Discretion/Anonymity/Professionalism

Brace yourselves Sheilas, I'm on a mission!

Just a quick rehash of stuff that is in other threads but may bear saying again.....and again....and again!
Midwifery is an area that requires us all to be very alert and switched on to professionalism, discretion and confidentiality - not only for those we may be caring for, but our tutors, colleagues and ourselves!
Giving real names, precise address details, email addresses, is not to be encouraged - in fact we need to actively discourage it amongst ourselves.

Smnet is a lovely relaxed place but that doesn't mean we should relax about confidentiality. It may not bother you that you may be easily identifiable via your details/pictures but you should consider the fact that by association other people may be identifiable - if your picture is on your profile then other members of your cohort or colleagues may feel that their right to anonymity is compromised - consider others.

• User Names - should not be close to our real names
• Tutors - should not be named or identified
• Colleagues - no names or identifying details
• Situations - not so detailed that they could be identified by those invoved without express permission
• Posts - should not give away your real name or address
• Photos - should not allow anyone to recognise you

This is a public forum - I have forgotten that on occasion during a conversation and had to be reminded and go back quickly deleting tutor names........

We all need to be vigilant - the web is far more exposed than we think and how awful would it be to lose your place or chance of a place because of a moment's foolishness and indiscretion? It's not worth it. Use personal messaging for your own personal detailed stuff if you must but always be vigilant on behalf of others
rant over

Oooh, Tesni, you're so good. I totally agree with you. It's so easy to forget before you start uni about this stuff.

Super important.

Thanks for the reminder. There have been soooo many new members joining recently, too, that this comes at a very good time!

I think a lot of people wonder what we are going on about nbut it really cannot be stressed enough that it is super important to conduct yourself online as you would at work.

Defo great to highlight this again, Tesni.

It's surprisingly easy to find out who people are on here, particularly when people inadvertently put in details, such as signatures stating the uni they're applying to or at, talking about their family lives or even mixing FB and SMNET friends.

If you type in your username or something you've recently written into a search engine, SMNET will pop up in the search with your name/what you've written.
Anyone who has the ability to search the internet can find out who you are very easily. Frighteningly easily.

Please be careful. SMNET is so comfy and friendly that it's easy to forget that we're actually on the web as it's easy to get into the "we're all friends here" mentality. I love that SMNET is so cosy and cuddly, but just want you all to be aware that there are a lot of people on the net who aren't so nice, and there is massive scope for us to forget ourselves.

Please be careful.