A Social Media Reminder: Nurses Fired Over TikToks

February 5th, 2025

Incident Overview

A couple of years ago, a Georgia hospital terminated four labor and delivery nurses after they posted a TikTok video mocking maternity patients. Recorded at work, the video featured the nurses sharing their "icks," including disparaging comments such as patients asking to shower or eat before inductions, or questioning a baby's weight while still holding the baby. The video went viral, prompting the hospital to issue a public apology and emphasizing its commitment to patient-centered care.

Hospital Response

The hospital’s response included:

• Public apology: It condemned the unprofessional comments and actions as not reflective of its values or standards.
• Termination of employees: The nurses responsible for the video were dismissed following an internal investigation.

The incident underscores the importance of maintaining professionalism in social media posts and the reputational harm such posts can inflict on healthcare institutions.

Key Lessons for Risk Management

Necessity for Social Media Policies

The incident highlights the importance of having clear, proactive social media policies governing workplace-related content. Many businesses, including hospitals, reactively address social media issues after problems arise instead of establishing preventive measures.

• Policy scope: Policies should explicitly outline prohibited behaviors, including mocking patients, posting on social media during work hours, or recording content on hospital property without authorization.
• Employee awareness: Risk managers should not assume employees inherently understand what is inappropriate. Comprehensive training on the implications of social media posts is necessary, including how such actions may harm patients, the hospital’s reputation, and employee job security.

Legal Considerations

• Employers are within their rights to regulate employees’ social media activities related to the workplace, even for content posted outside of work. While the First Amendment protects individuals from government censorship, private employers can impose restrictions to maintain professional standards.
• Posts recorded on hospital property or during work hours, as in this case, provide a particularly strong basis for disciplinary action.

Generational Challenges

Younger employees, who have grown up with social media, may have more casual attitudes toward sharing content online. This generational difference may contribute to a lack of understanding about professional boundaries. Some experts suggest that younger employees may act out of ignorance rather than malice.

• Training Focus: Social media education should address generational gaps by emphasizing the professional risks associated with posts, including how online content may be misinterpreted or harm the public perception of the healthcare profession.

Managing Social Media Content

If hospitals choose to allow employees to post workplace-related content, they must establish clear approval processes to prevent reputational risks. For example, content supporting hospital-supported charitable causes may be appropriate but should require managerial consent. However, even well-intentioned posts, such as dance videos recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, can face backlash if they appear tone-deaf or inappropriate.

Conclusion

The firing of nurses for mocking patients on TikTok highlights the critical need for hospitals to enforce clear and explicit social media policies. Proactive education, coupled with well-defined guidelines, can help employees understand the professional and ethical implications of their online behavior. Hospitals must strike a balance between permitting social media engagement and safeguarding patient trust, professional integrity, and organizational reputation.

For more details about this incident and for tips to avoid similar issues, click here.