The slidedeck will either help you as a nurse get the best from twitter, or help you share with colleagues how and why to use twitter. Please download, share and tweet using #nurseuk .

1. The #NurseUK Guide To Using Twitter Listen – Ask – Share Building A Nurse Community

2. Why would nurses use twitter? If they need knowledge on a subject Or they have information to share To meet PREP requirements Maybe to communicate with other nurses (find out more about nurse communities in social media here)

3. Twitter allows nurses to share conversations and information within a community. Within twitter Nurses can also share links to other social media – blogs, youtube, podcasts etc

4. With Twitter you can “follow” anyone, anyone can share and everyone can see each other. Sign up via www.twitter.com

5. You can then add some information about yourself

6. And a brief biography:

7. Then you can start tweeting !

8. And searching for people you want to follow, or a topic that interests you:

9. Who should I follow? This will depend on your interest, as nurses think about your interest, the organisations and bodies that offer us information and support. Is there news that interest you? Search and follow those talking about it, share your views with them; meet and create new contacts and friends.

10. And follow !!

11. Who’ll follow me? If you have or share interesting information you’ll be followed. Being part of a community adds value, no matter how popular, or how many followers you have. Don’t be competitive, just add value.

12. But to really see the whole picture download and use: Or Via www.tweetdeck.com www.hootsuite.com (other tools available)

14. Tweetdeck: Has panels separating conversations and is installed on your computer/smartphone.

15. Hootsuite: Is similar to tweetdeck, but lives on the Internet, so is wherever you’re online. (There are other differences too.)

16. The two tools are very similar and once you can use one you can use the other, so for simplicity we will just look at Tweetdeck. All you need to do is download Tweetdeck, for free, having registered on twitter, then… Open your eyes!

17. You can tweet via tweetdeck, by clicking on compose update:

18. You can search by clicking on the + symbol to add a column: .. this opens a window to search

19. This search adds a column to your Tweetdeck, separating conversations:

20. You can add as many columns as you like: About any subject.

21. Tools like tweetdeck and hootsuite allow nurses to have permanent windows to information. This allows nurses to listen, to ask and to share all at the same time.

22. What information can we share? !ANYTHING !

23. A lot of nursing organisations already have some valuable info on their websites. It just needs signposting in the right direction using #nurseuk to make best use of twitter communities.

24. But all nurses have valuable knowledge to share too…

25. If you see an interesting tweet you can re tweet it - hover over the picture of the tweeter & click retweet: And follow them.

26. Nurses can add links to their tweets to all sorts of other media: websites blogs, youtube, podcasts, forums, portals message boards and so much more …

27. Nurses can not only share information to help our community, but also create it too! Are you doing some research? Working on some CPD? Why not put your findings on a blog? So you can tell the community about it, and we can share it around, for others that will find it useful.

28. How do you create content? Why not create a blog? Here’s my blog, they are free and easy to set up, even I did it! http://agencynurseuk.blogspot.com My next presentation will be on “blogging nurses”, due late July 2011.

29. Twitter is nothing short of a global phenomena, giving us all global, total access to knowledge… … The world is yours.

30. It should be remembered that Twitter is a public forum and should be treated as such. Remember to be professional and confidential at all times. NMC guidance can be found here , this should be understood and followed.

31. Don’t forget that an important part of any communication is listening and the same goes for twitter. Listen to what others are saying and help them out – it isn’t all about talking – it’s about sharing.

32. Anything that you find interesting will be of interest to someone else ... In the #nurseuk community everyone adds value!

33. SO… get tweeting, get all you can from our community… Give what you can to the community, either by sharing content, or creating it. Follow and ask me more @agencynurse Search and enjoy #nurseuk But don’t do nothing!

34. Lets start to… Listen – Ask – Share with Using #nurseuk

35. Thank you for viewing this slide deck By Teresa Chinn An ordinary RN An agency nurse A Blogger &Tweeter 06/2011 http:// www.agencynurseuk.blogspot.com http ://twitter.com/#!/agencynurse If you would like to know more or have this presented in person please contact me @agencynurse