Inappropriate Use of Social Media
By Barbara Forshier on May 21st, 2025 in Social Media
For many of us, social media is an important part of our everyday lives. It allows us to share exciting moments, stay connected with loved ones, and even advocate for causes we believe in. However, for nurses, using social media can come with unique risks—and what may seem like a harmless post can have far-reaching repercussions.
In this post, we will walk through the potential consequences of inappropriate social media use, including the types of actions that can get you, as a nurse, into trouble, and what to do should you find yourself under investigation by your state’s nursing board.
The Consequences of Inappropriate Social Media Use For Nurses
Nursing is different from many other occupations in that it is a licensed profession that is governed by strict codes of ethics, professional standards, and legal obligations. Some of the potential consequences of inappropriate behavior on social media include:
- Termination from your position: Many healthcare employers have zero-tolerance policies regarding social media violations. Termination can occur without warning, even for first-time offenses, especially if patient privacy or the institution’s reputation has been compromised.
- Loss of nursing licensure: State nursing boards view social media violations as evidence of unprofessional conduct, ethical breaches, or boundary violations. Depending on the severity of the infraction, you could face suspension, probation, or even other forms of discipline. Investigations are thorough, and disciplinary records will follow you for the remainder of your career.
- Financial penalties: Some boards impose substantial monetary fines in addition to employment consequences. You may also face civil lawsuits, particularly if a patient’s privacy is violated, which can result in hefty settlements or judgments.
- Damage to professional reputation: Once allegations of misconduct surface, they can spread quickly within the healthcare community. News of terminations, board actions, or lawsuits often becomes public record. Rebuilding trust among employers and peers can be nearly impossible once your reputation is questioned.
- Impact on colleagues and organizations: An inappropriate post can ripple outward, triggering organizational audits, lawsuits, media coverage, and loss of community trust. Hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities can all suffer damage that extends well beyond the individual nurse involved.
One post can end a career and severely tarnish the reputation of an entire facility. Protecting yourself and your colleagues requires recognizing that what you post online is never private and can have real-world, irreversible consequences.
What Nurses Should Not Post on Social Media
Social media might feel casual, but every post, comment, like, and share leaves a footprint. As a nurse, your online activity must reflect the same level of care, professionalism, and respect that you show within the walls of your workplace. It’s important to remember that anyone—a coworker, a patient’s family member, a former friend, or even a stranger—can report an inappropriate post. And once something is online, deleting it may not be enough; screenshots and shared content can create a permanent record.
Understanding what not to post is essential for every nurse. Common examples of problematic content include:
- Photos or videos from the workplace: Even if no patients are visible, posting images of hospital equipment, whiteboards, medical records, staff badges, or any other identifiers can breach confidentiality policies. Hospital environments are protected spaces, and unauthorized sharing often violates both employer policies and privacy laws.
- Patient information: Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), sharing any patient information—whether names, conditions, treatment plans, or even seemingly harmless anecdotes—is illegal. Even vague posts can lead to a violation if they contain enough information to identify a patient.
- Posts made during work hours: Posting to Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok while on duty can show a lack of focus on patient care. Employers may view this as a lapse in professionalism and can take swift disciplinary action, especially if patient safety could have been compromised.
- Negative comments about coworkers, employers, or patients: Complaining about colleagues, supervisors, the facility itself, or patients—even without using names—is considered unprofessional. Such behavior erodes trust and morale and can easily lead to complaints and disciplinary proceedings.
- Sharing confidential internal information: Details about staffing shortages, management changes, new policies, internal disputes, or anything intended only for employees should never be posted publicly. Leaking this information can damage the facility’s reputation and open the door to litigation.
- Engaging in discriminatory or offensive speech: Posts containing discriminatory remarks, inappropriate jokes, political rants, or offensive content, even if unrelated to nursing, can reflect poorly on your professionalism and judgment. Many employers and boards consider this grounds for discipline.
What Can Nurses Post on Social Media?
While the safest action is to keep your professional life off social media entirely, that does not mean nurses must avoid posting altogether. With careful thought and consideration, nurses can maintain an active online presence that reflects positively on themselves and the profession.
