Read Social media guidance online

Introduction

If used responsibly and appropriately, social networking sites can offer several benefits for nurses, midwives, nursing associates and students. These include:

building and maintaining professional relationships
establishing or accessing nursing and midwifery support networks and being able to discuss specific issues, interests, research and clinical experiences with other healthcare professionals globally
being able to access resources for continuing professional development (CPD).

This document provides guidance for nurses, midwives and nursing associates on how to use social media¹ and social networking² sites responsibly and in line with the requirements of the Code.

The principles outlined in this guidance can also generally be applied to other kinds of online communication, such as personal websites and blogs, discussion boards and general content shared online, including text, photographs, images, video and audio files.

How the Code can be applied to social media use

The Code contains a series of statements that taken together signify what good nursing and midwifery practice looks like. It is important that you display a commitment to these standards including:

“Use all forms of spoken, written and digital communication (including social media and networking sites) responsibly.”
(The Code, paragraph 20.10)

Nurses, midwives and nursing associates may put their registration at risk, and students may jeopardise their ability to join our register, if they act in any way that is unprofessional or unlawful on social media including (but not limited to):

sharing confidential information inappropriately
posting pictures of patients and people receiving care without their consent
posting inappropriate comments about patients
bullying, intimidating or exploiting people
building or pursuing relationships with patients or service users
stealing personal information or using someone else’s identity
encouraging violence or self-harm
inciting hatred or discrimination.

If you are aware that another nurse, midwife or nursing associate has used social media in any of these ways, it might be helpful to refer to our guidance on raising concerns (NMC, 2013). This sets out your professional duty to report any concerns you have about the safety of people in your care or the public, and the steps you
should take to do this.

We highlight the relationship between social media use and the Code on the next page.

Prioritise people

The Code emphasises the importance of putting the interests of people using or needing nursing or midwifery services first. You should always make sure that your behaviour on social media is in line with this.

“Treat people with kindness, respect and compassion.” (The Code, paragraph 1.1)

Do not post anything on social media that may be viewed as discriminatory, does not recognise individual choice or does not preserve the dignity of those receiving care.

“As a nurse, midwife or nursing associate, you owe a duty of confidentiality to all those who are receiving care.” (The Code, paragraph 5)

It is unacceptable for nurses, midwives and nursing associates to discuss matters related to the people in their care outside clinical settings. If you refer to your work or study on social media you need to demonstrate respect and professionalism towards all your patients or service users by respecting their right to privacy and confidentiality. This is regardless of whether you believe that there is a risk they could be identified.

Sharing confidential information online can have the potential to be more damaging than sharing it verbally due to the speed at which it can be shared and the size of the potential audience. It is important to remember that although some information may not directly breach a patient’s right to confidentiality when anonymised, people may still be identifiable and this behaviour may be inappropriate.

Practise effectively

“Always practise in line with the best available evidence.” (The Code, paragraph 6)

As a nurse, midwife or nursing associate, you have a responsibility to ensure that any information or advice that you provide via social media is evidence-based and correct to the best of your knowledge. You should not discuss anything that does not fall within your level of competence and you should avoid making general comments that could be considered inaccurate.

“Maintain effective communication with colleagues.” (The Code, paragraph 8.2)

You must work cooperatively with your colleagues and this includes communicating in an appropriate way when you use social media.

Preserve safety

“Act without delay if you believe that there is a risk to patient safety or public protection.” (The Code, paragraph 16)

Social media should not be used to harass or victimise someone, or to attempt to prevent or discourage someone from raising their concerns.

Promote professionalism and trust

“Stay objective and have clear professional boundaries at all times with people in your care (including those who have been in your care in the past), their families and carers.” (The Code, paragraph 20.6)

Nurses, midwives and nursing associates should not use social networks to build or pursue relationships with patients and service users as this can blur important professional boundaries. It is important to be aware that even without engaging with patients or service users on social media, they may still be able to access your information.

“Act with honesty and integrity in any financial dealings you have with everyone you have a professional relationship with, including people in your care.” (The Code, paragraph 21.3)

As a nurse, midwife or nursing associate, you have a responsibility to ensure that you declare any conflict of interest around material that you post on social media including financial or commercial dealings.

How to use social media responsibly

Be informed

Make sure that you familiarise yourself with how individual social media applications work and be clear about the advantages and disadvantages.

Think before you post

It is important to realise that even the strictest privacy settings have limitations. This is because, once something is online, it can be copied and redistributed.

Protect your professionalism and your reputation

If you are unsure whether something you post online could compromise your professionalism or your reputation, you should think about what the information means for you in practice and how it affects your responsibility to keep to the Code.

It is important to consider who and what you associate with on social media. For example, acknowledging someone else’s post can imply that you endorse or support their point of view. You should consider the possibility of other people mentioning you in inappropriate posts. If you have used social media for a number of years, it is important to consider, in relation to the Code, what you have posted online in the past.

Download the social media guidance

Canllawiau ar ddefnyddio’r cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn gyfrifol (Welsh)

¹ Social media: "Websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking."

² Social networking: "The use of dedicated websites and applications to interact with other users, or to find people with similar interests to one’s own."

Download the guidance

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