Every time you check a bank balance on your phone, track a package, or register for classes, you rely on an information system (IS). These systems turn raw data into timely answers that help organizations serve customers, manage operations, and make informed decisions.

An information system is a coordinated mix of people, processes, data, and technology that produces useful information on demand. If you’re choosing a major or changing careers, IS offers practical work with real business impact. It also opens pathways to numerous roles, from business analyst to systems manager. Keep reading to learn how information systems deliver the right information at the right time, who depends on them, and what that means for your next step.

What is an Information System?

An information system is an integrated set of components that collects, stores, processes, and outputs information to support an organization’s activities and decisions. That integrated idea matters: the value comes from how the pieces work together to transform data into insight and action.

Every effective information system brings together these building blocks:

• Hardware
  Computers, servers, mobile devices, sensors, and peripherals used to capture, store, and deliver information
• Software
  System software (OS, database engines) and application software (ERP, CRM, analytics tools) that execute tasks and present results
• Data and databases
  Structured and unstructured data organized so it can be retrieved, combined, and analyzed
• Networks
  Wired and wireless connections that move data between people, devices, and locations
• Processes
  Agreed steps and rules for how to collect, secure, analyze, and share data
• People
  Stakeholders who design, administer, and use the system: analysts, administrators, managers, developers, and end users

A helpful way to remember the essentials comes from the classic “five components” framing (hardware, software, data, procedures, and people), which you’ll still see in many IS courses.

What is the primary purpose of an information system?

At a high level, information systems connect business needs with technology. More concretely, well-designed systems do the following:

• Capture data from internal applications and external sources, organize it for use and deliver the right data to the right people 
• Process data into information using calculations, sorting, filtering, and summarization
• Enable collaboration across teams via intranets, shared workspaces, and messaging platforms
• Support decisions with analytics and decision support tools that surface trends, forecasts, and recommendations

Types of Information Systems

Below are common categories you’ll encounter in organizations of all sizes. Each serves a distinct purpose, yet many integrate with one another.

Transaction Processing Systems (TPS)

• Purpose: Handle routine, high-volume transactions reliably and accurately (think sales, deposits, shipments)
• Who uses them: Frontline staff, cashiers, service reps, and the systems that interface with customers
• Example: Point of sale (POS) systems in retail, such as the Walmart checkout system, which tracks sales, inventory, and customer purchases in real time

Management Information Systems (MIS)

• Purpose: Summarize operational data into periodic reports managers use for planning and performance tracking
• Who uses them: Line and mid-level managers across operations, finance, HR, and marketing
• Example: SAP ERP used by Coca-Cola to manage logistics, inventory, and production processes while generating performance reports

Decision Support Systems (DSS)

• Purpose: Combine data, models, and interactive analysis for “what if” questions and scenario planning
• Who uses them: Analysts and managers evaluating options and forecasting outcomes
• Example: IBM's Watson Analytics, used in healthcare to analyze patient data and assist doctors in diagnosing illnesses and recommending treatments

Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)

• Purpose: Integrate core functions (finance, procurement, supply chain, manufacturing, HR) into one shared system
• Who uses them: Finance, operations, HR, procurement, and leadership teams
• Example: Oracle NetSuite, used by companies such as Airbnb to manage financials, customer relationships, and human resources

Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRM)

• Purpose: Track and manage customer interactions across marketing, sales, and service to improve retention and revenue
• Who uses them: Sales reps, marketers, account managers, and support teams
• Example: Salesforce CRM, used by companies such as American Express, to manage customer support and improve customer engagement

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

• Purpose: Map, analyze, and visualize location-based data for planning and operations
• Who uses them: Urban planners, utilities, logistics teams, public health agencies, and retailers
• Example: Google Maps is a global information system that analyzes and displays geographically referenced information

Many organizations blend these systems. For instance, transactions flow from TPS into ERP and CRM, then feed BI dashboards that managers use for weekly decisions.

What does an information system consist of? (Putting it together)

To see how parts connect, imagine a mid-size e-commerce brand and how it integrates the following components:

• Hardware and network: Cloud servers host its website; barcode scanners update warehouse inventory; staff use laptops and mobile devices
• Software: An ERP handles orders, inventory, and finances; a CRM manages customer emails and support tickets; a shipping system prints labels and tracks deliveries
• Database layer: Data from orders, returns, and marketing campaigns lives in structured tables that analysts can query
• Processes: Standard procedures govern how data is captured, validated, secured, and archived
• People: Developers maintain integrations, analysts build reports, managers review dashboards to schedule labor and plan promotions

Best Paying Information System Degrees

You can arrive at IS careers through several academic routes. Below are common degrees, the industries they touch, and example roles with national median pay from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Salary outcomes vary by location, experience, and industry; use these as directional benchmarks.

