while education is extremely important to nursing care, providing emphatic and compassionate care is first and foremost. To guide my practice and add to my professional identity, I place myself in the shoes of every patient in which I encounter. I feel this gives me a more meaningful experience and keeps my empathy and compassion high on my priority list.

 

Critical Thinking- Another quality which I feel shapes my professional identity is my ability to critical think. The multiple years which I spent in the Emergency Room and as the site lead of a major hospital in the province has helped my critical thinking grow so much. This is something which I am proud of and is called on by many other professionals while working.

 

Professionalism- I feel professionalism goes hand and hand with being a health care professional. I maintain a very high degree of professionalism in my practice and believe this is a very important part of my professional identity.

 

Accountability- Dealing with the health and safety of the public, I feel that being accountable for actions taken is extremely important. Personally, I use this to also guide my professional identity.

 

Curiosity- The body and health care is a very interesting entity to me. I keep my level of curiosity high and research different things multiple times throughout my day. I believe this helps me prevent the burnout factor and keeps my mind constantly thinking.

 

Health Promotion- Being a nurse I also believe that promoting health to others is just as important as helping treat illness. Keeping this in mind, it not only helps me with my clients but also with my own self growth and health.

 

Leadership- As a nurse manager, I strive to be an effective and fair leader in my everyday practice.

 

     As a registered nurse, and most currently a nurse manager, my role in the health care system is quite complex. I am responsible for the overall operations of the hospital for which I work in the evenings, nights and weekends. I coordinate each hospital admission into the hospital and help assign a bed on the nursing unit as well as manage hospital staffing for all areas. While I find my job very stressful and demanding at times, I believe my professional values and identity allow me to be the best possible manager and employee that I can be.

 

 

References

 

Adams K, Hean S, Sturgis P, Macleod Clark J. Investigating the factors influencing

     professional identity of first year health and social care students. Learn Health Soc Care.

     2006;5:55–68.

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Bernhardt M, Alber J, Gold RS. A social media primer for professionals: digital do’s and

     don’ts. Health Promotion Practicum. 2014;15(2):168–172.

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Canadian Nurses Association. (2017). Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses. Retrieved January 26,             2021, from https://www.cna-aiic.ca/~/media/cna/page-content/pdf-en/code-of-ethics-2017-             edition-secure-interactive.

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Canadian Nurses Association. (2012, February). Ethics in practice for registered nurses:

     When private becomes public: The ethical challenges and opportunities of social media. Ottawa:

     Author.

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Ventola, C. Social Media and Health Care Professionals: Benefits, Risks, and Best

     Practices. Pharmacy and Therapeutics. 2014; 39(7): 491-499.