How are nurses using social media?
Promoting wellness on any front, including social media resources, benefits patients and health care workers, says John Sharp, author of "Social Media in Health Care, Barriers and Future Trends." Sharp states that hospitals, continuing care facilities and clinics are using a social media mix that includes YouTube, video conferencing, texting and health blogging.
Connecting
Connecting with patients on blogs, e-mail or other digital media allows nurses to reach more people in less time and develop a following of readers seeking advice on health care issues.
Tweeting
Nurses can network with other nurses on blogs and Web sites, e-mail and texting, or even tweeting on RNCHAT, where discussions range from job satisfaction to specific issues like clinical trials or infusion techniques.
E-nursing
E-nursing is becoming commonplace as social media tools help to get information spread quickly to many people at one time. It is also beneficial in disaster or remote nursing. Patients in rural areas can e-mail a photo of a wound and get expert health care advice within seconds.
Informed public
Today, many people use their home computer as their first source for medical questions and health issues. Medical Web sites and blogs are increasing daily and offer primary information and firsthand experiences on a vast array of medical subjects.
Digital health care
Sharp foresees medical professionals using blogs and Web sites to reach more potential patients and promote wellness in the global community. Nursing is going beyond the local community to the global community.
Teaching nursing and social media
Innovative nurse educator Terri Schmitt at Southwestern Baptist University states, “It’s essential for nurses to understand and be familiar with social media.” Schmitt demands that “all her nursing students do their work for the class online, attend at least one live chat and create their own Twitter accounts and blogs.”