Information System Career Outlook

The broad computer and IT category pays well compared with the economy overall: $105,990 median for the group (May 2024) versus $49,500 across all occupations.

Specific IS-aligned roles show strong demand over the next decade:

• CIS Managers: Projected to grow by 17% from 2023–2033, which is much faster than the average and reflects ongoing digital transformation and cloud adoption
• Information Security Analysts: Projected to grow by 33% over the same period, driven by cybersecurity needs across industries

The bottom line: Organizations rely on information systems to compete, comply, and innovate, which sustains opportunity for professionals who can connect technology with business outcomes.

Where to Build Information Systems Experiences

Pace offers degree pathways that align directly with the roles above:

• BS in Information Systems — Undergraduate foundation in systems design, databases, networks, and business process
• MS in Information Systems — Graduate-level depth in systems design and development, project management, and specialized tracks such as UX, data science, database management, health IS, and security
• BS in Computer Science — Core computing, algorithms, and software foundations for developer and engineering roles
• MS in Computer Science — Advanced topics in algorithms, systems, and modern software development
• MS in Data Science — Statistics, machine learning, and data engineering for analytics and AI-driven roles
• MS in Software Engineering — Architecture, SDLC, quality, and CI/CD for building reliable, scalable software
• BBA in Business Technology — Bridges business strategy and technology for product, operations, and PM roles
• Information Systems MBA — Leadership at the intersection of tech and business, preparing you to direct enterprise initiatives

With these options in mind, explore each program page for curriculum highlights, sample career outcomes, and start terms. If you’d like help narrowing the list, send us a quick message to share a bit about your goals and interests, and we’ll connect you with an advisor to discuss program fit and possible paths. They can help you compare options, think through course planning and timelines, and address common questions about admissions and available resources.

FAQs

What do information systems do?
Information systems collect data, organize it, and deliver the right information to the right people so teams can make decisions, coordinate work, and measure performance. Think of IS as the connective tissue between operations, analytics, and strategy.

What is an example of an information system?
An example of an information system is a CRM that tracks leads, opportunities, and support cases, or an ERP that integrates finance, procurement, inventory, and HR. These systems often feed analytics dashboards used by managers each week. (For location-based work, Geographic Information Systems help map assets and plan routes.)

What is the main purpose of an information system?
The purpose of an information system is to turn raw data into usable information that supports decisions, coordination, and control. The system captures data, processes it, and distributes insights via reports and dashboards so people can act with confidence.

Request Information About IS Degrees

The United States faces a nutritional crisis stemming from a combination of food insecurity, limited access to healthy food, and an unhealthy food supply chain that prioritizes ultra-processed, low-nutrient products, and harmful dietary habits shaped by these conditions. That’s why understanding the full picture of nutrition is so important: It helps build the foundation for a healthier life for individuals and for the public good.

The interest in good nutrition is a growing focus in politics, social media, and public discourse, driving more people to explore careers that promote nutrition as a means to promote wellness, prevent disease, and manage chronic conditions.

Here’s what you need to know about nutrition and dietetics, and which careers are open to you with a nutrition degree.

What Is Culinary Nutrition?

Nutrition is the science of how your body uses food to fuel life and health. It’s about understanding the nutrients you need to grow, get energy, and keep your body working at its best.

Culinary nutrition is about putting that understanding into practice through food preparation and cooking. It is the application of practical culinary knowledge and skills to improve food and nutrition-related health to better support overall health and well-being.

When nutritional balance is off—when we don’t get the right nutrients in the right amounts—our health can suffer. Malnutrition is about getting too little or too much of certain nutrients, which poses serious risks for people of all ages.

Culinary nutrition goes beyond making sure people eat well, also focusing on how food can act as medicine to help prevent and manage chronic conditions.

What Is Food As Medicine?

Food as medicine is a fast-growing focus in the nutrition field that positions food as a powerful tool for promoting health and supporting healing. As a movement, food as medicine encourages practices, education, and resources that help people source and prepare foods that meet their individual nutritional needs.

