The Top 5 Ways Nurses Can Use Social Media to Boost Their Nursing Career
SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES, like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are increasingly popular spots for nurses and other medical professionals. Many nurses are on social media, but some nurses neglect to use this technology to boost their nursing career. If you are looking to be one of the 65 percent of U.S adults who use social media, based on a 2011 report by Pew Internet & American Life Project Fund, you can use it to advance your career! Check out our tips below:
#1 Find your community
Social Media is a strange thing – connecting with strangers isn’t typically appealing in real life, so why is it so popular on the Internet? One word: community. Whether you are simply looking for connections within your proximity or if you are looking for a community with similar interests, social media can help you find these connections.
If you’re a nurse who is looking to use social media as a comical break from the stress of the work day, there are nursing humor pages on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and so much more with massive amounts of memes and jokes only nurses can relate to. If you’re a nurse looking to find inspiration, you’ll find it! How cool is that?
We feel inspired by so many social accounts. Some of our favorites are listed below:
Facebook: ER Nursing, Nurses Rock, and KevinMD
Twitter: Nursing Times, St. Jude, and Cleveland Clinic
Regardless of what platforms you choose, remember to produce consistent content that is relevant to the community you are targeting. Try and post everyday and produce content that is specific to your audience.
Check out our Facebook and Twitter pages!
#2 Reach out for referrals
Nursing is an amazing career for several reasons, probably too many to list! One of the top, in our opinion, is the fact that you can find people just like you all over social media who can help you achieve your goals. Let’s say you’re a registered nurse looking to advance your career and become a more specialized NICU nurse. One of the best ways to get your foot in the door is by reaching out through your social media channels and finding other NICU nurses who have already gone through the transition.
LinkedIn is a perfect social channel to utilize for referrals. You can find NICU nurses in your area, connect and learn from them and have another resource to help you achieve your goals.
Social media is an outlet that many recruiters are now using. You could be discovered based on your social media presence, so make it count and make sure you stay true to yourself!
#3 Accept all feedback and criticism
A lot of nurses and other medical professionals are using social media, and the numbers are only growing. This is great news, but it also means there are health care professionals on the Internet who can criticize your content, tweets, updates and photos. While this may feel defeating, it’s important to take each moment of criticism as a way to learn to better yourself as a nurse. If a comment hits a nerve, decide whether you should consider it, or if it’s simply a “hate comment”, and move on.
Nurses have been ranked the most honest profession for the past 13 years by Gallup Polls, so expect honesty and be honest! Allow feedback by interacting with comments and on forums.
#4 Find support and be supportive
One of the most exciting and promising benefits of using social media to boost your career is simply the ability to find support you may not have otherwise. Both professional and personal goals can be achieved through social media inspiration. Are you a nurse looking to be healthier within your personal life? There are countless amounts of Instagram accounts and hashtags (like #fitnurse) that can help you connect with those aiming to motivate nurses just like you!
Connect with us on Instagram @advmedcert for more tips, quotes and nursing encouragement.
It’s also important to be supportive, so always be kind and encouraging on social platforms!
#5 Extend your knowledge, certifications and CME credits
Nurses can always improve and learn more. Continuing medical education (CME) credits are a perfect way for you to leverage your social media reputation and credibility! Be a shining light in the industry by always learning and sharing the information you have learned. Review courses, make product suggestions and find graphics that can help you continue to be the best nurse you can be.
Check out our online certification and recertification courses for Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Basic Life Support (BLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), AED, & First Aid. To learn more about us and what we offer, you can click here.
Are you a nurse utilizing social media to boost your nursing career?