Social networking is landing Australian nurses in hot water.

The Australian Nursing Federation has warned nurses to keep privileged information off social networking sites, such as Facebook, as increasing numbers of nurses face disciplinary action over inappropriate postings.

ANF federal secretary Lee Thomas said growing numbers of Australian nurses are being reprimanded as a result of posting comments regarding “sensitive issues” online.

“Social networking may be instant and fun, but people are increasingly using these mediums to complain about employers, fellow staff members and among our colleagues and even patients,” Ms Thomas said.

“Clearly, using social networking sites in this manner is problematic in the growing number of cases of employers initiating disciplinary proceedings against staff in relation to comments made on social networking sites.”

Ms Thomas said an entire new area of case law was opening up around social networking and no consistent approach had yet been formed on acceptable conduct.

“This opens a Pandora’s Box of questions from privacy to confidentially to employment law,” she said.

“I know that speaking to several of our branches that members are increasingly facing disciplinary action as a result of commentating on sensitive issues in this very public way.”

The caution comes as increasing numbers of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom were found to be discussing privileged information online, often unwittingly, and as a result were being investigated and, in some cases, even struck off for misconduct.

Ms Thomas warned postings on social networking sites were not private.

“They are very public and in some cases you have no idea who is reading them, so next time you switch on your computer, and enter your favoured social networking site, take a moment to remember what happens at work with patients is confidential,” she said.