The U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion identifies four components of what it refers to as Food Is Medicine Interventions:

1. Support that increases access to nutritious food and provides guidance on making healthy food choices.
2. Health professionals who connect individuals with healthy food as part of treating diet-related health conditions.
3. Provision of food that aligns with a person’s diet-related needs, cultural preferences, age, developmental abilities, and economic resources.
4. Nutrition education and hands-on skill-building that encourage sustainable behavior change.

Food as medicine uses nutrition as a cornerstone of public health. It offers an effective, research-supported approach to addressing chronic disease, supporting healthy aging, and improving wellness across diverse communities. Studies in integrative and functional nutrition show that strong nutrition practices play a key role in injury prevention, mental and digestive health, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and more.

Trained nutritionists and dietitians are essential to this work. They help educate the public, provide individualized care, teach cooking and food-preparation skills, and support individuals and communities in accessing the nutrition resources they need.

Nutritionists vs Dietitians

Although the terms are often used interchangeably, “nutritionist” and “dietitian” are not the same. Essentially, while you can think of every dietitian as a nutritionist, not every nutritionist is a dietitian.

Registered Dietitian-Nutritionists (RDNs)

To become a registered dietitian-nutritionist, you must:

• Earn a master’s degree from a nutrition, public health, clinical nutrition program, or similar program.
• Ensure that either your bachelor’s of science or master’s of science degree is from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND),
• Complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice internship, which may take place in a hospital, community clinic, eating-disorder program, or similar setting.
• Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) national exam.

After passing the exam, you can earn the Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist (RDN) credential, provided that you pay the required registration fees, complete continuing education requirements, and meet any additional state licensure or certification standards.

Nutritionists

The title “nutritionist” is not regulated at the federal level, and each state defines it differently.

• In some states, anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, regardless of education or training.
• In others, nutritionists must meet specific requirements, such as completing a master’s degree in nutrition.

In New York, you may work as a nutritionist without being licensed. However, you cannot use the protected titles Dietitian, Registered Dietitian, or Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist unless you hold the appropriate credential. Your scope of practice is also more limited: Nutritionists may not provide medical nutrition therapy, diagnose or treat conditions, or work in clinical settings.

As healthcare continues to emphasize prevention, licensed nutritionists and registered dietitians help reduce the burden of chronic disease through targeted, nutrition-centered care and education. RDNs play a particularly essential role, as they are trained to evaluate scientific evidence, communicate accurate and accessible nutrition guidance, and provide research-based recommendations.

What’s the Difference Between Nutrition and Food Science?

Nutrition and food science are closely connected in that they both deal with what we eat and how it impacts our lives, but they focus on different parts of the process.

Nutrition looks at what food does inside the body. It’s about the nutrients in what we eat, how the body uses them, and how they impact our health. Coursework covers a range of science and health disciplines, such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, dietetics, public health, and nutritional counseling. For those interested in helping people feel better, live longer, and prevent disease through smarter eating, this could be your ideal profession.

Food science, on the other hand, is all about what happens before the food hits your plate. It’s the study of how we process, preserve, and keep food safe. Think chemistry, microbiology, and food engineering. If you’re curious about how to make food last longer, taste better, or meet safety standards, food science is an area of study in which you’ll likely thrive.

Though both fields seek to improve lives through food, the tools and goals are different. While food science is about improving food products, nutrition is more about improving health and wellness through food.

How to Pursue a Career in Nutrition

A career in nutrition or dietetics offers the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. But to build the required knowledge and skills, you’ll need the right combination of training and experience.

Earn Your Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics

If you’re passionate about promoting health, preventing disease, and supporting overall wellness, earning your degree in this field provides a direct path from learning the essentials to directly helping individuals improve their quality of life through informed dietary choices and sustainable habits.

In nutrition and dietetics programs, you’ll develop valuable, transferable skills, including:

• A scientific understanding of how food affects the body
• The ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively
• Analytical skills to assess nutritional needs and make evidence-based recommendations
• Problem-solving abilities to design and adjust personalized nutrition plans
• Preparing for emerging health trends, such as telehealth, food as medicine, and chronic disease management

Seek Experience in Teaching Kitchens

Teaching kitchens provide hands-on learning spaces where you can build practical culinary skills while deepening your understanding of evidence-based nutrition. In these environments, you cook with ingredients and techniques that support health and wellness, applying the “food as medicine” philosophy to real-life meal planning and preparation.

These spaces serve as hubs for education, research, and engagement. Interactive demonstrations and guided activities show how nutrition influences disease prevention and overall well-being. Coursework often highlights functional foods, integrative nutrition, cultural food traditions, sustainability, and health equity, preparing you to support behavior change in clinical, community, and public health settings.

