1. RN Tech
Gazette

2. Social media and nursing practice: Changing the balance between the social and technical aspects of work
Evan Casella, Jane Mills, RN, BN, MN, MEd, PhD, FACN, Kim Usher, RN, RPN, A/DipNEd, BA, BHSc, MNSt, PhD, FACN, FACMHN

3. Introduction
Sociotechnical theory was conceptualized in 1960’s by Eric Trist and Fred Emery and is defined as an approach to complex organizational work designs that recognize the interaction between people and technology in work places.
They studied a phenomenon within a coalmine's change in practice in the 1950’s.
The miners were introduced to a new method of mining, forcing them to communicate in different ways, which led to increase in communication, more flexibility, and adaptability in the coalminers approach to work.

4. Benefits of Sociotechnical Theory in Nursing
Encourages cooperative behavior instead of competitiveness
Increases communication networks
Brings balance between social and technical aspects of work
Results in higher efficiency
Enhanced patient care

5. Technically-balanced workplace systems = enhanced patient care

6. Social Media
Social media can be used to heighten sociotechnical systems by facilitating communication between professional colleagues and between patients and nurses.
Many health professionals have shown some resistance to integrating social media into their work due to concerns of:
Usefulness
Compatibility
misuse

8. Types of Social Media
Social media comprises tools for sharing and discussing information among people.
It refers to user generated information, opinion, and other content shared and discussed digitally.
Examples of social media:
Social networking
Content sharing
Web publishing
Wikis

9. Social Networking
Most commonly used form of social media – offers a convenient way to share information and stay in touch.

10. Web Publishing
Allows anyone to publish material on the web – provides opportunity for professionals to share and promote their ideas. Blogging is a prominent form of web publishing.

11. Content Sharing
With content sharing, users can share a range of media and document files, such as pictures and videos.

12. Wikis
Collaborating social media tools allow users to work together by using a shared website where a number of participants can edit information.

13. How is this technology used in nursing??

14. The Nursing Process 5 steps to the nursing process Assessing
Diagnosing
Planning
Implementation
Evaluation

15. Assessing Phase
mHealth sites have been designed to send and receive health information that links clients to health professionals.
Examples:
Apps used to track blood glucose results - used by school nurses with students to assess their health via social networks. Nurses were able to develop contacts lists of students and their treatment needs.
Content sharing - used in assessing wound healing. Clients can use smart phones to upload pictures/videos of wound healing to a private content sharing site. Comments and advice could be attached to the images from health professionals.

16. Diagnosing Phase
In the diagnosing phase, professional web-based information sharing might provide nurses with a wealth of diagnostic knowledge.
Nurses can take information from blogs, critically analyze it, investigate its evidence base for validation and apply it to their diagnoses.

17. Planning Phase Wikis are very useful during the planning phase.
Wikis allow multiple users to upload and edit information which help nurses source, share, and comment on evidence-based practice.
Nurses can investigate potential care plans and can refer to the wiki to search for possible interventions that have been proven successful.

18. Implementing Phase
Social media can increase the level of support offered to clients while requiring fewer in-person meetings.
This style of practice increases accessibility as well as cost effectiveness of health care.
Nurses can care for multiple clients with similar conditions at the same time.

19. Evaluation Phase
Social medial can be used to improve the nursing process through patient feedback.
Clients often use blogs to narrate their experiences of illness and might speak directly of the healthcare provider.
Nurses can increase patient/nurse relationships by analyzing patient narratives and reflecting their experiences into their own practice.

20. Real-world Examples of Social Media in Nursing
Power outages – health professionals can use secure social media accounts (i.e. Twitter) to alert of cancelations
Medication reminders – nurse can send alert and reminders to take their medication

21. Real-world Examples of Social Media in Nursing
Private Facebook page – helps share information to a private group (i.e. The Resource Team) about staffing needs, education classes, staff meetings, etc.

22. ….in conclusion

23. Benefits of Social Media in Nursing
Increases transparency, which has led to better client care
Leads to more collaboration amongst healthcare providers
It is cost effective
It makes healthcare more accessible
Increases nurse competency
Gives healthcare a greater social presence.
….which all promote BETTER CARE!!!

25. Reference Page
Casella, E., Mills, J., Usher, K., (2014). Social media and nursing practice: Changing the balance between the social and technical aspects of work. Collegian, 21,

26. Password for Centra Health resource nurses: networking nurse this password along with quiz answers to