Social Media Professionalism in Nursing Students: A Concept Analysis

The objective is to clarify the concept of social media professionalism among nursing students. Walker and Avant's concept analysis method was used. CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global were used to find both empirical and gray literature published between 2014 and 2024 that discussed professionalism and social media use among nursing students; 18 articles were included. Social media professionalism among nursing students encompasses five attributes: maintaining privacy and confidentiality, clear boundaries between personal and professional identities, accountability for online actions, civil and respectful digital discourse, and adherence to professional regulatory standards and institutional policies. Antecedents include access and exposure to digital platforms, role modeling, educational preparation, awareness and internalization of professional values, and personal motivation and self-efficacy. Consequences include an impact on professional reputation, employability, and academic progress; influence on professional identity formation; legal and regulatory outcomes; and public and institutional perceptions. The operational definition of social media professionalism among nursing students aims to clarify the concept for future use and research as well as address existing gaps in the current literature, nursing education, and institutional policy.