It is important to consider what you share on the internet. While SMNET is a very friendly and supportive community we would still like to advise you to consider what you should share and what you should not.

We have created these guidelines to protect you, your work and your place on your course, while working within the guidelines set by the NMC, UCAS and by Universities.

This policy provides guidance on the sharing of information like;

• Personal Statements
• Essays/Assignments/Projects
• Personal Information and Identifiers
• Trust and University Information and Identifiers
• Recruitment and Selection Information

Personal Statements
We want you to do well and because of this we provide a plethora of support and guidance with writing your perfect PS.

We provide SMNET guidelines on PS construction, as well as individual PS support via the Personal Statement section of the site.

We would like to discourage the sharing of your entire PS via personal messaging or email unless you can be sure that you know the person very well and that they will not 'borrow' parts of your PS. Sometimes it may be the case that someone likes the way you have worded something and adds it to their PS, however unless you can prove that you wrote and submitted your PS before the other person - you are the one who may be questioned about plagiarism. Therefore, we encourage you to seek official SMNET PS support via the PS section and the staff team who manage the section. This section is headed up by Noo.

We would also encourage you to only share your PS with members who are currently studying and so have already completed the application process. We have a panel of members who provide official SMNET PS support, please see here.

Essays/Assignments/Projects
Whilst we encourage the exchange of articles and links to support your learning we actively discourage the sharing of entire essays, assignments, presentations and other academic work that you submit to University.

There are many reasons for this, there is the obvious problem of plagiarism but also we feel that students who rely on the work of others are not gaining the skills, knowledge and abilities they need to become a great midwife. In midwifery you need to complete your own research, reading and work to fully inform your own individual practice style and knowledge to become an excellent midwife.

We suggest you post up on the forum for general advice, guidance, articles and links but refrain from sharing your entire essay.

If you would like to support members with essay skills, please contact Rainbowgoddess who is creating an SMNET Essay Skills Task Force!

Personal Information and Identifiers
It is important that you protect your identity online. We advise you when registering not to use your 'real' name in your user name choice and also not to use your date of birth, location or Uni.

This is purely precautionary. It is to protect you from being identified as an applicant applying to study, as a student at a specific University or as a practising midwife.

In line with the Nursing and Midwifery Councils Guidance on professional conduct for nursing and midwifery students, we strongly advise that you refrain from personal identifiers as well as maintain professional conduct at all times. The important line with regard to your internet use is in the section entitled Unprofessional behaviour and states "Misuse of the internet and social networking sites" as an example of unprofessional behaviour. Hence the NMC are fully in support of the use of internet sites BUT your conduct on the sites matters. As does the rules for behaviour and conduct of those sites and as you are aware here on SMNET we have very strict rules to protect you, Trusts, Uni's staff and other midwifery organisations.

To remind yourself of SMNETs rules of membership see here.

For SMNET's guidance on how to keep yourself safe and your conduct in line with the NMC's recommendations see here.

Trust and University Information and Identifiers
We work with many Universities and Trusts and like with you, we want to protect the identities of Uni and Trust staff so we ask you to please refrain from posting up the names of admin staff or Uni lecturers or the staff that interviewed you etc. We would also ask you not to give out Uni and Trust staff email and contact numbers without seeking their consent first.

Similarly, if you have a problem with a University or Trust please see the SMNET Managing Grievances Procedure.

Recruitment and Selection Information
Whilst we encourage support and guidance with applying and preparing for interview, we also do not want to disadvantage some members who may be part of a staggered selection procedure. For example some Uni's will interview candidates a week or so apart. If you post up all your interview questions and test details then the second set of candidates gain an advantage over the first candidates. Please ensure your Uni's interviews are over before you post up specific details about your interview day.