Using social media & technology to promote specialty practice K. Eckland, ACNP-BC, MSN, RN

1. Using social media & technology to promote specialty practice K. Eckland, ACNP-BC, MSN, RN Purpose Cirugia de Torax NP run blogs and social media Implications for Nurse Practitioners Cirugia de torax.org is an example of a nurse practitioner-run web blog that unites health care providers with patients for the sharing of health care information and promotion of the thoracic surgery specialty. This website also brings together physicians, nurses and other medical personnel, strengthening ties among healthcare workers across the globe. Since the initial post on this website in April of 2011, the web blog has received over 45,000 views. The site features interviews with thoracic surgery specialists in several countries. We have received emails from readers in over seventeen countries. Emerging technologies and mobile applications allow nursing an unprecedented opportunity to interact and educate laypeople while demonstrating advanced health care knowledge in specialty practice. By taking advantage of and embracing newer computer technologies, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and other advanced practice nurses are able to disseminate information on a world platform while advancing the status of the profession. On-line forums, web blogs and specialty sites also allow nurse practitioners to network with specialty practitioners worldwide. As more and more healthcare systems investigate the use of advanced practice nurses around the globe, it is important for established NPs to serve as mentors and resources to other nurses. It is also crucial that advance practice nurses functioning in well-established programs be aware of, and support nurses in developing markets as part of our continuing commitment to the survival and future of our profession. • To demonstrate the utilization of emerging technologies and social media to promote surgical specialty practice and health information among health care professionals and the general public. • Examples of Social Media: • Websites, web-blogs • Social Networking sites • Mobile Applications Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) FNPs and the FNP specialty are well-represented on the web, with a wide variety of blogs A Nurse Practitioner’s View http://npview.blogspot.com/ Ask the Nurse Practitioner http://askthenp.blogspot.com/ The Nurse Practitioner’s Place http://www.arnp.blogspot.com/ Also has links to multiple blogs to NPs in multiple specialties, nurses and other medical professionals. On-line FNP – this website has links to several general NP web blogs. http://onlinefnp.com/2010/top-40-family-nurse-practitioner-blogs/ Psych/ Mental Health Specialty Dana’s PMHNP 52 blog: http://pmhnp52.blogspot.com/ Hospice NP: http://hospicenp.blogspot.com/ Nurse Practitioners in business - http://npbusiness.org/nurse-practitioner-sites/ There are certainly other blogs representing other specialties but these blogs are not always easy to find. Examples of Specialty Specific Sites Pitfalls for Nurse Practitioners CTSnet.org – the cardiothoracic surgery network connects healthcare professionals (surgeons, nurses, physician assistants residents, students and cardiologists around the world. Includes mobile applications, professional portfolios, operative logs. Clinician 1 – a new online community for nurse practitioners and physician assistants. NPcentral – website that maintains an on-line NP directory, job search, and continuing education. Doctors of Nursing Practice – online nursing community promoting the DNP • Unprofessional or overly ‘social’ blogs and social media can be professionally damaging to both the individual and the profession. • For example, there is a NP in Baltimore with a blog on blogger.com who complains about multiple issues in her private life. Fine. But this blog shows up in google searches for “ACNP, blog.” • Is that what you want your patients, your boss and your colleagues to see? Use common sense with social media, and use privacy settings as needed*. • *Guidelines to appropriate social media are available on-line at Nursingworld.org Contact Information