Examples of safe and appropriate content include:
- Sharing nursing-related memes that celebrate the profession in a positive light: Light-hearted, encouraging content that honors nurses’ hard work and dedication can be appropriate. However, memes that negatively depict patients, employers, or coworkers should always be avoided.
- Advocating for public health initiatives: Promoting health education campaigns such as flu vaccination drives, mental health awareness, or healthy living tips is generally appropriate.
- Celebrating career achievements: Posting about personal accomplishments—such as graduating from a certification program, earning a promotion, or receiving an award—is usually acceptable. However, it is essential to ensure that no patient information or confidential employer details are shared in the process.
- Promoting or attending professional events: Sharing your attendance at conferences, seminars, webinars, or continuing education courses shows a commitment to professional development. These posts can inspire others in the nursing community while enhancing your professional image.
- Participating in professional nursing organizations: Posting about membership activities, volunteering efforts, and advocacy work through professional organizations is generally considered positive and career-enhancing content.
- Offering general encouragement and positivity: Sharing quotes about compassion, perseverance, or teamwork—without specific references to your workplace or patients—can contribute to a supportive online environment.
Always approach social media posts with the mindset: “Would I be comfortable showing this to my employer, the nursing board, or a potential future employer?” If the answer is anything less than a resounding yes, it is better not to post. Remaining cautious and thoughtful online can protect both your career and the trust placed in you by your patients and your peers.
Other Types of Problematic Behavior on Social Media
Posting public content is not the only risk nurses face online. Private or seemingly minor interactions can cross professional boundaries and expose nurses to disciplinary action.
Examples of problematic behaviors include:
- Adding patients or their family members as friends: Establishing personal relationships with patients outside the clinical environment is seen as a boundary violation. This practice can undermine the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship and create perceptions of favoritism or inappropriate closeness.
- Sending direct messages to patients: Even messages intended as gestures of support or kindness can be misinterpreted. Private communications may open the door to allegations of unprofessional behavior, breaches of confidentiality, or exploitation of the nurse-patient relationship.
- Engaging with patients’ posts through likes, comments, or shares: Interacting with a patient’s social media activity blurs the lines between personal and professional relationships. These actions can create confusion about the nurse’s role, leading to complaints about favoritism, biased treatment, or undue emotional influence.
- Sharing or reacting to sensitive, patient-related content: Nurses should avoid engaging with posts where patients discuss their medical conditions, even if the patient initiates the conversation. Responding publicly can be perceived as endorsing, validating, or disclosing confidential health information.
- Participating in online groups or forums without caution: Engaging in healthcare-related discussions in public forums can inadvertently reveal patient information or personal opinions that conflict with professional standards. Even “anonymous” posts can sometimes be traced back to the poster.
Many of these activities can be viewed as boundary violations. Once a board complaint is filed alleging a boundary violation, the burden often shifts to the nurse to prove that their actions were appropriate and professional. This uphill battle is best avoided by maintaining strict, clear professional boundaries online and offline.
Under Investigation by the Minnesota Board of Nursing? Contact Forshier Law Today
Social media can be a minefield for nurses. A single post can trigger disciplinary actions, reputational damage, and even loss of licensure. Protect yourself by always thinking twice before you post and maintaining strict professional boundaries online.
If you are being investigated by the Minnesota Board of Nursing because of your social media activity, the first and most crucial step is to contact a nursing license defense attorney. Facing the board without legal representation is risky. Even minor social media violations can be exaggerated by investigators. Having a dedicated attorney by your side ensures your rights are protected and your side of the story is heard.
At Forshier Law, we understand how hard you have worked to build your nursing career. Attorney Barbara Forshier knows what’s at stake and will fight to protect your license, livelihood, and reputation. Whether you need help crafting a response, representing you at hearings, or negotiating discipline, Forshier Law is ready to support you at every step.
Don’t wait until it’s too late—contact us today. We will listen, advocate for you, and help you navigate this challenging situation with experience, compassion, and strength.
