Now nurses could be SACKED for posting lewd photos online, officials warn
NURSES could be sacked if they share lewd photos on social media, officials have warned.
Nurses could be fired for "inappropriate" social media posts
Posting photographs of yourself not wearing very much – that's not acceptable
A revamped set of rules by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) hopes to stop "unprofessional behaviour" on social media.
Jackie Smith, chief executive of the NMC, said: "Posting photographs of yourself not wearing very much, which is what we do see – that's not acceptable."
She warned that being a nurse or midwife is a "24/7 job" and "you are never off duty".
Peter Carter of the Royal College of Nursing praised the new measures, which came into effect last month.
He said: "Social media presents a number of new challenges for nursing staff, and the NMC is right to recognise these challenges."
The new rules came into effect last month
In 2013 two nurses were sacked after taking photos of themselves and making inappropriate jokes while on duty.
Caroline Luxford-Noyes tweeted a picture of herself sitting on the toilet, while Julie Dyde wrote: "If you live in the Halifax/Huddersfield area please try not to have a stroke."
A healthcare worker, Rachel Keys, was also fired.
She complained about having a "higher risk of dying" than her patients.