546417
research-article2014
NSQXXX10.1177/0894318414546417Nursing Science QuarterlyMilton / Ethical Issues
Ethical Issues Nursing Science Quarterly 2014, Vol. 27(4) 283–285 © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0894318414546417 nsq.sagepub.com
Ethics and Social Media Constance L. Milton, RN; PhD1
Abstract Nurses’ use of social media has increased significantly with growing numbers of media-sharing opportunities, platforms, and emerging forms of electronic applications. With the proliferation, opportunities and limitations surface regarding the responsibilities and accountability that nurses have in choosing technology applications with an embedded philosophical ethos that is consistent with the discipline’s societal mandate of serving humankind in ways that honor human dignity. This article begins a discussion addressing possible disciplinary obligations and responsibilities for the implementation of social media platforms and possible implications for its future use in the discipline of nursing. Keywords ethics, humanbecoming, nursing, social media In the past two decades, the popularity of a user-generated Web 2.0 content commonly referred to as social media and applications have grown exponentially and have emerged into healthcare arenas, and specifically into nurse education, practice, and research. The term social media includes applications of online software tools including social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, as well as media-sharing sites, blogs, wikis, and podcasts. The constellation of internet-based tools are said to help users to connect, collaborate, and communicate with others in real time. Prominent universities are routinely using Web 2.0 technology to enhance student recruitment, improve connectedness, increase access to academic libraries, create virtual classrooms and healthcare practice settings, hold faculty office hours, and create teaching-learning experiences that are designed to achieve academic outcomes (Peck, 2014). There are also enhanced messaging applications (apps) such as SnapChat specifically for photos and WhatsApp for instant messaging and sharing of photographs and videos. With the increased proliferation and usage within the discipline of nursing, global nursing organizations have begun to provide guidelines for the responsible use of social media in the profession. The regulatory National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) published several brochures and a white paper for the usage of social media in nursing. Orders for these brochures have also come from regulatory agencies and individuals from Canada, the Philippines, and Europe (Spector & Kappel, 2012). Clearly, global nurse regulators and leaders of nursing are interested in articulating acceptable practice with social media. The possibilities for innovation and use of these advancing technologies in nurse education, research, and practice are endless. One may envision that the current usage is just the beginning for what is yet to come. Social media is
intertwined with ever-changing patterns of relating in myriad ways that people give and receive messages and cocreate meaning in situation. Those who seek healthcare services and information regularly search online for medical information as well as seek support for health issues. Nurses have an ethical straight-thinking obligation to consider the opportunities-limitations for usage of social media as a member of a healthcare discipline that seeks to serve humankind in ways that honor human dignity. In pondering the potential meanings and ethos for the professional conduct that ought to be considered, many common myths surface for discussion.
Common Myths of Social Media Members of the healthcare disciplines, including the discipline of nursing, are increasingly utilizing social media in professional practice, research, and educational endeavors as well as in their personal lives. For the author, posting on web sites and sharing photographs and videos may be potentially harmful to those served by the discipline of nursing. There are many common paradoxes that may be illuminated as the healthcare disciplines grapple with what is right and what is good while choosing whether or not to participate in social media. First, there are illusions of personal privacy while potentially violating others’ privacy and confidentiality. Posting pictures of oneself and others is a reflection or portrayal of who one is as well the who one wishes or desires to be in at once revealing-concealing portraits chosen while 1
Associate Dean and Professor of Nursing, Azusa Pacific University
Contributing Editor: Constance L. Milton, RN, PhD, Associate Dean and Professor of Nursing, Azusa Pacific University, 701 E. Foothill Blvd., Azusa, CA, 91702. Email: [email protected]
Downloaded from nsq.sagepub.com at University of Hawaii at Manoa Library on June 19, 2015
284
Nursing Science Quarterly 27(4)
traversing through a different path or road less traveled. It is becoming increasingly alarming to read about and bear witness to narratives of professional nurses and student nurses chatting or using Twitter and Facebook to discuss and give information about persons they gave nursing services to in the course of their studies. Participating in actions such as these potentially violates the nurse-person, nurse-family, nurse-colleague, and nurse-community relationships. There is no privacy while posting and chatting on social media. Violating these private relationships opens doors to possible litigation as well as the possible loss of societal trust in the discipline of nursing. Indeed, we are living in a selfie generation. The term selfie has gradually entered into the global lexicon of common terminology. Leonardo da Vinci produced one of the first in 1512, followed by Rembrandt, who produced dozens of self-portraits. Norman Rockwell’s self-portrait shows him painting his selfie by looking into a mirror. Selfies are much easier and faster while being the talk of any major event now. No one is exempt; dignitaries such as the President of the United States and even the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church are widely participating in the