Senior nurses advised to talk to new recruits about their use of social media

Senior nurses should be talking to newly qualified nurses about their social media profiles to make sure they are suitable for the workplace, NHS England’s head of patient experience has said.

Kath Evans. Picture credit: Nathan Clarke

Kath Evans addressed senior nurses at a Healthcare Conferences UK event on the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) code in London this week about promoting professionalism on social media.

Ms Evans, the head of patient experience for maternity, newborn, children and young people, asked them: ‘Are you having discussions with new recruits about what their social media profile looks like and if it is suitable for someone going into the profession?

‘That is a question you can be asking.’

She added that nurses can ask themselves some important questions before posting on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, by using the acronym THINK (is it true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, kind?)

Referring to such a guide is a good foundation for newly qualified nurses on the use of social media, she added.

The Code advises nurses to use social media responsibly and respect the privacy of others at all times.

The NMC has also produced guidance on social media which can be viewed here.