Boundaries: When patients become friends

The personal use of social media by healthcare professionals is a hot topic within oncology practice settings. The widespread availability of both patient and provider personal information online threatens professional boundaries. This commentary article will provide an overview of the oncology nurses' responsibility to maintain boundaries and the potential risk to professional image if clients and families are able to access providers' personal information online. Work undertaken by the Advanced Practice Nursing Social Media Taskforce in the Hematology Oncology Transplant Program at the Alberta Children's Hospital will be presented including a literature review and development of a staff survey to explore perceptions and practices related to personal social media use by health professionals. Case scenarios of common social media challenges are explored and knowledge translation activities presented.