JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The rapid growth of social media has transformed communication, with over 5.66 billion users worldwide in 2025, spending an average of 141 minutes daily on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and TikTok. Nurses are frequent users of social media, often to exchange work-related information, communicate, and reduce 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.

Objective:

The purpose of our research was to describe the use of social media among nurses. The aim of the study was to determine how nurses use social media at work and how and why their demographic characteristics (e.g., gender, age, number of years working in healthcare, etc.) are related to the use of social media at work.

Methods:

This study used a quantitative, descriptive and exploratory non-experimental empirical research design. Data was collected via a survey administered to a convenience sample of 132 nurses (98 women and 34 men). The questionnaire consisted of 17 statements related to social media use in the workplace. Statistical significance level of p < 0.05 was applied. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistical tests were conducted.

Results:

Nurses use Facebook the most and spend between 45 minutes to 1 hour per day on social media. Study participants reported that they primarily use social media for communication with colleagues and acquiring new knowledge. They also use 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.

Conclusions:

This study highlights an important topic of social media use at work by nurses. Study found that nurses frequently use social media, primarily for professional communication and knowledge acquisition. While most demonstrate positive usage patterns, the findings indicate that social media use during working 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 healthcare setting.