Teaching kitchens also connect you with the broader community. Through outreach programs, you learn how to help individuals make informed food choices, address food insecurity, and experience the impact of nutrition on daily health. This work builds your skills as well as a strong sense of purpose, connection, and shared wellness.

Explore Your Career Opportunities

Working with skilled faculty and researchers enables you to build a professional network and explore career opportunities in nutrition across a wide range of settings: clinical, corporate, educational, and beyond. Whether working directly with patients or contributing to broader public health initiatives, you can find rewarding careers that enable you to support healthier individuals and communities.

Some of the most common environments for nutrition professionals are:

• Clinical settings
  • Hospitals (medical, surgical, and outpatient services)
  • Private practices
  • Wellness centers and athletic clubs
• Consulting roles
  • Professional sports organizations
  • Corporations and restaurants
  • Government agencies
• Nonclinical settings
  • Health and wellness media (digital and print)
  • Food industry leaders (e.g., Kellogg's, General Mills)
  • University and industry-based research
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Higher education
  • Public health program development and implementation

Top Careers in Nutrition

Specific qualifications and salaries vary by location and employer. The information below is compiled from multiple sources, including Glassdoor and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the New York Metro area.

Nutritionist

Nutritionists specialize in supporting healthy eating and assisting others in managing chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or digestive disorders through medical nutrition therapy. Licensed nutritionists are authorized to evaluate dietary needs, administer nutritional counseling, and create meal plans. Non-licensed nutritionists are more limited to non-medical settings, but can offer similar services depending on state laws.

• Qualifications: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in nutrition; state licensure may be required
• Median Annual Salary: $71,000
• Employers: Physician offices, integrative health centers

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

RDNs are fully qualified to assess nutritional needs, develop meal plans, and provide dietary counseling in clinical or private settings. These skilled professionals help advance health and address pressing nutrition-related challenges in diverse populations. RDNs need to maintain certification through continuing professional education (CPEUs).

• Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in nutrition or dietetics, completion of an accredited supervised practice program, and passing the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam
• Median Annual Salary: $88,000
• Employers: Hospitals, clinics, schools, long-term care facilities, private practices

Public Health Nutritionist

A nutritionist who specializes in working with local communities or governments. They design and implement community-based programs that improve nutrition and reduce health concerns.

• Qualifications: Degree in nutrition, public health, or a related field; RDN or Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) may be preferred
• Median Annual Salary: $102,000
• Employers: Local and state health departments, nonprofit organizations, government agencies

Sports Nutritionist

Nutritionists who work directly with athletes, colleges, or sports organizations. They support athletic performance and recovery by tailoring nutrition plans to athletes' specific training and competition needs.

• Qualifications: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in nutrition, exercise science, exercise kinesiology, or a related field; RDN with CSSD (Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics) preferred
• Median Annual Salary: $88,000
• Employers: Professional sports teams, universities, fitness centers, private consulting

Food Scientist or Technologist

Individuals with a food science background can work as research scientists, product developers, or technologists. Their main role is to develop new food products, enhance nutritional content, and ensure safety in production.

• Qualifications: Bachelor’s or master’s in food science, nutrition, or a related discipline
• Median Annual Salary: $126,000
• Employers: Food and beverage companies, research labs, government agencies (e.g., FDA, USDA)

Nutrition Educator

A nutritionist with a preference for teaching can find work as an instructor or educator. There are many opportunities to teach nutrition principles in schools, communities, or workplace wellness initiatives. Educators can also develop educational materials or curricula for courses or training programs.

• Qualifications: Degree in nutrition, health education, or related field; teaching or public speaking experience helpful
• Median Annual Salary: $66,000
• Employers: K-12 schools, community health organizations, corporate wellness teams

Corporate Wellness Consultant

Nutritionists who want to work directly with companies or enterprises can do so as a wellness consultant. These consultants help businesses create healthier workplace cultures through nutrition education and wellness initiatives.

• Qualifications: Degree in nutrition, health promotion, or related field; RDN or wellness certification may be preferred
• Median Annual Salary: $93,000
• Employers: Corporations, insurance companies, wellness firms

Health Coach

Nutritionists who prefer to work one-on-one can start their own business as a health coach. Health coaches guide their clients through behavior change strategies to meet health goals related to diet, fitness, or lifestyle.

