Professional Identity and Digital Presence

Professional identity was a concept I was never consciously aware of. I am employed as a Registered Nurse, and therefore I am a nurse. It was not until recently that I began to evaluate what my presence is, and more importantly, what I want my presence to convey. I have also begun to examine where my role as a Registered Nurse fits within Canada’s healthcare system.

Goodolf and Godfrey (2021) state that the construct of identity begins once an individual decides to become a nurse. They continue to state that one’s professional identity consist of “four domains: Values and Ethics, Knowledge, Leadership, and Self-Awareness” (Goodolf and Godfrey, 2021, p. 495-496). My experience working as a Registered Nurse in both British Columbia and Saskatchewan over the past nine years has helped to create my professional identity. Influencing factors include the organizations I am affiliated with, my knowledge of cardiac care as a bedside nurse, opportunities at leadership, as well as self-development and personal growth throughout my career.

As I am currently enrolled in the Master of Health Studies program from Athabasca University, I have had the opportunity to reflect on my role and expand. Enter social media. Previously, I have kept social media separate from my professional self. However, upon examination, having a digital presence would be beneficial. Social media proves to be a useful tool in disseminating information to large audiences. It can be used by health professionals “to debate health care policy and practices, to promote health behaviors, to engage with the public, and to educate and interact with patients, caregivers, students, and colleagues” (Ventola, 2014, p. 491).

Although social media offers great benefits, it also gives way to risk. Some limitations include the following: posts that are unprofessional and cast a negative light on healthcare providers and their affiliations; violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); and the blurring of boundaries between health professionals and their patients (Ventola, 2014, p. 496-467). In order to mitigate these limitations, it is important for healthcare providers to review the appropriate documentation. The British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM), the British Columbia Nurses Union (BCNU), the Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS), and my employer all have clear guidelines and policies for appropriate social media conduct.

Furthermore, I need to consider and align the practices and beliefs of my profession with the content that I share. This includes the Canadian Nurses Association Nursing Code of Ethics, the BCCNM Professional Standards, and the values of my employer. It is important to note that these factors have helped influence my own set of professional values. After careful consideration, I have identified compassion, honesty, and togetherness as my professional values. Compassion and honesty are characteristics that I possess as a result of my practice and continue to convey daily. Togetherness is a behavior I have discovered through the years of practicing in an acute care setting. Nursing (and health care in general) can be challenging, and in my experience, it requires teamwork and the effort of the whole system to help achieve health and decrease the effects of illness.

In order to ascertain where I belong in the healthcare system, I have reviewed the Canadian Health Act and the Health Professions Act. I am employed in one of the six health authorities in British Columbia. Services are covered by the Medical Services Plan and receive funding from the Minister of Health via the Hospital Insurance Act (The Canadian Health Act, 2020, p. 103-104). The nursing services I provide are “deemed medically required” (The Canadian Health Act, 2020, p. 104) and therefore are insured.

Nursing is a recognized health profession and is regulated by the BCCNM. It is defined as a health profession, with a specific scope of practice, which provides the following: “(a) health care for the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health; (b) prevention, treatment and palliation of illness and injury (…); (c) medical assistance in dying” (British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives, 2021, para. 5). While practicing nursing, I have been able to implement these activities by caring for patients with a variety of cardiac diseases.

By exploring my professional identity and role within healthcare, I can better understand where I can make my digital presence. It is important to consider my professional values and those of the organizations I am apart of when posting content online. I look forward to experiencing the benefits of social media through a professional lens.

References

British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives. (2021). Scope of practice: Part 1: The basics for scope of practice: What the regulation covers. https://www.bccnm.ca/RN/ScopePractice/part1/ Pages/regulation.aspx

Goodolf, D. M., & Godfrey, N. (2021). A think tank in action: Building new knowledge about professional identity nursing. Journal of Professional Nursing, 37(2), 493–499.

Health Professions Act: Health Professions Designation and Amalgamation Designation. (2008). https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/270_2008

The Canada Health Act: An Overview. (2020). https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/hc-sc/migration/hc-sc/hcs-sss/alt_formats/pdf/pubs/cha-ics/2015-cha-lcs-ar-ra-eng.pdf

Ventola, C. L. (2014). Social media and health care professionals: Benefits, risks, and best practices. P & T: A Peer-Reviewed Journal for Formulary Management, 39(7), 491–520.