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Professionalism Blog

  • Faiza Syed
  • Feb 16
  • 4 min read

Updated: Mar 31

Social Media and Professionalism: Maintaining Integrity in the Digital Age

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A recent exercise that I found particularly impactful involved auditing both my personal and professional social media presence, followed by a reflection on how my online profile aligns with professional regulations, values, and identity. This process not only refreshed my understanding of the evolving standards for social media advocacy but also reinforced the importance of carefully managing my digital presence and ensuring that the messages I share align with my professional goals, ethical standards and expectations of my regulatory body.

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Breathing Life into My Career: Shaping My Professional Identity as a Respiratory Therapist (RT)

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RTs play a crucial role within the healthcare system ensuring that patients with cardiorespiratory conditions receive high quality care. RTs work across the healthcare sector ensuring comprehensive care for individuals in diverse environments. There are almost 4000 RTs in Ontario and approximately 12,000 actively practicing across Canada (Zaccagnini et al., 2024, p.122).

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My professional identity has evolved significantly over my twenty-five-year career. Fraser-Arnott (2018) discusses how shifts in a practitioner’s professional identity often led them to reassess their role within the field. As individuals take on new roles or responsibilities, they may seek to shape the broader direction of the profession. This resonates with my journey, which has moved from working as a bedside RT to now, as a clinical educator. I strive to embody professionalism, compassion, and competence in every aspect of my work. However, at the heart of my current professional identity is a commitment to advocating for my patients, educating others, and leading within my field.


Advocacy is an important part of healthcare, and social media offers a powerful platform for supporting and advocating for patients. Our class audits have highlighted that while improving our digital competency, it's important to strike a balance between personal opinions and professional conduct, which can be challenging. Rukavina et al. (2021) noted that relaxing accountability in the digital space could undermine e-professionalism by eroding public trust through poor-quality information and damaging the professional image, particularly when confidentiality is breached. Platforms like Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube all offer unique ways to communicate. As healthcare professionals, it’s essential to advocate for our patients and our profession, but we must also be cautious that our personal views and online presence don’t compromise our professionalism or blur the lines of integrity.


Foundations of Care: Defining My Professional Values


Professional values should be at the core of daily practice. My personal values are deeply connected to patient-centered care, ethical conduct, and a dedication to continuous learning. These principles shape every decision I make and inform how I interact with patients, their families, and my colleagues.


As a regulated healthcare professional (RHP), I adhere to the ethical standards set by the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario (CRTO), including confidentiality, informed consent, competency, and accountability (CRTO, 2024). Governed by the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) and the Respiratory Therapy Act (RTA), these guidelines define my scope of practice and ensure that I always act in my patients' best interests with integrity and professionalism.


A core value for me is advocating for and prioritizing the well-being of patients and their family caregivers. My goal is simple: making sure every child gets the best care possible, no matter their condition. It’s not just about offering medical expertise, it's about listening to families, understanding their concerns, and giving them the support and knowledge, they often need.


The healthcare sphere is constantly changing, so it is important to commit to lifelong learning through education and mentorship to stay up to date with the latest advancements. Though, it’s not just about knowing the technical material, it's also about being accountable, competent and compassionate. Additionally, as professionals, learning also about digital curation is valuable because it allows for the filtering and organization of relevant, evidence-based information, ensuring up-to-date, accurate, and valuable knowledge for oneself, patients, and colleagues.


From Practitioner to Advocate: My Place in the System

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RTs are central members of interprofessional teams that also include physicians, nurses, physical therapists, discharge planners, social workers, child life specialists, and more. Our role extends beyond direct patient care to encompass patient and family education, particularly in managing complex ventilation and airway care at home. We equip families with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide ongoing care and support. Additionally, RT’s play a key role in mentoring students and new staff, contributing to a culture of continuous learning and professional development within the healthcare system.​


References

Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists. (n.d.). Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists.

Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://www.csrt.com


College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (n.d.). College of Respiratory Therapists of

Ontario. Retrieved January 22, 2025, from https://www.crto.on.ca


College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2021). Use of social media by respiratory


Ministry of Health. (n.d.). Ministry of Health Ontario. Retrieved January 26, 2025, from


Rickard, T., & Kitts, E. (2018). The roles, they are a changing: Respiratory therapists as part of

the multidisciplinary, community, primary health care team. Canadian Journal of

Respiratory Therapy, 54(4), Article 29390/cjrt-2018-024. https://doi.org/10.29390/cjrt-

2018-024


Regulated Health Professions Act. (n.d.). Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c.

18. Retrieved January 26, 2025, from https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/91r18


Respiratory Therapy Act. (n.d.). Respiratory Therapy Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c. 39. Retrieved


Vukušić Rukavina, T., Viskić, J., Machala Poplašen, L., Relić, D., Marelić, M., Jokic, D., &

Sedak, K. (2021). Dangers and benefits of social media on e-professionalism of health care

professionals: Scoping review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(11), e25770.


Zaccagnini, M., Bussières, A., Nugus, P., West, A., & Thomas, A. (2024). The scholarly and

practice profile of respiratory therapists in Canada: A cross-sectional survey. Canadian

Journal of Respiratory Therapy, 60, 122–139.https://doi.org/10.29390/001c.122345

 
 
 

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