Digital professionalism on social media: The opinions of undergraduate nursing students
View/ Open
Date
2022-03-03Author
O'Connor, Siobhan
Odewusi, Temitayo
Mason Smith, Poppy
Booth, Richard G.
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
O'Connor, S., Odewusi, T., Mason Smith, P. and Booth, R.G. (2022) ‘Digital professionalism on social media: The opinions of undergraduate nursing students’, Nurse Education Today, 111, article no. 105322.
Abstract
Social media are a suite of popular online technologies that enable people to share and co-create digital content. Evidence suggests some nursing students utilise social media inappropriately but there is limited literature on nursing students' opinions of professionalism in online environments. This study aimed to examine the opinions of nursing students in relation to digital professionalism on social media. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with undergraduate nursing students in the United Kingdom (n = 112). An existing self-reported questionnaire was adapted for data collection. This was distributed to adult nursing students enrolled across all four years of a Bachelor of Nursing programme. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Many nursing students were heavy social media users (n = 49, 44%), with Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat being the most popular applications. Nursing students were also aware of the professional nursing regulator, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, guidelines on responsible social media use (n = 48, 43%). Nursing students' responses to various digitally professional scenarios revealed agreement that posts about alcohol or sexually explicit content, along with comments about colleagues or patients were inappropriate. However, there were mixed views around taking photographs at work, with some nursing students across all four years of the degree programme perceiving this to be satisfactory behaviour. The opinions of nursing students towards digital professionalism on social media are somewhat aligned with professional standards, although students can hold varying views on the subject. More research on how nursing students employ social media is warranted to ensure their opinions match their actual practice in online environments. It is also recommended to educate nursing students about the professional values and behaviours required on social media and how best to communicate, interact, and share information on the various online platforms, to minimise personal and organisational risk. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.]
Official URL
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2022.105322Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Continuing professional development and the charity paradigm: Interrelated individual, collective and organisational issues about continuing professional development
Munro, Kathleen (Elsevier, 2008-11)This paper aims to highlight some issues and tensions that currently challenge the profession, individual nurses and their employers when considering the need for continuing professional development. The Nursing and Midwifery ... -
Developing e-learning provision for healthcare professionals' continuing professional development
Peacock, Susi; Dunlop, G. (IDEA, 2006-05-15)This book enumerates the difficulties in implementing technology within the educational curriculum in the context of institutional policy and procedures--Provided by publisher -
Mediating the flow of professional capital: The potential of technology for rural teachers professional learning in Scotland
Coker, Helen (SPERA, 2019-11-30)Professional learning opportunities for teachers working in rural settings can be restricted by the time, distance and cost involved in accessing face-to-face events. The expansion of internet connectivity to rural areas ...