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Would you share your unique nurse PIN on social media?

Nurses respond to question on Twitter, with most saying they would give their number to a patient if asked, but that sharing it online would be unwise
Nurse using mobile phone. Nurses were asked if they would share their unique nurse PIN on social media

Nurses respond to question on Twitter, with most saying they would give their number to a patient if asked, but that sharing it online would be unwise

Nurse using mobile phone. Nurses were asked if they would share their unique nurse PIN on social media
Picture: iStock

Would you be happy to share your unique nurse PIN on your social media profile? Nurses have shared their opinions on whether they think it’s a good idea.

A learning disability nurse asked her Twitter followers what they thought after she saw a doctor who shared their General Medical Council registration number in their Twitter bio:

Opinions vary on PIN sharing

Every nurse is given a unique registration code when they join the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register. While some nurses said there was no harm in sharing their PIN online, most felt it would not be wise.

Responding to the RCN’s retweet of the original tweet, Claire Sutton warned that an ‘unscrupulous’ person could use the information to impersonate a nurse, while RCN steward Liz Jeremiah added: ‘Categorically not’.

‘Personally speaking absolutely not – why give a piece of information that may be misused by others in identity fraud,’ said Paul Trevatt, who sits on the RCN’s London board.

Nurses have right to same anonymity as anyone else, says nurse

Another nurse said it was not necessary: ‘Yes, you're a nurse/doctor/medical profession but that doesn't mean you're not allowed to have the same anonymity given to every other member of the public.’

Others said that while they would be happy to give their PIN to those under their care who asked for it, they would not want to share the information widely, especially on social media.

An emergency department charge nurse said he would be comfortable sharing his PIN as nurses’ registration details are publicly available on the NMC website (although their PIN is not).

A newly qualified nurse added that it could encourage people to think about how they behave on social media, but added that it could result in someone misusing the information and reporting nurses for ‘illegitimate reasons’.

The NMC website states that a nurse, midwife or nursing associate should tell people their PIN, when asked, if ‘using their services’. However, it does not stipulate whether the PIN should be shared on public platforms.


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