What do you think about dating your coworkers?

[BGSUstudent]

I was just curous what everyone thinks about dating a coworker. I'm not interested in doing it because I have a steady boyfriend. Where I work several people are married to each other. There have also been some big breakups where they no longer speak to one another and is now affecting the delivery of quality care of our pts.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Not Me, No Way, Not a chance

Besides my wife would kill me slowly and exquisitely painfully

and she would destroy my golf clubs

[aurora_borealis]

Not Me, No Way, Not a chance

Besides my wife would kill me slowly and exquisitely painfully

and she would destroy my golf clubs

As she systematically uses every club to beat you with and then claims it was "an accident."

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

She would get me while asleep and Super glue me

so when I woke up I would be completely helpless

Beware of short petite menopausal redheads

[FNimuaeMae]

When I was a nursing student working as a CNA at a NH, I was dating a coworker. It was fine, as we remained professional at work. But then I graduated and became an RN working per diem at that same NH, and became his supervisor. Now even that was fine as we got along great and still do to this day despite not being together anymore. But there was a night where it was just him, a new orient and I working the unit and the new orient turned him in for being verbally and physically abusive to a patient, which was totally untrue. The new orient was just there causing as much trouble as she could... We almost felt like she was a plant from management to stir things up. But anyways, I vouched for him, and because we were involved it wasn't really looked upon in a good light, even though you know these things have to be investigated anyways despite all.

The moral of the story is that it can make a messy situation even messier in the long run being involved with a coworker. The new orient got fired for false accusations and causing trouble, my CNA BF at the time and I eventually broke up but remain friends, and I have't dated a coworker since.:)

Missy

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Different depts or different shifts, i'm ok with it. As long as it doesn't become workplace gossip.

I agree different departments, different shifts is an excellent idea.

But we have no control over whether or not anything we do in our private lives becomes workplace gossip. People are going to gossip regardless. I had my spouse's and my picture on my locker for a couple of years before he started working there. I never told a soul that he had started working there, but within days wherever I went it was "I met your 'friend'". Gossip is sometimes out of our control. Who cares anyway. :)

[kimmicoobug]

I would date a co-worker...Maybe not in the same unit though, or heck, even the same field. Gossip doesn't bug me. I have always been gossiped about by someone, and it is like water down my back.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I worked with my husband for 10 years in the same unit, traveled with him (also in the same unit) and am about to start a job in a new city also with my husband in the same unit. The only problem I've ever had was that his former lovers sometimes didn't handle it well -- and that won't be a problem here!

[KMSRN]

Since we spend so much time at work it is hard to say never date anyone from work. There may be time when it is acceptable. However my general rule is: Don't sh** where you eat.

[OC_An Khe]

If someone fool around at work, eventually one becomes the fool

[melly]

So far we've been together 9 years, married 5. :)

As long as you are professional about it, I don't see that there should be a problem.

[BadBird, BSN, RN]

I think it is a BAD IDEA, problems come from that, pt. care suffers, etc.... I have worked with nurses that did date at the workplace, they took longer lunch and breaks to spend time with the SO, abused the smoking breaks too. Pissed off the regular staff and it turned ugly when they broke up.

[RNinProgress]

I had a relationship with a fellow student in nursing school. It wasn't a big deal for us, but many of our classmates had issues with it. I can only imagine how coworkers would talk if that had happened on the job! When we ended our relationship, we remained friends but it was weird for awhile. I do think dating other nurses is good, as you have someone who understands your career and can empathize, but I agree with the other posters that it should be someone in a different unit.