Abstract
Social media is not only an emerging and cultural trend, but a method of communication that is changing the way individuals and organizations throughout the world transmit and receive information. Nurses play a significant role in identification, interpretation, and transmission of knowledge and information within the health care system. Social mobile media spaces provide a platform that can assist both qualified and student nurses keep in touch with each other and share best practices and prevent isolation for those placed in far flung areas of the country.Data were obtained from WhatsApp discussions involving one group of HIV nurse practitioners followed for a period of six weeks. Data analysis was conducted by the lead investigators and took the form of thematic analysis. The data were constantly compared with the codes in order that the shift in the meaning is minimized and accuracy and confirmability is maintained. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Zambia, School of Medicine’s Research Ethics Committee. Anonymity was maintained through the use of pseudonyms. The results revealed that social media as tool of communication in Zambia has been used by HIV Nurse Practitioners in both urban and rural areas for sharing best practices and prevention of professional isolation. The tool is also used for emotional and social support as well as a source of motivation for its users. Mobile Instant Messaging (MIM) is a resource that can benefit the nursing profession in keeping abreast with the new trends in the care of patients and prevention of professional isolation. However, it is important to ensure that the interaction is structured to prevent digression from the core purpose which might lead to loss of direction.
Highlights
The expanding advances in technology connectivity and communication have seen the number of nurses participating in social mobile media spaces increase significantly
Social mobile media spaces provide a platform that can assist both qualified and student nurses keep in touch with each other and share best practices and prevent isolation for those placed in far flung areas of the country
Data were obtained from WhatsApp discussions involving one group of HIV nurse practitioners followed for a period of six weeks
Summary
The expanding advances in technology connectivity and communication have seen the number of nurses participating in social mobile media spaces increase significantly. The main aim of social media is to engage people through electronic means, most often supported through internet sites or software These involve people who “follow” or are “friends” with each other, meaning that people are connected to a person in a way that they can see his or her information and updates. Within these sites people share their lists of followers and interact to exchange information, knowledge, opinions, and other forms of communication. WhatsApp is the most commonly used Mobile Instant Messaging tool and is said to attract more than 1.2 billion active users in a month (Statista, 2017) As such, it is one of the most popular MIM platforms. “students” and “alumni” are being used interchangeably and denote nurse graduates of the HNP programme
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