selfie movement. Where once people were reluctant to be in photos, they now pile into camera shots, such as during the Oscar ceremony. It could be said that “I click, therefore I am.” The messages given and taken are no longer face-to-face, but they are being formed and shaped with every click. The discipline of nursing has an obligation to the people served. Disciplinary leaders should monitor and provide direction with formal statements and guidelines for the use of social media as responsible members of a discipline should seek to serve those who are living quality and wish to preserve their desires for privacy and confidentiality. Another common myth relates to a lack of responsibility and accountability for what one posts and enters into a social media platform. Many individuals mistakenly believe that what is deleted on a text, website, or instant messaging platform is gone. This is not the case, since all words are retrievable and have been used as evidence in legal cases. Members of healthcare disciplines, such as professional nurses, are responsible and accountable for their words and actions in any venue and the online persona is inextricably linked to the professional nurse’s identity. Choosing to articulate about others’ health situations in an online platform has consequences. Other common falsehoods relate that if healthcare professionals post specific health situation information about others that does not use names and other identifying information, then the practice is acceptable. Situations are traced by others and there is no anonymity in such actions on the World Wide Web. Posting any personal health information about another person potentially violates another’s human dignity as they are being portrayed differently by the writer of the post. Choosing to cross these visible-invisible boundaries blurs identity and any potential differences for how one is known as a person and as a health professional. Choosing
these actions of writing posts and participating in social media is a value priority lived in the moment where there is responsibility and accountability for actions. The author cautions members of the discipline of nursing to choose media applications carefully as shifting-shaping how one is known through these platforms is potentially illuminated and may be potentially harming to others. From a humanbecoming perspective (Parse, 2013), choosing to participate in social media is a reflection of who one is becoming at the moment. Persons are cocreating patterned preferences while living quality as opportunitieslimitations unfold in situation. For the author, members of the discipline of nursing have great responsibility to show reverence for what is significant to others, thereby honoring human dignity as a tenet not only as a health professional, but in the choosing of moments in everyday activities. Social media provides paradoxical opportunities-limitations as unpredictable, ever-changing meaning arises with the visible-invisible of the emerging now. From this perspective, the following notions are offered for contemplation as emanating truths in choosing-not choosing participation in social media platforms.
Opportunities-Limitations with Social Media Nurses have a straight thinking obligation to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of those who receive nursing services. In choosing ways to strengthen personal value priorities, unfolding situations are fraught with paradoxical shifting rhythms of whether to go with the flow of popular conformity and posting with the crowd, or shifting direction to not follow the crowd. Every word, picture, photograph, video and other emerging technology reveals-conceals who you are in the moment. Living quality is shown with and without words revealing and at-once concealing the meaning of the moment (Parse, 2013). How you choose to be known to others as a member of the discipline of nursing is cocreated with chosen priorities lived in the moment. May the choices be honoring to others. Professional nurses have a responsibility to the discipline to be mindful of and uphold the distinctive human values and beliefs that uniquely shape the discipline. It is the responsibility of members of the discipline to foster and fortify nurseperson relationships. In a universe of ever-changing possibilities and potential for new emerging technologies, nurses must carefully and wisely discern application according to the cherished philosophical value priorities of the discipline. What is written or spoken will never disappear, but incarnate the infinite, living community that each individual august presence is, a cocreation with predecessors, contemporaries, and successors. As the discipline of nursing contemplates new unfolding teaching-learning opportunities with emerging technologies, scholars and leaders of the discipline must carefully engage in the known processes of discernment in research, practice,
Downloaded from nsq.sagepub.com at University of Hawaii at Manoa Library on June 19, 2015
285
Milton / Ethical Issues and education while at-once accepting responsibility and accountability for the unknown as the media may afford new opportunities-limitations for future generations. All cannot be known as new meanings arise with unfamiliar-familiar patterns with the mystery of human life. May we embrace and discern the infinite meanings and possibilities for application of new technology while being ever-mindful of the philosophical values of the discipline, thus preserving and fortifying the trust of those we serve. Declaration of Conflicting Interests The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this editorial.
Funding The author received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this editorial.
References Parse, R. R. (2013). Living quality: A humanbecoming phenomenon. Nursing Science Quarterly 26, 111-115. Peck, J. L. (2014). Social media in nursing education: Responsible integration for meaningful use. Journal of Nursing Education 53, 164-169. Spector, N., & Kappel, D. (September 30, 2012). Guidelines for using electronic and social media: The regulatory perspective. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 17(3), Manuscript 1.
