Nursing and Twitter: creating an online community using hashtags

Area of Science:

• Nursing Informatics
• Digital Health Communities
• Social Media in Healthcare

Background:

• Social media use is increasing in healthcare professions, including nursing.
• Online platforms offer new avenues for professional connection and support among nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and growth of an online nursing community using Twitter hashtags.
• To identify benefits, barriers, and enablers for creating and sustaining an online nursing community.

Main Methods:

• Utilized keyword searches on Twitter related to nursing.
• Monitored the WeNurses website and follower counts.
• Employed a social media monitoring tool (SM2) for trend analysis and visibility assessment.

Main Results:

• The WeNurses community, launched in July 2012, gained over 7000 followers with daily website visits ranging from 500 to 1500.
• Key enablers included a committed core group, shared identity, mutual understanding, and member ownership.
• The platform facilitates discussions on nursing issues, professional development, and understanding health service changes.

Conclusions:

• A systematic nursing approach, integrating social media principles, successfully fostered an online nursing community.
• Social media provides a valuable professional space for nurses, supporting skill development and knowledge sharing.
• Encouraging social media use by health employers can enhance nursing expertise and influence patient care.