Social Media Rationale for the Anti-Social
This week I spoke briefly at a symposium on social media during the biennial convention of Sigma Theta Tau International, the Honor Society of Nursing. The symposium was pulled together by Rob Fraser, a well-connected Canadian nurse and the author of The Nurse's Social Media Advantage: How Making Connections and Sharing Ideas Can Enhance Your Nursing Practice (available on Amazon). You can read more about the symposium, and get the handouts, at Dr. Terri Schmitt's blog, here: http://nursestory.com/ Dr. Schmitt also presented at the Sigma Theta Tau symposium on social media.
The reason I mention this is because Dr. Schmitt and I are anti-social. We don't like parties, we don't like anything we have to dress up for, we don't like talking on the phone, and we REALLY don't like meetings. So why in the world would a couple of anti-social nurses be so interested and involved in social media?
Good question. Here is my simple answer: knowledge is power, and disseminated knowledge means power to the people. Social media is a near-miraculous way to disseminate knowledge. Since my job as an educator is to empower others and to distribute knowledge as widely as possible, social media is an invaluable tool, my best friend in my efforts to teach, train, and inspire.
Dr. Schmitt was recently interviewed by Adam Sanford, and the result is here:
http://www.nursing-school-degrees.com/Nursing-Articles-Interviews/terri-schmitt-students-educators.html. Read it and be inspired by her passionate answer to why an anti-social nurse educator would so ardently love social media.
The reason I mention this is because Dr. Schmitt and I are anti-social. We don't like parties, we don't like anything we have to dress up for, we don't like talking on the phone, and we REALLY don't like meetings. So why in the world would a couple of anti-social nurses be so interested and involved in social media?
Good question. Here is my simple answer: knowledge is power, and disseminated knowledge means power to the people. Social media is a near-miraculous way to disseminate knowledge. Since my job as an educator is to empower others and to distribute knowledge as widely as possible, social media is an invaluable tool, my best friend in my efforts to teach, train, and inspire.
Dr. Schmitt was recently interviewed by Adam Sanford, and the result is here:
http://www.nursing-school-degrees.com/Nursing-Articles-Interviews/terri-schmitt-students-educators.html. Read it and be inspired by her passionate answer to why an anti-social nurse educator would so ardently love social media.
Thanks Carole, it was an honour to get to present with you in Texas. Working with people you respect and have been watching for a few years is like meeting celebrities in real life!
Keep well and I'll get your book in the mail soon!
Rob
Reply to this
You are the celebrity, Rob. You can help move the nursing profession light years down the road by being a voice of reason and a champion of open communication. I, and many others, will be cheering you on.
Reply to this