An Analysis of the Advantages of Utilizing Social Media in Nursing

This essay explores the significant advantages of utilizing social media within the nursing profession. It begins by highlighting how social media platforms enhance professional growth through networking, knowledge sharing, and access to research. The essay then details the role of social media in contributing to public health initiatives by facilitating data collection and rapid dissemination of crucial information during outbreaks and disasters. Furthermore, it examines how social media improves communication with patients, offering nurses a channel for answering questions, running health campaigns, and providing timely support. The essay also emphasizes the positive impact on patient outcomes, including increased access to treatment information and improved communication within patient communities. Overall, the essay underscores the importance of social media as a valuable tool for nurses, offering a pathway to improved practices and better patient care.

Advantages of Social Media in the Nursing Profession
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Advantages of using Social Media in the Nursing Profession 2
Table of contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................................3
Enhancement of professional growth...........................................................................................3
Contributing to Public Health......................................................................................................4
Improving communication with patients.....................................................................................5
Better patient outcomes................................................................................................................5
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................6

Advantages of using Social Media in the Nursing Profession 3
Introduction
Social media is an internet- based application for the making and exchange of user
content. Nursing being a profession which involves the transfer of health information to the
patient in order to enhance public health, the profession should always be updated with the
current affairs; therefore, social media can be used as a tool to achieve this end. The common
social media platforms include Twitter, Youtube, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Linkedin. When
used effectively, social media platforms can be an asset in research, enhancement of professional
growth, improve communication with patients and improve patient outcomes. The essay will
discuss some of the major benefits of social medial in the nursing profession.
Enhancement of professional growth
Social media is an important platform through which nurses can communicate. It empowers
health professionals to exchange ideas based on experiences and learnings with their colleagues
working in different regions of the world. Social media platforms enable nurses to discuss,
consult and collaborate with their colleagues in real time (Ventola, 2014). Webinars, conferences
and meetings can be held online with fewer resources and in a short time. In times of difficulty,
social media platforms like blogs provide a platform that is suitable for exchange of ideas and
sharing knowledge between nurses can be done based on their experiences. Blogs are meant to
publicize information by an organization or by an individual. Nurses can post their comments
and views on this blogs where they can receive or give answers on professional issues and
promote exchange ideas which is essential in career development. Research and Learning
Sharing of research papers on “www.researchgate.net/ “ a social media network site can be used
by nurses to view publications, ask/answer questions of different researchers. Similarly, a
website like “www.theconversation.com.edu” makes it possible for academicians to make public
their articles for online deliberations on the content. The information gained from such

Advantages of using Social Media in the Nursing Profession 4
discussion and debates is imperative as it accelerates the process of nursing research and
learning. Use of social media to enhance networking and exchange of knowledge is common
(Alsobayel, 2016). In addition, social media has helped to promote learning among nurses. The
use of social media for dissemination of information helps student nurses because through it they
get the opportunity to ask subject related questions and to interact with other professors and
students from around the world thus helping them to conduct research and learn (Kakushi &
Évora, 2016). Nursing students reported the use of Facebook and YouTube to supplement their
learning (Lahti, Haapaniemi-Kahala, & Salminen, 2017).
Contributing to Public Health
Social media does not only provide a media for the exchange of information and ideas but can be
used effectively for research in Public health. Collection of data from several sources, such as,
hospitals, primary healthcare centers, family nurses who visit homes can be expedited by using
the social media platforms that enable a quick exchange and collection of information (George,
Rovniak, & Kraschnewski, 2013). Social media also allow the rapid dissemination of
information and could be particularly useful during infectious outbreaks and during natural
disasters. Conduction of surveys on Facebook, spreading word about following healthy lifestyles
and reaching out to people with rare disorders are possible (George, Rovniak, & Kraschnewski,
2013).
Improving communication with patients
Social media offer an ongoing communication channel between patients and nurses. The
microblogging site Twitter can be used to explain drug recall to patients, nurses can answer
patients' questions in case there is an emergency, preventative health campaigns can be run on
this platform and patients can receive a quick response whenever a question about healthcare
needs to be answered (Everynurse.org). Patients can derive a lot of benefit through this mode of

Advantages of using Social Media in the Nursing Profession 5
communication because they are often overwhelmed with the amount of information available
online. A communication channel through which they can clarify their doubts through a nurse is
much needed. Nursing intervention through constant contact with patients through messages
have helped in adolescent health issues (Wong, Merchant, & Moreno, 2014) and in patient
efforts of to quit smoking, reminders by nurses have helped to improve patient outcomes
(Weaver, Lindsay, & Gitelman, 2012).
Better patient outcomes
Several social media platforms have improved the exchange of information between
patients. These include SmartPatients.com and PatientsLikeMe.com and help patients to learn
about available treatment options. The anonymity offered by these platforms makes it easier for
young patients to discuss related to topics such as, sexual health, substance abuse, HIV and
mental illness among themselves and with health professionals. Underserved communities with
health problems have been reached and served better using a platform called StartUpHealth.com.
Facebook and Twitter have often been used for public health campaigns. An NFL awareness
campaign on concussion met with lot of youth engagement about the health issue. The fact that
NFL was already popular among the youth helped in the extent of outreach that the initiative
garnered (Wong, Merchant, & Moreno, 2014).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the use of social media offers several advantages to the nursing
professionals. It provides opportunities to enhance professional development through networking
with peers, learning and research can be facilitated greatly due to the real time exchange of
knowledge. It is possible to access research papers an engage in discussions and debates about
nursing related topics through social media. Public health research requires several surveys and
dissemination of information among patients and peers which is possible at a fast pace through

Advantages of using Social Media in the Nursing Profession 6
social media platforms. Communication with patients becomes faster and easier. Large groups of
people can receive messages about infection control, vaccines, outbreaks and other information
in a short period of time. Better patient outcomes are often achieved in cases where patients find
it easier to seek answers due to the anonymous nature of communication that social media can
facilitate with health professionals.
References

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