CHICAGO, IL–(Marketwire – Jan 4, 2012) – The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN^®) has created a variety of new resources to educate nurses about professional boundaries in a social networking environment. A video and a brochure based upon NCSBN’s white paper A Nurse’s Guide to the Use of Social Media, which can be accessed at https://www.ncsbn.org/Social_Media.pdf, are now available on NCSBN’s website.

The use of social media is expanding exponentially as the number of social media outlets, platforms and applications available continue to increase. Nurses use blogs, social networking sites, video sites and online chat rooms to communicate both personally and professionally with others. NCSBN recognizes that these social and electronic media tools have tremendous potential for strengthening personal relationships and affording nurses a valuable opportunity to interface with colleagues from around the world, but also carry the risk of inadvertently revealing private and confidential patient information.

In light of the proliferation of social networking, as well as the instantaneous nature of this medium, NCSBN’s newly created resources are designed to make nurses more cognizant of the potential consequences of disclosing patient-related information via social media. It is vital that nurses remain mindful of employer policies, relevant state and federal laws, and professional standards regarding patient privacy and confidentiality and its application to social and electronic media.

NCSBN’s new video, “Social Media Guidelines for Nurses,” offers dramatization of potential scenarios of inappropriate social media use and highlights important concepts about the proper use of social networking in professional situations. The video is accessible at https://www.ncsbn.org/2930.htm or on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9FBEiZRnmo. Additionally, a new brochure, A Nurse’s Guide to the Use of Social Media, is available for download at https://www.ncsbn.org/NCSBN_SocialMedia.pdf. Printed copies of the brochure are offered free of charge.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) www.ncsbn.org is a not-for-profit organization whose members include the boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories — American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are also nine associate members. Mission: NCSBN provides education, service and research through collaborative leadership to promote evidence-based regulatory excellence for patient safety and public protection.

The statements and opinions expressed are those of NCSBN and not the individual member state or territorial boards of nursing.