Consider what action you might take if a nursing student or other healthcare professional posted something that you felt was inappropriate on a social networking website.

How you respond may depend on the nature of the postings made by the student. 

If they are inappropriate but not breaking confidentiality or bringing an organisation into disrepute you could discuss with the student concerned to see if she would consider removing them from the site.

Otherwise your first point of contact is to discuss with your Personal Tutor or member of staff at the university.

Reflect on your online persona, your web presence and posts you have made in the past. What information ‘about you’ is available publicly? What photos have you posted? What does it say to others about you? Consider where there may be areas for improvement.

No answer as this will depend on your use of social media.

Consider your experience so far and how you would respond to a patient who wished to cross the professional boundary of the nurse–patient relationship.

It is essential that you are very clear that you are required by the NMC to maintain a professional relationship at all times. If the patient does not accept this, it is important you talk to your mentor or personal tutor on how to manage the situation.

Would you have any additional concerns if the patient had a learning disability?

A patient with a learning disability may find it more difficult to understand your response. Again, discussion with your mentor or personal tutor is important in order look at how you can manage the situation.

Look at the NMC Code and identify which sections you believe the health visitor breached and reflect on your responsibility for responding to a safeguarding concern.

You may have identified that Health Visitor was in breach of the following:

3.4 act as an advocate for the vulnerable, challenging poor practice and discriminatory attitudes and behaviour relating to their care.

5.1 respect a person’s right to privacy in all aspects of their care

8.5 work with colleagues to preserve the safety of those receiving care

8.6 share information to identify and reduce risk

17 Raise concerns immediately if you believe a person is vulnerable or at risk and needs extra support and protection

To achieve this, you must:

17.1 take all reasonable steps to protect people who are vulnerable or at risk from harm, neglect or abuse

17.2 share information if you believe someone may be at risk of harm, in line with the laws relating to the disclosure of information,

17.3 have knowledge of and keep to the relevant laws and policies about protecting and caring for vulnerable people.

20.1 keep to and uphold the standards and values set out in the Code