Discovery International 320 Fort Duquesne Blvd. Suite 25J Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Phone: 412-391-8471 Fax: 412-391-8458 E-mail: [email protected] www.discoveryinternationalonline.com
THE INSTITUTE OF HUMANBECOMING 2015 The Institute of Humanbecoming, founded in 1992 by Rosemarie Rizzo Parse, was created to offer interested nurses and others the opportunity to study the ontology, epistemology, and methodologies of the humanbecoming paradigm. Dr. Parse, the founder and editor of Nursing Science Quarterly, offers summer sessions in Pittsburgh devoted to the study of living quality, the ethical tenets, sciencing, and living the art of humanbecoming. Also included are the community, teaching-learning, leading-following, mentoring, and family models, and other topics. All of the sessions have as their goal understanding of the meaning of humanuniverse as indivisible, unpredictable, everchanging. Upon completion of each session participants receive a certificate reflecting the number of hours spent in studying humanbecoming. In 2015, the offerings include sessions on: The Humanbecoming Paradigm—Emerging Conceptualizations Sciencing and Living the Art of Humanbecoming Models Emerging From the Humanbecoming Paradigm All interested persons are welcome at all sessions. Please register by May 1, 2015. Make check or money order (in U.S. dollars only) payable to Discovery International and send to the address above. The Pittsburgh websites offer information about maps, hotels, and restaurants. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------REGISTRATION (Please print.) Name: ____________________________________
_____The Humanbecoming Paradigm
(May 26-27)
$600.00*
Address: __________________________________
_____ Sciencing and Living the Art
(May 28-29)
$600.00*
__________________________________________
_____ Emerging Models
(May 30)
Phone: ____________________________________ Fax:______________________________________
*$575.00 if paid before April 15, 2015
Email: ____________________________________ _____ Check Enclosed _____ Money Order Enclosed Signature: _________________________________
_____ Visa
_____ MasterCard
Card Number: _________________________________ Expiration Date: _______________________________
Downloaded from nsq.sagepub.com at University of Hawaii at Manoa Library on June 19, 2015
$300.00
research-article2014
NSQXXX10.1177/0894318414546417Nursing Science QuarterlyMilton / Ethical Issues
Ethical Issues Nursing Science Quarterly 2014, Vol. 27(4) 283–285 © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0894318414546417 nsq.sagepub.com
Ethics and Social Media Constance L. Milton, RN; PhD1
Abstract Nurses’ use of social media has increased significantly with growing numbers of media-sharing opportunities, platforms, and emerging forms of electronic applications. With the proliferation, opportunities and limitations surface regarding the responsibilities and accountability that nurses have in choosing technology applications with an embedded philosophical ethos that is consistent with the discipline’s societal mandate of serving humankind in ways that honor human dignity. This article begins a discussion addressing possible disciplinary obligations and responsibilities for the implementation of social media platforms and possible implications for its future use in the discipline of nursing. Keywords ethics, humanbecoming, nursing, social media In the past two decades, the popularity of a user-generated Web 2.0 content commonly referred to as social media and applications have grown exponentially and have emerged into healthcare arenas, and specifically into nurse education, practice, and research. The term social media includes applications of online software tools including social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, as well as media-sharing sites, blogs, wikis, and podcasts. The constellation of internet-based tools are said to help users to connect, collaborate, and communicate with others in real time. Prominent universities are routinely using Web 2.0 technology to enhance student recruitment, improve connectedness, increase access to academic libraries, create virtual classrooms and healthcare practice settings, hold faculty office hours, and create teaching-learning experiences that are designed to achieve academic outcomes (Peck, 2014). There are also enhanced messaging applications (apps) such as SnapChat specifically for photos and WhatsApp for instant messaging and sharing of photographs and videos. With the increased proliferation and usage within the discipline of nursing, global nursing organizations have begun to provide guidelines for the responsible use of social media in the profession. The regulatory National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) published several brochures and a white paper for the usage of social media in nursing. Orders for these brochures have also come from regulatory agencies and individuals from Canada, the Philippines, and Europe (Spector & Kappel, 2012). Clearly, global nurse regulators and leaders of nursing are interested in articulating acceptable practice with social media. The possibilities for innovation and use of these advancing technologies in nurse education, research, and practice are endless. One may envision that the current usage is just the beginning for what is yet to come. Social media is
intertwined with ever-changing patterns of relating in myriad ways that people give and receive messages and cocreate meaning in situation. Those who seek healthcare services and information regularly search online for medical information as well as seek support for health issues. Nurses have an ethical straight-thinking obligation to consider the opportunities-limitations for usage of social media as a member of a healthcare discipline that seeks to serve humankind in ways that honor human dignity. In pondering the potential meanings and ethos for the professional conduct that ought to be considered, many common myths surface for discussion.
