Why All Nurses Need Social Media

Social media is now a very important part of today’s society. Aside from bringing light to the business sector, this digital platform has also changed the landscape of health care. In fact, many nurses agree that Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest Flickr and many other social media sites did a great deal in helping them grow professionally.

So how exactly does social media empower nurses?

1.It strengthens nurse-patient relationship.

Communication between patient and healthcare team has evolved for the better, thanks to social media sites. In sites such as PatientsLikeMe.com, patients are able to share their medical condition to other patients and health professionals around the world; thus allowing them to compare treatment procedures, discuss test results, and learn from each other. Instead of reading medical articles and reference blogs, patients can directly ask their nurses and get answers to their queries real-time. This procedure keeps medical information transparent, true, and fast.

 

2.It shares industry breakthroughs.

Nowadays, nurses no longer rely solely on nursing magazines and journals for learning. Instead, they turn to social media sites to gain insight on their industry’s new and upcoming trends. Following professional sites such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or NursingWorld.com tells nurses what’s new in the medical sector and offers them reliable information. Following their favorite nurse bloggers can also give them an insight on what’s happening in the profession.

 

3.It spreads awareness about public health issues.

Social media becomes an important tool especially during emergencies such as the Sandy hurricane. By re-tweeting posts on Twitter or posting links on Facebook, nurses are able to inform and promote the safety and well-being of individuals in the community. Nurses can also raise awareness for a certain cause through tweets, blogs and posts.

 

4.It makes communication easier, especially for travel nurses.

Before social media, travel nurses would have to send out or receive tons of letters for their assignments. Some instructions could not reach them while they were on the road. Now with social media, travel nurses only need to follow a Twitter feed, read a blog post, or check Flickr photos for instructions. Moreover, communicating to friends and family back home has become easier, thanks to social networking sites. Photo and video sharing to loved ones is also possible through Facebook and Flickr.

 

5.It shares knowledge, expertise, and support towards fellow healthcare professionals.

Sites such as NurseTogether.com are run by nurses, meant for nurses. These sites are avenues for sharing knowledge and expertise to other nurses. All one needs to do is to register an account and he/she is free to participate in forums and discussion boards, ask and answer questions, read nursing-related articles, and even get job opportunities.

 

6.It helps nurses de-stress.

YouTube, Metacafe, and other video sites can help nurses de-stress. Numerous videos are light and funny - the perfect medicine after a tiring 12-hour shift. Social networking sites can also serve as the temporary escape from the daily grind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 7 Biggest Online Dating Mistakes

Recently, I was coaching a woman on how to write her online profile. Before we wrote the profile, I asked her to send me her four best pictures. I asked her to do this because men are as visual as Scooby Doo on steroids.

The first thing they do when they see your profile online is NOT read about your trip to Italy last summer... they want to see how hot you are. Keep in mind that every man has different taste in women, so what is “hot” to one man will be totally different than what is “hot” to another.

So, I explained this to my client and I asked her to send me pictures that represent who she is in her life. What she sent me is mistake #1 of the biggest mistakes women (including you nurses!) make online.

Here are the seven biggest online dating mistakes women make:

1.Provide accurate information. It seems like on the Internet everybody is "athletic and toned," "petite" or "fit and trim." List your exact body type and list your real age. In the world of Internet dating, "29" usually means somewhere in your 30's. He is going to find out what you look like, so you might as well tell the truth in your profile. Why start a potential relationship on a lie? Men are guilty of the same thing, and I advise them the same way. All photos that you post on an online dating profile must be current!

2.I'm really glad you had a great time on your vacation but you don't need to post 10 photos of your trip to Italy without you in them. This is a dating site, not a trip adviser. Also, stop posting pictures of you skydiving, winter skiing, waterskiing, or doing anything else where we can't see what you look like in the picture.

3.Keep your profile short and to the point. Make your paragraphs very short. I've seen too many women's profiles that look like romance novels. Take a look at ESPN.com and read an article in the sports section. All paragraphs are short so men can digest that information in short bursts. Keep your audience in mind when writing your profile!

4.Don't appear self-absorbed. I've seen many women's profiles that say, "I want a man to be this," "I want a man to do that," "I want a man to cherish me," "I want a man to adore me"... You list all your "I wants" without listing what you will bring to the relationship. So you end up looking like you're a taker and not a giver (and we know that as a nurse that could not be further from the truth!) No man wants to be with a taker; he wants to be with someone who's equally willing to give and to receive. So don't let how you word your profile misrepresent who you really are.

5.Don't list your financial desires like you're posting a want ad. I've seen too many women write, "I'm looking for a man who will spoil me, buy me great things, and take me on great trips." You come across as a gold digger. Instead say, "I like the finer things in life to share with somebody," so you don't come across so harsh.

6.No baby talk! Even if the number one priority in your life is to be a mother, nothing scares a man off more than if you write in your profile about how badly you want kids. He may feel the same way, but he is going to think, "This woman will marry anybody to have kids." Write something a little more toned down like, "Families are important to me, and I can't wait to meet my special man so I can start a family." This shows you're selective and not just looking for someone with whom to make a kid.

7.Stop sending winks. When is the last time you went to the supermarket, saw a cute guy and winked at him? Winks went out of style when "Happy Days" went off the air. You don't like it when men send you a wink. You think it makes him seem lazy and like he didn't read your profile. We think the same thing! So stop winking and start typing. We know you're looking at us, because we see that you've viewed our profile every day. Say "hello!" We're not going to bite. Lob that email in. Take a chance and send an email to the guy to whom you're most attracted. You never know what might happen!

I have found that when online dating, if you're honest about who you are, and you get back to people immediately, you'll get the date faster and avoid all the back and forth games that go on.