As a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), I am responsible to represent and uphold the values and principles that the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA) recognizes. This means I should be practicing from a best practice lens and ensuring appropriateness in online and public interactions. As an LPN I am a licensed health professional whose college is overseen by the health professions act. Through this act and the CLPNA I am held to a certain standard in order to maintain the trust of the public, and to practice in an ethical and evidence-informed way. Over Covid19 pandemic, many social media posts were shared about vaccinations. As a healthcare worker, I support vaccinations and the science behind them. I however was still cautious in what I posted. I want to advocate and support my beliefs, but I also do not want to 'get into it' with anyone online. The CLPNA has a document outlining tips for social media and professionalism; it can be found here.

My values in healthcare have changed as I have taken on new opportunities. My heart lies in supporting the most vulnerable and marginalized communities and populations. Moving from hospital nursing to community nursing helped me discover the gaps in our healthcare system. Primary care is a passion of mine, and I believe that with wrap-around around support in the community, we can help keep clients out of the hospital. Another value I appreciate is low-barrier access to care; often for marginalized clients, having to access numerous referral points, commit to set appointment times, and simply navigate the system ends in disappointed clients and missed opportunities. Having walk-in services, wrap-around care, and dedicated follow-up with outreach helps support those who fall through the cracks.

As it relates to my social media presence; my area of work can often be a ‘hot button’ for politics and the news. Working in forensics I have exposure to high-profile clients who may be covered on the daily news. Often, the way the news portrays the situation does not accurately represent the individual. I choose to never post controversial or high-profile links on any of my social media. In conversations with others, I try to use learning moments to expand someone’s viewpoint; even this, however, I am cautious with depending on the situation. My work with vulnerable youth has a similar tone as it relates to social media. The clinic I work at provides therapeutic abortions and harm reduction support. These can include; prescribing methadone, giving out clean needles, and providing education on how to use drugs safely. These topics and approaches to healthcare often have a polarized view. As an advocate, I want to speak out and provide education and evidence around their success. Social media can be a great way to re-post and share legislation changes, corruption in systems, etc. From time to time, I choose to repost or share an article. I often choose not to attach my opinion to the article, and I always make sure it is an original and reputable source.

Overall, navigating social media as a professional while still advocating for clients is possible. It is tricky to navigate and requires a certain finesse, but it is important. It is imperative to advocate for those whose voices don’t carry as much weight as a professional's. I approach social media posts the same way I would in person; if I wouldn’t say it in a meeting, I won't share it on my social media. Nurses play an important role in the healthcare system; part of the role is to ensure the public has trust and faith in our profession. Posting controversial or overly political view points could lose trust from clients if made public. I believe that with time and experience, and attention to guiding documents, you can advocate on social media in a professional manner.