Common Myths of Social Media Members of the healthcare disciplines, including the discipline of nursing, are increasingly utilizing social media in professional practice, research, and educational endeavors as well as in their personal lives. For the author, posting on web sites and sharing photographs and videos may be potentially harmful to those served by the discipline of nursing. There are many common paradoxes that may be illuminated as the healthcare disciplines grapple with what is right and what is good while choosing whether or not to participate in social media. First, there are illusions of personal privacy while potentially violating others’ privacy and confidentiality. Posting pictures of oneself and others is a reflection or portrayal of who one is as well the who one wishes or desires to be in at once revealing-concealing portraits chosen while 1
Associate Dean and Professor of Nursing, Azusa Pacific University
Contributing Editor: Constance L. Milton, RN, PhD, Associate Dean and Professor of Nursing, Azusa Pacific University, 701 E. Foothill Blvd., Azusa, CA, 91702. Email: [email protected]
Downloaded from nsq.sagepub.com at University of Hawaii at Manoa Library on June 19, 2015
284
Nursing Science Quarterly 27(4)
traversing through a different path or road less traveled. It is becoming increasingly alarming to read about and bear witness to narratives of professional nurses and student nurses chatting or using Twitter and Facebook to discuss and give information about persons they gave nursing services to in the course of their studies. Participating in actions such as these potentially violates the nurse-person, nurse-family, nurse-colleague, and nurse-community relationships. There is no privacy while posting and chatting on social media. Violating these private relationships opens doors to possible litigation as well as the possible loss of societal trust in the discipline of nursing. Indeed, we are living in a selfie generation. The term selfie has gradually entered into the global lexicon of common terminology. Leonardo da Vinci produced one of the first in 1512, followed by Rembrandt, who produced dozens of self-portraits. Norman Rockwell’s self-portrait shows him painting his selfie by looking into a mirror. Selfies are much easier and faster while being the talk of any major event now. No one is exempt; dignitaries such as the President of the United States and even the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church are widely participating in the selfie movement. Where once people were reluctant to be in photos, they now pile into camera shots, such as during the Oscar ceremony. It could be said that “I click, therefore I am.” The messages given and taken are no longer face-to-face, but they are being formed and shaped with every click. The discipline of nursing has an obligation to the people served. Disciplinary leaders should monitor and provide direction with formal statements and guidelines for the use of social media as responsible members of a discipline should seek to serve those who are living quality and wish to preserve their desires for privacy and confidentiality. Another common myth relates to a lack of responsibility and accountability for what one posts and enters into a social media platform. Many individuals mistakenly believe that what is deleted on a text, website, or instant messaging platform is gone. This is not the case, since all words are retrievable and have been used as evidence in legal cases. Members of healthcare disciplines, such as professional nurses, are responsible and accountable for their words and actions in any venue and the online persona is inextricably linked to the professional nurse’s identity. Choosing to articulate about others’ health situations in an online platform has consequences. Other common falsehoods relate that if healthcare professionals post specific health situation information about others that does not use names and other identifying information, then the practice is acceptable. Situations are traced by others and there is no anonymity in such actions on the World Wide Web. Posting any personal health information about another person potentially violates another’s human dignity as they are being portrayed differently by the writer of the post. Choosing to cross these visible-invisible boundaries blurs identity and any potential differences for how one is known as a person and as a health professional. Choosing
these actions of writing posts and participating in social media is a value priority lived in the moment where there is responsibility and accountability for actions. The author cautions members of the discipline of nursing to choose media applications carefully as shifting-shaping how one is known through these platforms is potentially illuminated and may be potentially harming to others. From a humanbecoming perspective (Parse, 2013), choosing to participate in social media is a reflection of who one is becoming at the moment. Persons are cocreating patterned preferences while living quality as opportunitieslimitations unfold in situation. For the author, members of the discipline of nursing have great responsibility to show reverence for what is significant to others, thereby honoring human dignity as a tenet not only as a health professional, but in the choosing of moments in everyday activities. Social media provides paradoxical opportunities-limitations as unpredictable, ever-changing meaning arises with the visible-invisible of the emerging now. From this perspective, the following notions are offered for contemplation as emanating truths in choosing-not choosing participation in social media platforms.
