An Integrative Review of the Use of Social Media in Graduate Nursing Education

Abstract

ABSTRACTSocial media is widely used, including among health professional educators. As a teaching strategy, social media can be helpful to nursing educators, and has been found to be useful in teaching nursing students regarding “communication, professionalism, healthcare policy and ethics” (Schmitt, Sims-Giddens and Booth 2012). With many current nursing students preferring learning environments and strategies that are enriched by technology, a thorough understanding of the implications of the use of social media in the instruction of nursing education is needed. Particularly the potential benefits and risks warrant continued evaluation. In the instruction of nursing students, social media interaction with faculty can be used as a training methodology for professional communication (Arrigoni, Alvaro, Vellone, and Vanzetta 2016). Social media can provide a way for nursing faculty to promote the use of technological professional engagement, a skill competency that is often lacking among nursing students (Schmitt et al. 2012).Despite a number of reviews being readily locatable on the current best practices regarding social media use in nursing education (Ross and Meyers 2017), little is available regarding applicability to graduate nursing students. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to conduct an integrative review of the available evidence regarding the utilization of social media in teaching graduate nursing students. Only two articles were located that were specifically relevant to gradate nursing education. The located articles reported small scale initiatives and case studies. Further exploration of the available literature is needed in regard to graduate work specifically as professional communication is a key competency of many graduate nursing programs.