Nurses are cautioned to stay out of trouble from the usage of social networking platforms.

Social networking platform websites like facebook and twitter are addiction today. It’s hard not to be lured by their charm however nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has set guidelines for nurses to follow if they choose to use such online social networking platform.

NMC advised the nurses to differentiate between their personal and professional life and not to share any confidential and sensitive information on such platforms. Sharing of work and professional information including photographs from work has been strictly prohibited. An advise of declining friend’s request from patients, clients and ex-clients have also been laid along with norm to not discuss any case of patient with patient’s associate, relative or patient itself on such platforms.

Along with prohibitions nurses and midwives are detailed with the security and privacy features and they were persuaded to make use of them segregating their personal and public profile.

NMC holds the hearing authority in matter of misconduct. This will include online misconduct. A nursing student in America was expelled from the course after she posted a picture of her with human placenta on facebook.

The guidelines are set to assist the staff in maintaining the code of conduct and save future troubles