• Qualifications: Certification through a health coaching program; background in nutrition or health science recommended
• Median Annual Salary: $63,000
• Employers: Private practice, wellness centers, telehealth platforms, corporate wellness programs

Food Service Manager

Those who have the skills and talent to oversee larger food service providers can work their way to being a food service manager. They apply their professional knowledge and organizational skills to manage food operations in institutional settings, ensuring compliance with nutrition and food safety standards.

• Qualifications: Degree in nutrition, hospitality, or food service management; ServSafe certification often required
• Median Annual Salary: $70,000
• Employers: Hospitals, schools, correctional facilities, large-scale food service providers

Dietitian Researcher or Academic

Licensed nutritionists and dietitians with a passion for higher education can work as researchers or educators at colleges and universities. These professionals study the impact of nutrition on health outcomes or teach the next generation of nutritionists.

• Qualifications: Master’s or doctoral degree in nutrition, dietetics, or related field
• Median Annual Salary: $110,000
• Employers: Universities, government research agencies, think tanks, nonprofit research institutions

Health Writer

Nutritionists who want to reach as large an audience as possible can utilize their knowledge as health writers. Whether producing content for print or digital media, health writers will write on a wide range of food-related topics, such as wellness, diet trends, and nutrition science.

• Qualifications: Background in nutrition and strong writing skills; degrees in journalism or communications are a plus
• Median Annual Salary: $99,000
• Employers: Magazines, health websites, nutrition blogs, publishing companies

Culinary Nutritionist

Nutritionists who love to cook can work as culinary nutritionists. These skilled chefs utilize both culinary and nutrition knowledge to plan and prepare balanced meals that meet nutritional standards, often in collaboration with dietitians or wellness teams.

• Qualifications: Culinary training; nutrition coursework or certification preferred
• Median Annual Salary: $66,000
• Employers: Health-focused restaurants, hospitals, wellness retreats, private residences

Caterer

Healthy and nutritional meals are just as important at events as at home. Caterers who specialize in nutrition can market their business as being able to deliver nutritious menus for events such as weddings, corporate gatherings, and celebrations.

• Qualifications: Culinary background and knowledge of nutrition; business management experience is helpful
• Median Annual Salary: $70,000
• Employers: Self-employed, catering companies, event venues

Naturopathic Doctor

A primary care provider who uses nutrition as part of a holistic approach to health. Naturopathic doctors supplement their practice with dietary advice and often incorporate other natural-based remedies such as supplements, botanical medicines, and massage therapy.

• Qualifications: Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) degree from an accredited program; licensure varies by state
• Median Average Salary: $182,000
• Employers: Private practice, integrative health centers, wellness clinics

Ready to turn your interest in health and wellness into a career that gets results? Whether you see yourself in clinical care, community outreach, food innovation, or education, an advanced degree in Pace’s Nutrition and Dietetics program can get you there.

Our ND program is among the few ACEND-accredited graduate programs in the U.S. with culinary nutrition education embedded at its core. The program’s combined degree pathways reduce the time and cost associated with becoming an RDN and set students up for success with practical, real-world skills to promote wellness and strengthen community connections

To learn more about program details, career paths, or how to get started, simply request more information, and we’ll be in touch soon.

Healthcare is a profession rooted in trust, compassion, and advocacy. Patients place their well-being and dignity in the hands of healthcare professionals with the expectation that they will be treated respectfully and competently. However, a recent social media video posted on Labor Day by healthcare professions of a Santa Barbara, California-based outpatient clinic, illustrates a troubling lapse in professionalism.

In the video, staff members are shown reacting with exaggerated disgust to lubricant stains left on sanitary paper after internal examinations, accompanied by comments about patients “leaving gifts.” While intended as humor, this behavior reveals a deeper issue: the persistence of incivility and unprofessionalism in healthcare. Such conduct isn’t only juvenile and inappropriate on the surface, but it also carries significant implications for patient trust, healthcare outcomes, and the integrity of the nursing profession.

The impact of incivility in healthcare reveals failures in professional education and training that allow such behavior to persist. It underscores the need for systemic solutions, including explicit instruction on professionalism, responsible use of social media, and a renewed commitment to compassion in practice.

Consequences of incivility in healthcare

Incivility, broadly defined as rude or disrespectful behavior that violates norms of respect, pervades healthcare settings. Incivility can occur among colleagues, between providers and patients, and even, as demonstrated in this case, through social media platforms where professional boundaries are blurred. When incivility manifests publicly, its consequences are magnified, as the damage extends beyond individual interactions to the broader perception of healthcare as a profession.

