New Year's day, I had a patient about my age. He asked me personal questions every time I was in the room, like if I was married, if I had kids, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary, lots of people do this. By about noon, he started coming on a lot stronger and started asking me if we could be "special friends". I told him matter of factly that it is against hospital policy and that our relationship was professional only. Then he asked if he could at least take me to Red Lobster. Again I declined the offer and told him that I couldn't see him outside of the hospital because that would be unprofessional. I didn't think that my actions were misleading to this patient at all. I was no different toward him than I was to any other patient, except that I usually don't have to turn down dinner invitations. I discharged him a short time later and he seemed to purposely delay the discharge process. He acted angry and was short with me during the discharge and I figured he would get over it. He then kind of avoided me and nobody actually saw him leave the hospital. I got a bit apprehensive about his actions and when I left the hospital late, not in a group, I asked for a security escort. When I got out of the security vehicle, the patient approached me in the parking lot! He was about 20 feet away and I hopped into my car and locked the doors and started it right away. As soon as my car started, the security guy drove off, leaving me in a dark parking lot in a snow covered vehicle with the person I was trying to protect myself from only a short distance away! I turned on my wipers and started driving even though I could barely see out my windshield and had zero visibility out the other windows of my car. Now, this guy knows what kind of car I drive, too! I will always ask for a security escort when I'm not in a group now and I will make sure I don't walk out distracted, talking on my cell phone, either! I also reported the security guy to management for not ensuring my safety. He had to have seen the man approach me and I had informed him that I had a patient situation that day. This has really frightened me. Has anyone else experienced something like this?
