Would You Marry or Date a Patient or An Ex-Patient of Yours

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Trauma and Psychiatry.

I have known of a colleague who fell in love with a patient and eventually had a child with him. My question is, would you marry one of your "fabulous" or "charming" patients? I also know a Unit Secretary who married an alcoholic patient whom she met on the Psychiatric Unit she works on.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

I think it's in poor taste and unprofessional.

It's possibly taking advantage of a patient depending

on the situation.

Not that I haven't looked. Seen many a gorgeous stripper

come thru my ER... "pole" injuries :lol2:

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

It is very unethical to become romantically involved with a patient. Most places have strong rules against it.

As for the psychiatric patient, that secretary should have been fired.

Can you tell I have strong feelings about this??

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Absolutely not. It is extremely unprofessional and if I'm not mistaken frowned upon by the BON.

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Now say you cared for someone in an emergency room, and months later met them in a bar. Would it be the same situation, or different because you didn't "hook up" because of your nurse/patient relationship? I am married and am not asking for myself, just curious about different types of situations.

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Hell nooooo, ewwww. I don't understand how someone can be attracted to a sick person who wears a gown/ there's nothing attractive period. Physical appearance is the first thing that attracts humans, and then conversation begins.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

it's alot different if you meet them again, months later than if you get involved while the person is a patient...

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

I know a girl (a nurse) who works in corrections. She's dated several of the guys who've been for various things. I think it's just plain stupid.:down:

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

Would I marry or date a patient or ex-patient??

No way! For one thing....my husband would get very angry with me!!!

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

I shall now bang my head on my desk!

:sstrs:

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Specializes in Mental Health, Medical Research, Periop.

Me personally, no - 1. I'm married and 2. Ive spent majority of my career working with schizophrenics BUT I have a friend who is married to an ex patient (6 years now). He was in a motorcycle accident and she works in rehab (how they met). He noticed her (months later) at a nightclub, asked her out - she was reluctant but gave him her number and here it is 6 yrs and 2 kids later. sooo.......

But I do believe it is inappropriate to ask a patient out (or even an ex patient) IMO. You can't control if a patient/ex-patient asks you out, but you can control your answer. So if it's a patient the answer should always be no, if it's an ex-patient, well.... as an adult you have to decide what is appropriate. I personally couldn't see myself doing it. JMO.

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Specializes in CVICU.

Working in CV-ICU this is completely foreign to me as the question may as well have read, "Would you get together with someone who is old and sick?" LOL! The only situation I can ever see this happening in would possibly be ER (anyone can end up here if injured, including the young, healthy, smart and attractive ;) )

Also, I can't imagine going out with someone I had taken care of. I would have to meet them again way after the fact and under healthy circumstances to even think about it, and even then they would really have to knock me off my feet!

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