I'd love to vent, however, I believe I lost a job in 2009 for venting on Facebook about a place where I worked.  I didn't name the facility, but alluded to its type. 

At that time, I wasn't aware of FB's bad record of protecting members' privacy. 

Shortly after that conversation on FB, I noticed a big change in management's attitude toward me from valuable asset to persona non grata.  My performance, attendance, etc,, had never been issues.  I didn't put together the FB issue and my firing until months later. 

They trumped up a reason to let me go, which I could have argued, but knew I'd be under constant survellance for any little misstep forever after.  Instead i worked out an agreement with them to reflect that I had been laid off and could still work at any of the company's other hospitals across the nation. 

Big omission on my part was not negotiating for a letter of recommendation; the inability to get a reference from them (they have a national work number anyway) made job hunting more difficult.

So here goes:  VENT! RANT! RAVE! #^%$@! (stomp), (snort)....ahhhhhh.

That is a good lesson for everyone here! Yes, I think public venting has the potential to backfire on you. I always try to keep that type of comment out of any public forum.s

I think it's always best to only say what you wouldn't mind anyone seeing. That will keep you out of trouble, for sure! (lol, unless you are one that will say anything and dont mind who sees it)

Yes, my new job would be very much like that. I post things like, I'm traveling today... I even say where I'm traveling, but never have said what I am doing, or promoting. No one, either here or on twitter, or FB know who I am contracted for or what I do. I have told that I am a nurse educator.

Even when I was at the hospital, I would NEVER give a personal patient story here, even without a name. My hospital employer was not listed here, nor was it on any of my social media sites. I never talked about my employer.  It's just the best policy.  I have talked about my own struggles working night shift, etc. I just think we can grow as nurses here and learn without crossing the lines.

Your employer may not read the posts. But a lawyer might. What I posted online came back to bite me. Be careful with your words.

Yes, I think it is best practice to say and write what you would not mind seeing again. It keeps me from saying and doing many things.