The Association of Registered Nurses of British Columbia is the first 'born digital' nursing association in Canada. As such it does not have to make the transition from traditional messaging systems to digital. What were some of the challenges that we encountered when creating this new communications and social media strategy for the ARNBC? What platforms did we choose to utilize and why? Where do we go from here? What can established and traditional nursing organizations learn from our work?

1. Using Social Media Platforms
to Engage Nurses in the
Development of a New
Nursing Association
Sean Cranbury, Monkeytree Creative
Julie Fraser, RN, BSN, MN, ARNBC
Andrea Burton, Monkeytree Creative
your voice is our strength

3. The Need for an Association

4. Challenges?
• No way of contacting all BC Nurses
• Limited funds – have to be savvy!
• B.C. is geographically dispersed
• Generations X and Y make up approximately 35%
of the nursing profession in Canada
Could the ARNBC be born digital?

5. Yes, we can!
• Build on social media etiquette (Shaffer 2010)
• Recognize common issues for nurses
• Learn from CNA Webinar Series: Pause before you
post! Exploring the Ethics of Social Media,
by Netwon and Guitard (March 2012)
• Reference CRNBC Standard for Social Media

6. Response
• ARNBC recognized the need to adopt and engage
in a broad social media platform in order to reach as
many nurses across the province as possible.
• Developed a broad social media strategy:

7. Methodology
1) Developed a SM strategy
2) Set up Social Media Platforms
3) Sought ‘submissions’ for blog (ongoing)
4) Actively tagged, boosted, bragged, promoted
5) Engaged in conversations on Twitter, Facebook, etc.
6) Continuously seek content, adapt, rework
7) Engage the community (ie, #HCSMCA)

10. www.arnbc.ca/blog

11. Our Learnings
• The nurses who are using our social media platforms are LOVING
them. How do we get more nurses involved?
• How do we use social media at work? ARNBC is helping address
some of the tensions that exist in intergenerational practice
• Many ‘young’ nurses in B.C. have never had an Association to turn to
– they expect a certain amount of digital savvyness
• The social media community is self-policing
• The blog is the glue that holds it all together

12. The Importance of Feedback
• Success isn’t just data points, it’s also real feedback
from real nurses
• Blog comments, emails, voicemail, conversation on
the convention floor
• Direct feedback during the consultations
• Media recognition
• Support and praise from social media leaders

13. Next Steps
1) Develop standards and processes where
necessary
2) Formalize internal requirements/wishes for posting
3) Expand the network
4) Integrate social media and traditional media
5) Adapt to ‘whatever is next’

14. We Track and Adapt

15. Measuring Our Success
• Numbers of ‘signups’ continue to grow, and grow
• Analytics
• Rich and numerous comments on a wide range of blogposts
• Eagerness to ‘contribute’ to the blog by nurses across the province
• Responses to our social media platforms from government, experts
in the field, other healthcare social media groups
• Sponsorship and support for #HCSMCA
• ARNBC was born digital, will grow up digital and will continue to
adapt to changes in the digital world

16. Our Social Media Goal
To encourage the participation of
nurses and honour the uniqueness and
importance of their voices, their
opinions, and their responses to the
experience of being a nurse and
evolving the professional voice of
nursing in British Columbia
yesterday, today and tomorrow.