Oh Yeah! Nurses learning social media as a viable health care communication venue

I teach an informatics class to BSN completion students. The class is an intensive 6 week block class that is 3 hours of credit in an online format. In light of this truth, the class is often a frightening prospect upon entry. (Sort of like riding the rock-n-roller coaster at the MGM theme park for the first time).

However, with the rapid changes in both technology and communication some knowledge in social media, appropriateness of website information, and effective writing is critical to nurses. The class emphasizes the clinical information system and the EHR, but in an effort to bring knowledge on general technology and communication, assignments relating to social media and blogging  were born.

My students often cringe at my assignments; to create and maintain a twitter account, attend at least one online chat, procure legitimate followers, and complete all written work for the course in blog format (which means developing their own blog). I have found that this type of work for students is like White Castle burgers… they either love it or hate it, but in the end they all develop an appreciation for it.

Armed with information on communication, social media, valid website interpretation, their own interest in subject area, and a need to practice developing their school work and research for an audience beyond the course faculty and a grade, they work hard to develop legitimate learning through new means of communication. This semester’s class was no different. Below I provide links, with their permission, to some of their greatest works…. their Webliographies and blogs. An effort to put sound information about internet links together in one place. They did a great job!

Congratulations to the NUR 3563 class of SBU for the spring of 2010. You set the bar high for those that will follow.

http://jlanurse.wordpress.com - Multiple Myeloma

http://jessblaha.wordpress.com/ – Oncology Nursing Society

http://nursemichelle.wordpress.com/ – HPV

http://horsejunkey.wordpress.com – Schizophrenia

http://www.nursechenene.wordpress.com – Macular degeneration

http://leeamyc.wordpress.com/webliography/ – Nursing burnout

http://cebunurse.wordpress.com- Antiaging

http://knwanurse.wordpress.com Lou Gehrig’s Disease

http://susug514.wordpress.com – Asthma

http://nursedave4.wordpress.com – Cardiac Dysrhythmias

http://www.cmjarvis.wordpress.com – Exercise and disease prevention

http://WindsorRN.wordpress.com – Stroke rehabilitation

http://ytleyva.wordpress.com/ – CHF

http://AMartinRN.wordpress.com – clinical nurse specialist (informatics)

http://rnlife.wordpress.com/ – Multiple sclerosis

http://momofzejt.wordpress.com – Pediatric Obesity

http://lacyphillips1.wordpress.com – Pancreatitis

http://rnladyffchick-r-u-prepared.blogspot.com/2010/03/when-disaster-strikes.html – Emergency Preparedness

http://neuronurse22.wordpress.com – Alzheimer’s Disease

http://rowlettrn.wordpress.com/ – L&D

http://ezernurse.wordpress.com – TB

http://oncnurse66.wordpress.com – End of Life

http://sumtip.wordpress.com – MS

http://amysgerd.blogspot.com – GERD