Opportunities-Limitations with Social Media Nurses have a straight thinking obligation to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of those who receive nursing services. In choosing ways to strengthen personal value priorities, unfolding situations are fraught with paradoxical shifting rhythms of whether to go with the flow of popular conformity and posting with the crowd, or shifting direction to not follow the crowd. Every word, picture, photograph, video and other emerging technology reveals-conceals who you are in the moment. Living quality is shown with and without words revealing and at-once concealing the meaning of the moment (Parse, 2013). How you choose to be known to others as a member of the discipline of nursing is cocreated with chosen priorities lived in the moment. May the choices be honoring to others. Professional nurses have a responsibility to the discipline to be mindful of and uphold the distinctive human values and beliefs that uniquely shape the discipline. It is the responsibility of members of the discipline to foster and fortify nurseperson relationships. In a universe of ever-changing possibilities and potential for new emerging technologies, nurses must carefully and wisely discern application according to the cherished philosophical value priorities of the discipline. What is written or spoken will never disappear, but incarnate the infinite, living community that each individual august presence is, a cocreation with predecessors, contemporaries, and successors. As the discipline of nursing contemplates new unfolding teaching-learning opportunities with emerging technologies, scholars and leaders of the discipline must carefully engage in the known processes of discernment in research, practice,
Downloaded from nsq.sagepub.com at University of Hawaii at Manoa Library on June 19, 2015
285
Milton / Ethical Issues and education while at-once accepting responsibility and accountability for the unknown as the media may afford new opportunities-limitations for future generations. All cannot be known as new meanings arise with unfamiliar-familiar patterns with the mystery of human life. May we embrace and discern the infinite meanings and possibilities for application of new technology while being ever-mindful of the philosophical values of the discipline, thus preserving and fortifying the trust of those we serve. Declaration of Conflicting Interests The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this editorial.
Funding The author received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this editorial.
References Parse, R. R. (2013). Living quality: A humanbecoming phenomenon. Nursing Science Quarterly 26, 111-115. Peck, J. L. (2014). Social media in nursing education: Responsible integration for meaningful use. Journal of Nursing Education 53, 164-169. Spector, N., & Kappel, D. (September 30, 2012). Guidelines for using electronic and social media: The regulatory perspective. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 17(3), Manuscript 1.
Discovery International 320 Fort Duquesne Blvd. Suite 25J Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Phone: 412-391-8471 Fax: 412-391-8458 E-mail: [email protected] www.discoveryinternationalonline.com
THE INSTITUTE OF HUMANBECOMING 2015 The Institute of Humanbecoming, founded in 1992 by Rosemarie Rizzo Parse, was created to offer interested nurses and others the opportunity to study the ontology, epistemology, and methodologies of the humanbecoming paradigm. Dr. Parse, the founder and editor of Nursing Science Quarterly, offers summer sessions in Pittsburgh devoted to the study of living quality, the ethical tenets, sciencing, and living the art of humanbecoming. Also included are the community, teaching-learning, leading-following, mentoring, and family models, and other topics. All of the sessions have as their goal understanding of the meaning of humanuniverse as indivisible, unpredictable, everchanging. Upon completion of each session participants receive a certificate reflecting the number of hours spent in studying humanbecoming. In 2015, the offerings include sessions on: The Humanbecoming Paradigm—Emerging Conceptualizations Sciencing and Living the Art of Humanbecoming Models Emerging From the Humanbecoming Paradigm All interested persons are welcome at all sessions. Please register by May 1, 2015. Make check or money order (in U.S. dollars only) payable to Discovery International and send to the address above. The Pittsburgh websites offer information about maps, hotels, and restaurants. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------REGISTRATION (Please print.) Name: ____________________________________
_____The Humanbecoming Paradigm
(May 26-27)
$600.00*
Address: __________________________________
_____ Sciencing and Living the Art
(May 28-29)
$600.00*
__________________________________________
_____ Emerging Models
(May 30)
Phone: ____________________________________ Fax:______________________________________
*$575.00 if paid before April 15, 2015
Email: ____________________________________ _____ Check Enclosed _____ Money Order Enclosed Signature: _________________________________
_____ Visa
_____ MasterCard
Card Number: _________________________________ Expiration Date: _______________________________
Downloaded from nsq.sagepub.com at University of Hawaii at Manoa Library on June 19, 2015
$300.00
