Texas Board of Nursing (BON) Practice Exam

What is the Texas BON's stance on the use of social media by nurses?

1. Nurses are encouraged to share patient stories on social media

2. Nurses must maintain professional boundaries and protect patient privacy when using social media

3. Nurses can post any information as long as they do not mention the hospital name

4. Social media use is not regulated by the BON

The correct answer is: Nurses must maintain professional boundaries and protect patient privacy when using social media

The Texas Board of Nursing emphasizes the importance of nurses maintaining professional boundaries and protecting patient privacy when using social media. This stance aligns with ethical nursing practice and adherence to HIPAA regulations, which mandate the safeguarding of patient confidentiality and privacy. Nurses are in a position of trust, and sharing patient stories or identifiable information on social media can lead to breaches of this trust and significant legal and ethical repercussions. While the other options suggest various levels of permissiveness regarding social media use, they do not align with the core principles that the BON stands for. Specifically, encouraging the sharing of patient stories or posting any information as long as the hospital name is omitted ignores the critical aspect of patient privacy. Additionally, the notion that social media use is not regulated by the BON undermines the accountability that nurses have in their professional conduct across all platforms. Thus, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism in social media interactions is a fundamental requirement for nurses as per the Texas Board of Nursing guidelines.