Mocking patients on social media erodes trust, discourages individuals from seeking timely medical care, and undermines the effectiveness of the provider–patient relationship. Patients may feel unsafe, judged, or ashamed, leading them to disengage from preventive care, withhold important information, or resist seeking treatment altogether. Patient withdrawal and avoidance of care compromise individual health and place significant strain on public health systems that rely on early detection and preventive care.

Incivility undermines the therapeutic relationship at the heart of healthcare. When patients perceive providers as dismissive or disrespectful, the relational bond that fosters healing, adherence, and open communication is fractured. To reduce patient experiences to fodder for ridicule, such as the events that transpired at the healthcare clinic in Santa Barbara, California, is to betray the very essence of professional responsibility.

Supporting patients with dignity and compassion

A particularly troubling aspect of the clinic video is healthcare professionals reacting with disgust to bodily fluids and lubricant left after an internal exam, which demonstrates a betrayal of women. Nurses and healthcare professionals have an ethical obligation to advocate for all patients, ensuring dignity, equity, and compassionate care. Patients who entrust their care to professionals expect to be supported, not shamed. When providers mock normal physiological responses, it reinforces damaging cycles of body shaming and embarrassment. Ridiculing patients for leaving expected residue demonstrates not only a lack of compassion but also a lapse in basic clinical practice.

In addition, the video posted to TikTok potentially highlights an additional lapse in quality care. Proper clinical practice suggests that patients be offered a tissue or towel to clean themselves after an exam or assistance by the examiner when appropriate. Failing to provide these basic accommodations not only compromises patient comfort and dignity but also represents a tangible deficiency in care standards.

The role of professional education and training

The behavior displayed in the video underscores the urgent responsibility of nursing education to reinforce the humanitarian role of the profession. Patients must be treated with dignity and respect while in the office or clinic, and their experiences must remain confidential, respectful, and professional long after they leave.

Nursing curricula must move beyond isolated lessons on professionalism and instead embed civility, compassion, and respect as threads woven consistently throughout the progression of coursework and clinical training. Professionalism isn’t an innate trait but a skill set that must be intentionally taught, modeled, and reinforced at every stage of education.

The role of social media in healthcare incivility

Although social media can serve as a powerful tool to advance healthcare education and advocacy, it also poses risks when misused. Instances of unprofessional conduct on social media are increasingly widespread and concerning. Examples of unprofessional conduct by healthcare professionals include nurses live-streaming medication administration, staff making jokes about patient conditions, and, as illustrated in the Santa Barbara clinic’s TikTok, disparaging patients after they’ve left the examination room.

Each of these breaches of professional conduct represents a significant violation of ethical and professional obligations. These instances of unprofessional conduct emphasize the urgent need for structured social media training in healthcare education. Professionals must be equipped to understand both the power and the peril of digital platforms, with clear guidelines on ethical engagement.

Ending incivility in healthcare

Addressing incivility in healthcare requires a collective action to eliminate harmful behaviors and foster a culture grounded in professionalism and respect. The nursing profession must lead this effort—nurses’ conduct directly affects patient outcomes, colleague well-being, the integrity of healthcare institutions, and public trust. Advancing the imperative of civility and professionalism requires the following steps:

• Nursing faculty must integrate explicit education on professionalism and civility into curricula. Nursing and healthcare training must extend beyond technical competencies to include structured instruction, case studies, and simulations that demonstrate the consequences of incivility and the value of respectful, compassionate care.
• Healthcare organizations must implement robust systems of accountability to ensure that unprofessional behavior is identified and addressed promptly. Healthcare organizations should implement clear mechanisms for reporting, investigating, and handling unprofessional behavior, ensuring that civility is treated as a professional standard, not an option.
• Social media training must be embedded into nursing curricula, emphasizing both the opportunities and risks of digital platforms in healthcare. When used responsibly, social media can be a powerful tool for education, advocacy, and public health promotion. However, unprofessional use of social media, particularly when referencing patients as seen in the TikTok video created by staff at the Santa Barbara clinic, poses a substantial risk to patient confidentiality, erodes public trust, and compromises professional credibility. In this case, the uncivil and unethical behavior captured on video led to the termination of staff, underscoring that online misconduct carries not only ethical and professional repercussions but also immediate employment consequences. Social media education and training should make clear that professional and ethical standards extend beyond the clinical setting into all online interactions.
• Nurse educators and nurse leaders must model civility, consistently reinforce professional standards, and recognize individuals and teams who demonstrate respectful behavior. Prompt and decisive action against incidents of incivility is essential to protect patient dignity, maintain trust, and uphold the professional integrity of nursing.

