Blogger Impact on Nursing Education and Research
Whats is Blogging In Internet Technology,Benefits of Blogging for Nursing Educators,Nursing Bloggers and Social Media Impact, Nursing Bloggers and Social Media Impact,Impact of Blogging On Nursing Research and Educational Collaboration.
Whats is Blogging In Internet Technology
A weblog or a blog is a web-based
collection of thoughts or information, similar to a diary or a log. Blogs are
arranged chronologically and may be hosted by one or more people (Curry, 2012).
Blogs are also described by Bonk and Zhang (2008) as websites that provide a
personal opinion or viewpoint on a topic of interest and is open for comments.
Blog entries are posted sequentially, with the most recent post appearing first
on the list. Blogs cannot be edited or rearranged; they can be created for
internal use and be password protected: and media files can be linked to blogs
(Billings, 2009).
Benefits of Blogging for Nursing Educators
There is increasing need for nurse
educators to incorporate technology in nursing education. More than 80% of
nursing students are Millennials, or the Net Generation. These students are
considered to be digital natives and view new technologies as a normal part of
everyday life (Peck, 2014). In addition, Schmitt, Sims-Giddens, and Booth
(2012) noted that it is expected that many nurses will return to school for
further education. The demographics of current undergraduate and graduate
nursing students vary from millennial to baby boomers.
Nursing Educational Blogs at a Glance
Blogs can be an empowering tool for
personally publishing ideas and communicating with a worldwide audience. However,
blogs in online courses and academic settings typically relate to course
readings, course tasks and activities, field experiences, and extra
course-related work (Bonk & Zhang, 2008).
Results of the pilot study
conducted by Roland, Johnson, and Swain (2011) suggest that blogs help students
become more adept in written communication. A blog can be used for reflection
to enable the student to express thoughts and feelings about a learning
situation. Carozza (2012) noted that blogging promotes reflection and greater
understanding needed for writing. She further identified blogging as a tool
that can help those students with some fear of technology.
Nursing Bloggers and Social Media Impact
Peck (2014) identified how social
media is changing the communication paradigm from a traditional face-to-face
model to the one that uses a variety of web based applications. She further
noted that online interactive and social media platforms are changing the way
nursing students communicate and that one third of faculty in academic
institutions report using social media to communicate with students.
The major
privacy concerns related to the use of social media include the potential to
violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of
1996, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) that protects
students’ privacy in the school environment. However, the overall benefits of
social media in the classroom far outweigh the challenges. Blogging can help
students develop problem-solving skills, and enhance networking, collaboration,
and student engagement in the course.
Impact of Blogging On Nursing Research and Educational Collaboration
Blogs are another way to facilitate
internal and external communication and dialogue among nurses and nurse
educators. When used in clinical agencies, they have been shown to promote
inter-professional collaboration, simplify project development, provide peer
support, and link users to information provided by national health care
organizations (Billings, 2009). It is therefore recommended that blogs be
incorporated into nursing curricula for faculty’s and students’ use.
It is also recommended that
educators are provided with technical support and necessary training on how to
use blogs. Due to the ethical and legal issues associated with the use of
social media, it is essential that educators be familiar with the policy for
the responsible use of social media in their institution before adopting the
use of blogging or any other social media in the courses.
According to the National Council
of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN, 2011) improper use of social media by nurses
may violate state and federal laws established to protect patient privacy and
confidentiality. Such violations may result in both civil and criminal
penalties, including fines and possible jail time. Therefore, there is the need
for further research into the use of blogging in nursing education. More
nursing faculty should also be trained and encouraged to incorporate blogging
as a form of social media in their courses.