My Professional Identity

I currently work for the municipal government in Niagara, Ontario, Canada, and we operate 8 long-term care homes within the Region. Although I do not belong to a regulated profession, many of the staff that I supervise in the nursing homes are regulated. For example, we have physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians, and social workers, who belong to regulated organizations, and must abide by their policies around social media use, as well as those enforced by Niagara Region.

As an employee of Niagara Region, I am mindful that my professional identity, including my interactions on social media, could impact my work status. If I indicate on social media that I am a Niagara Region employee, and then I comment unfavorably about a controversial topic, I may face discipline up to and including termination. It’s not limited to posting statements; it includes any form of media like sharing photos and videos. We have terminated staff for taking photos at the workplace, beaching confidentiality of our nursing home residents, family members of residents, or other staff.

Many of our staff are registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario, so they must abide by their professional obligations as a nurse, and any infraction of a patient’s confidentiality is handled seriously.

I'm curious to hear about your thoughts on professional identity and how you interact with social media. Feel free to connect with me through my contact information on my portfolio.