Professional Responsibility State Practice Exam

What should nurses avoid concerning online relationships with health consumers?

1. Engaging in casual conversations

2. Developing professional connections

3. Using social media to build personal relationships

4. Providing educational resources online

The correct answer is: Using social media to build personal relationships

Nurses should avoid using social media to build personal relationships with health consumers as it can blur the boundaries of the professional-client relationship. Maintaining a clear distinction between personal and professional interactions is crucial to uphold ethical standards and ensure patient confidentiality. Personal relationships may compromise the objectivity required in providing care and can lead to potential conflicts of interest. By engaging in personal relationships, nurses may inadvertently share or receive sensitive information that can jeopardize their professionalism or the privacy of the patients. It is important for healthcare professionals to understand that their role is to provide care based on trust and respect, which is best maintained in a professional context rather than a personal one. Engaging in casual conversations, developing professional connections, and providing educational resources online can often fall within appropriate boundaries if handled carefully, as long as they focus on professional interactions that enhance patient care and education without crossing into personal territory.