Recently I received a package from my parents. Inside the box I found a lot of great things, money, food, mail and a newspaper clipping with this writing.

I unfolded the article and read the date, 6 July 2010. I can only assume it sat on the shelf for over a month until there were enough things my father wanted to send me, when he also found that article and tossed it in. Now the article wasn't anything to special, just something he read that he thought I might like. Have you ever done this? Perhaps you aren't the type to cut articles, but have you ever had a friend send you an article or had someone recommend you look for an article they think you would like?

We like sharing things that we like, think are important, or might be useful for other people. Every time people hear the word social media they assume it is a new term, I've been trying to say it just happens in a new way.

Why do we need a new way? There are a ton of things that can go wrong with the old way, and there are many factors that slow the process down:

• Hardcopies can go easily missing ( the book is misplaced, paper is misfiled, etc)
• You forget to pass it along
• The clipping gets damaged
• You don't see the person for months
• It takes months to finish a book, and maybe years before you want to recommend it to an individual

Technology is simply creating more forms of media and new ways to share what you are taking in. From facebook apps to entire social networking sites that allow you to share what books you are reading. Every webpage can have buttons to share anything (journal articles, videos, technology products, etc) that allow you to pass them on to specific friends (by email) or recommend it to anyone one of your friends (facebook) or followers (twitter).

Nurses need to get used to this change in media, even though it may seem a bit overwhelming. If we don't start to understand how these tools can be used we can't understand how they make our work easier, faster and less demanding. Framing social media as to confusing, 'not for me' or too much work is short sighted and prevents progress. Not everyone could drive a car just because Henry Ford started making more of them. Each individual has to take responsibility for learning how new tools can be useful for them, either that or stop complaining when everyone goes speeding past their horse and buggy.