Social Media Use and Digital Literacy in Relation to Professional Conduct and Clinical Competence of Nursing Students

In recent years, social media has emerged and is used as a powerful tool for communication and learning among nursing students. Along with the rise of modern technology in healthcare, the necessity of digital literacy as advanced tools for patient management, data analysis, and communication be-comes progressive. However, the rapid development also presents significant challenges for nursing students and educators. This research aimed to investigate how social media use and digital literacy influence the development of nursing professionals in terms of their conduct and competency. This study was conducted in one of the private sectarian higher education institutions in Iligan City, which is one of the prominent healthcare education providers in the province of Lanao del Norte. The respondents were 308 nursing students selected through a stratified random sampling method. The re-searcher-made instruments were used to collect data via Google forms distributed using QR codes and links. The statistical analysis utilized were Means, Standard Deviation, Frequencies, Percentages, Pearson Correlation (r) and Multiple Regression Analysis. The result of the study indicates that nursing students actively use social media to gather information, build professional identity and provide camaraderie with fellow nursing students. This study also found that nursing students are good at using digital tools and technology, have strong clinical and collaborative skills. Social media use was also found to be linked with professionalism and clinical competence when nursing students effectively and efficiently find and utilize information online in their studies and practice. It is recommended that nursing students are provided with solid and clear guidelines to maintain high competence and be equipped with knowledge, skills, and attitude. In conclusion, responsible and ethical social media use accompanied by a solid foundation in digital literacy is essential for nursing students to be clinically competent and grow as modern nursing professionals.