A call to action

The TikTok posted over Labor Day weekend by the healthcare staff in Santa Barbara serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address incivility and unprofessionalism in healthcare. Although presented as humor, the video displayed behavior that was far from harmless. The unprofessional and uncivil conduct of the staff depicted in the video eroded patient trust, violated patient dignity, and highlighted systemic gaps in professional education and training.

A unified call to action is needed to establish and enforce policies that protect patient dignity and privacy. Nursing academia, healthcare organizational leadership, and professional nursing organizations must collectively take stronger measures to confront the pervasive threat of incivility and unprofessional conduct in healthcare. Failure to address these unethical behaviors undermines patient trust, jeopardizes patient outcomes, and endangers the credibility of the nursing profession

Michele Lopez, DHED, RN, MA, CNE, CHES, CDE is Assistant Professor-Nursing, Pace University, Pleasantville, NY.

References

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Buchanan C. TikTok video showing Santa Barbara clinic staff mocking patients stirs anger. Los Angeles Times. September 3, 2025.

Cao H, Song Y, Wu Y, et al. What is nursing professionalism? A concept analysis. BMC Nurs. 2023;22(1):34. doi:10.1186/s12912-022-01161-0

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Papinaho O, Häggman-Laitila A, Kangasniemi M. Unprofessional conduct by nurses: A document analysis of disciplinary decisions. Nurs Ethics. 2022;29(1):131-44. doi:10.1177/09697330211015289

Patient Safety Network. Disruptive and unprofessional behavior. March 15, 2025.

van der Boon RMA, Camm AJ, Aguiar C, et al. Risks and benefits of sharing patient information on social media: A digital dilemma. Eur Heart J Digit Health. 2024;5(3):199-207. doi:10.1093/ehjdh/ztae009

Wells SK. Do’s and don’ts of social media use for nursing professionals. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. February 19, 2024.

Originally published on American Nurse Official Journal on September 9, 2025.

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Olivia Vella

Class of 2026
Art, BA
Communication and Media Studies, BA

How did you become interested in pursuing a dual major in Art and Communication and Media Studies?

I was always interested in exploring the intersection between creation and technology, often drawing inspiration from growing up in a digital age. Exploring different mediums has allowed me to create projects that combine various elements like video, photography, graphic design, and animation. My studies of communication have assisted me in creating a language within my art that is all my own. Through visual storytelling, I have been able to create worlds that blend artistic skills and storytelling with the increasingly endless possibilities of technology.

Why did you choose to attend Pace?

I grew up in Brooklyn and knew that I wanted to stay local for college. Pace gave me flexibility in that I could be a commuter student while still being supported as a member of the community, whether through the many student organizations or all the amazing student-led events. Being a student at Pace has allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and set goals for myself beyond what I thought I could achieve.

Tell us more about your internship at Madison Square Garden. What is your role and how has your work been meaningful to you?

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I am a motion graphics student associate at Madison Square Garden Sports. In this role, I help support the Motion Graphics team by making graphics for all MSG sporting events including the Rangers, Knicks, and Westchester Knicks. I got into graphic production through coursework at Pace and working with Professor Jillian McDonald, MFA. With motion graphics, I've combined my passions for graphic design, animation, and storytelling into a single role.

My favorite part of being a motion graphic designer at Madison Square Garden is seeing how much our graphics enhance the game's energy and atmosphere, especially during moments when our teams face challenges. It's incredible to see something you created on a Jumbotron played for 20,000 people. The graphics are just as vital to the game as the game itself!

What other internships have you been engaged in as a student?

This past summer, I worked as a Pace community impact intern at the Downtown Community Television Center (DCTV) in Chinatown, a non-profit media art center helping aspiring filmmakers create and learn about documentary filmmaking. Working at a non-profit was such a rewarding experience and informed me a lot about the kind of work I want to continue to do and the career I hope to have.

I credit my classes with helping me build my artistic style and create projects for my portfolio that helped me land my internship at Madison Square Garden.

What faculty members have been instrumental in your academic journey?

My experience with the Art Department at Pace, both students and faculty, has been truly inspiring and impactful to my creative and professional journey. Through my classes, I have been able to explore many different artistic mediums through the wide variety of subjects offered. I certainly credit these classes with helping me build my artistic style and create projects for my portfolio that helped me land my internship at Madison Square Garden.

