NERS NEWS – Surabaya, April 16, 2026 – The Faculty of Nursing at Universitas Airlangga held the second day of its Guest Lecture titled “From Image to Influence” in a hybrid format, allowing participation from nursing students as well as the general public. This event served as an open learning platform to understand the importance of nursing professionalism in the digital era.
The event began with high enthusiasm from participants attending both offline and online. It featured Faustino Jerome G. Babate, Ph.D., MBA, RN, LCLP, an academic from Australia of Filipino diaspora, as the main speaker. In his presentation, he emphasized that a nurse’s professional identity is formed as early as during their education, including attitudes, behavior, and appearance that reflect nursing values.
Furthermore, the speaker explained that social media is no longer merely a personal space but has evolved into a professional platform that significantly shapes one’s self-image. Platforms such as LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok can be utilized to build personal branding, share health education, and enhance visibility and credibility as healthcare professionals. However, he also reminded participants that a large number of followers does not necessarily reflect authority, highlighting the importance of maintaining quality and integrity in every shared content.
In addition, ethical aspects of social media use were a major focus. The speaker stressed the importance of maintaining patient confidentiality, avoiding the spread of invalid information, and setting clear boundaries between personal and professional life, especially when wearing professional attributes. Mistakes in social media use can have long-term impacts on reputation and public trust, making caution and responsibility essential in all digital activities.
This activity was organized as part of the Faculty of Nursing Unair’s effort to equip students with additional competencies beyond clinical skills, particularly in facing the challenges of the digital era. Through its hybrid system, the event also provided broader access for the general public to participate and benefit from the material presented.
Through this event, it is expected that nursing students will be able to build a strong professional identity from an early stage, use social media wisely, and become agents of change in disseminating accurate and responsible health information. This activity also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) by providing inclusive access to learning.
Author: Fadilatul Azzahra
Editor: Raffa Nadiya Primatiana (Airlangga Nursing Journalist)
