Nursing and Social Media

Nurses and other healthcare workers should take certain procedures before using social media as a teaching tool for their patients. First, nurses need to understand how different social media platforms work and how they can be used to share relevant medical information to patients diagnosed with different health conditions. Having a good comprehension of these networks ensures the nurse can use it effectively (Tritle, 2020). The second step should be to evaluate the patient’s ability to use the social media platforms. If the diagnosed individual has sufficient knowledge on their use, then the nurse can adopt it as a method of sharing information. The third and final step should be to conduct comprehensive research on the effectiveness of social media as a tool to communicate to patients (Moorhead, 2017). Based on the research findings, the nurse may determine whether or not to use social media.

Different types of social media can benefit healthcare workers and patients. Social networking sites like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook can help transmit medical information to patients and Medicare professionals. Other types include image sharing sites, community blogs, and video hosting online sites (Moorhead, 2017). The internet is a powerful communication tool that can be used to transform the healthcare sector.

Social media, however, may have drawbacks for both patients and healthcare workers. Social media may be distracting and therefore not a proper platform to share information on health, drug prescriptions, diagnosis and other details. People mostly use social media for recreational purposes. Another challenge for both users is that it lacks the personal touch and appeal (Lin & Kishore, 2021). Patients and doctors would interact better physically as compared to sharing information in virtual networks like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.