Gen Xer Case Study:

A newly hired technician in the Emergency Department (ED) has been posting on a social networking site her professional work experiences to include graphic photos of an ED cubicle following a multiple trauma case. No patient identifiers are being used but details of the circumstances of the multiple trauma and resulting injuries are discussed along with the technician’s personal feelings. Other ED nurses and medical staff/personnel are part of her social networking group and are reading and commenting at the workplace about the postings.

This Gen Xer technician defends herself to her coworkers by explaining she is not using patient names and has the right to her own personal thoughts and the freedom to discuss them when not at work. Staff have begun to take sides in this issue and communication between the younger nurses and staff (Millennials & Gen Xers) versus the older Baby Boomers has resulted in tension and a lack of team synergy. Not all staff members have taken sides and there are those in the middle (of various generations) who verbalize they can identify with both sides of the issue.

How should management handle this situation?
In general, what principles should guide the development of corporate social media culture?
Develop a role-play illustrating how the manger should handle this issue.