In my junior year at Pace, I had the opportunity to work closely with Professor Jillian McDonald, MFA through the Amelia A. Gould Undergraduate Research Assistantship. Through the assistantship, I helped Professor McDonald create animation and video elements for her video artworks, including Total Eclipse and the Heart, which is about a solar eclipse that gets stuck in a glitch, and characters dissolve into the landscape while the natural world looks on. The assistantship helped me explore 2D and 3D animation and artificial intelligence. Working with Professor McDonald has been one of the highlights of my academic career; not only has she been an amazing instructor, but a mentor in both my academic and professional journey. Her guidance and encouragement are something I will always be grateful for.

What would you like to do upon graduation/what are your career goals?

Upon graduation, I hope to find a job within the entertainment industry that allows me to continue to combine my love of creating art with storytelling.

What advice, if any, would you like to give to our current students?

Everyone is on their own journey and path. It's so easy to compare yourself to others but it's important to never stop believing in yourself. Small wins are still wins, so celebrate every achievement and don’t be afraid to reach out when things get challenging. Trust yourself and your abilities as a student and professional.

An exploration of uneasy spaces and incongruent identity shaped by dislocation and lived experience

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Pace University Art Gallery is pleased to present Summer Remembers Winter, a solo exhibition by painter Siobhan McBride. The exhibition explores disjointed spaces, memory, and experiences shaped by dislocation and opens for viewing on Saturday, February 14 with a free public reception on Thursday, February 19, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

In Summer Remembers Winter, McBride unveils a new body of work that deepens her longstanding investigation of disjointed spaces that are, in the artist’s words, “prickly with static.” Her layered, patchwork scenes echo her lived experience as a Korean-born, U.S.-raised adoptee and reflect the complexities of an identity shaped by dislocation and the transformative impact of her recent return journeys to her country of birth.

McBride begins her process by photographing everyday environments, later reinterpreting these source images through gouache, paint markers, and colored pencil. The resulting works move beyond representations of constructed spaces to capture the emotional volatility of attempting—and often failing—to navigate them.

McBride is a Professor of Art at Borough of Manhattan Community College–CUNY. She has received numerous grants and residencies, including awards from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, Lighthouse Works, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Workspace Program, PSC–CUNY Research Fund, Yaddo, Marble House Project, Jentel, Vermont Studio Center, the Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program, the Sam and Adele Golden Artist Residency, and Horanggasy Creative Studio in Gwangju, Korea.

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Her work has been exhibited widely at venues such as Long Story Short NYC, NurtureArt, Standard Space, the Roswell Museum and Art Center, the Zillman Art Museum, and Horangassy’s Glass Polygon in Gwangju, and has been reviewed in publications including Hyperallergic and Two Coats of Paint.

Summer Remembers Winter, which remains on view through Saturday, March 21, 2026, also includes an artist talk with McBride on Thursday, March 5, at 2:00 p.m. The gallery is located at 41 Park Row in Lower Manhattan. All exhibitions and events are free and open to the public. The gallery is open for drop-in viewing Tuesday–Saturday from 12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m., with extended hours on Thursdays until 7:00 p.m. Please check the gallery’s Instagram for updates to hours and holiday closures.

About the Pace University Art Gallery

Founded with the conviction that art is integral to society, the Pace University Art Gallery is a creative laboratory and exhibition space that supports innovation and exploration for both artists and viewers. Open to students, staff, and faculty from across the Pace campuses and, equally, to the Lower Manhattan community and visitors from around the world, the Art Gallery encourages personal investigation and critical dialogue via thought-provoking contemporary art exhibits and public programming. Enhancing the Art Department’s Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts programs, the Art Gallery offers students real-world opportunities to exhibit their own art and to work directly with professional artists to install and promote exhibitions. All exhibits and events are free and open to the public.

About Dyson College of Arts and Science

Pace University’s liberal arts college, Dyson College, offers more than 50 programs, spanning the arts and humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and pre-professional programs (including pre-medicine, pre-veterinary, and pre-law), as well as many courses that fulfill core curriculum requirements. The College offers access to numerous opportunities for internships, cooperative education and other hands-on learning experiences that complement in-class learning in preparing graduates for career and graduate/professional education choices.

About Pace University

Founded in 1906 and celebrating 120 years of preparing students for success in 2026, Pace University pairs real-life learning with strong academics to launch meaningful careers. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace serves 13,600 students across a range of bachelor, master, and doctoral programs through the College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, Sands College of Performing Arts, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.