Misinformation During COVID: How Should Nurse Practitioners Respond?

Misinformation has been plaguing health care for centuries. The rise of social media has allowed misinformation to flourish and spread at unprecedented rates. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for nurse practitioners to understand misinformation and methods to address this issue. Professional medical organizations have called on social media companies to quell the spread of misinformation. Research on how to best address antivaccine misinformation and other forms of misinformation can help nurse practitioners address misinformation on social media and at the bedside. By leveraging the patient–provider relationship, nurse practitioners can combat misinformation one-on-one in the practice setting.