Social Networking for the WOC Nurse: Educational and Fun

Social Networking for the WOC Nurse: Educational and Fun

Social networking is an innovative method of sharing information with an online community of individuals. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are a few of the social networking websites available for individuals to communicate online across the miles in a virtual format.

Home care WOCN’s comprise 12.9% of the WOCN population.[1] This specialty area of WOC practice is one of the least discussed milieus on forums and journals. WOC practice in home care has many unique challenges. Social networking provides a dedicated venue for connecting with other home care WOC’s who have similar concerns and ideas.

In an effort to network with professional peers working in home care and enhance knowledge a Facebook group, “Home Health Care WOCN’s” was created. The group is by invitation only to prevent non-WOC nurses from joining. With 26 members, topics are created on The Wall and Discussion Board. Anyone can post links to relative websites and videos. Photographs of wounds and ostomies are on the site photo album. Postings to the group have helped many access up-to-the-minute information on OASIS-C. Members post photographs of themselves that personalizes and enhances relationships. Many members have also joined other associated groups, such as:

•  I Swear My Ostomy Bag Makes Me Look Sexier
•  Friends of WOCN
•  Home Health Nurses
• Healthy Bladder Solutions

There is a plethora of information to be gained from social networking. WOC nurses are connecting and learning from others in a new and innovative format. Social networking is an exciting and fun method of interacting with specialty groups of professionals on a global scale.