Social Media Use and Digital Professionalism in Nursing Practice: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study

The rapid growth of social media has transformed communication, with more than 5.66 billion users worldwide in 2025 who spent an average of 141 minutes daily on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and TikTok. Nurses frequently use social media to exchange work-related information, communicate with others, and relieve stress. While social media can support professional development, excessive or inappropriate use at work may compromise patient care. Despite widespread use, research on nurses' demographic factors and actual workplace social media behaviors remains limited.

The aim of the study was to determine how nurses use social media at work and how their demographic characteristics (eg, gender, age, and number of years working in health care) are related to the use of social media at work.

This study used a quantitative, descriptive, exploratory, and nonexperimental empirical research design. Data were collected via a survey administered to a convenience sample of 132 nurses. The sample comprised of 98 women (74.2%) and 34 men (25.8%). The questionnaire consisted of 17 statements related to social media use in the workplace. A statistical significance level of P<.05 was applied. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistical tests were used.

Nurses used Facebook the most and spent between 45 minutes and 1 hour per day on social media. Study participants reported that they primarily used social media for communication with colleagues and acquiring new knowledge. They also used social media for its technical functions, such as file sharing. Nevertheless, a substantial number of nurses reported using social media during working hours, and many had experienced creating an uncomfortable situation after declining social media interactions with patients or colleagues.

This study highlights the important topic of social media use at work by nurses. The study found that nurses frequently used social media, primarily for professional communication and knowledge acquisition. While most demonstrated positive use patterns, the findings indicate that social media use during work may pose potential challenges to professionalism. These results highlight the need for clear guidelines and training to ensure that nurses use social media responsibly, maintaining both professional boundaries and personal integrity. Encouraging mindful and regulated use can enhance the benefits of social media while minimizing risks in the health care setting.