kissing a pt/ resident

Nurses Men

Published

A nurse openly (in front of staff and supervisors) greets some of his

elderly patients in a LTC setting with a kiss on the cheek stating this is a

way he shows compassion and caring. He denies any sexual implications.

patients refer to him as a gentleman. Is there any justification for these

Is it wrong/unethical?

Is this different with a female nurse?

What do you think?

The pts refer to him as a gentleman so apparetnly they appreciate his bit of personalized greeting.

If the kissee and kisser are comfortable, why should we take it away from them.

LTC pts so often have no one to hug or kiss them, family dead or just not visiting.

Everybody needs somebody and if this gentleman fills that hole, more power to him!

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/MICU/SICU/CTICU.

I do home care and have 2 patients who routinely their caregivers will hug me and kiss me on the cheek. One little lady kisses me on the hand everytime I see her, I hug her back.

I have cried with pts and caregivers, as well as hugged them. Sometimes the staff are all these patients, in homecare as well as LTC, have. We become part of the family like the daughter, son, or grandchild they never had.

If the resident or families dont mind, then I see nothing wrong with it.

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Specializes in SICU-MICU,Radiology,ER.
A nurse openly (in front of staff and supervisors) greets some of his elderly patients in a LTC setting with a kiss on the cheek stating this is a way he shows compassion and caring.

Yuch

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Specializes in Hospice/Palliative Care, Critical care, Burns.

Gonna side with the "perception in reality" argument...

Better to "err" on the side of CAUTION. Keep the kisses "given" to the Hershey variety (and then, it will prove if you've read your patient's H&P).

Not too serious,

The Kingster

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Think it depends on the context.

Things to think about:

* Is the nurse who is doing the kissing is having early stages of a cold and the patient has a weak immune system? It is a question of infection control.

* What is the culture of the patient? For some culture, it makes a difference not only if the person who is doing the kissing is male or female, but even the age of the person. For some conservative cultures, a male nurse kissing a female will give the wrong idea.

* Is it part of the norm of the nurse who is doing the kissing? Is he a naturally a touch oriented person? We all express our kindness differently, some through touch more than others. If he is NOT a touch oriented person, then I would have some question about it?

-Dan

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Sigh. There is no difference.

Even though I may be a touchy / feeley person I try just to give hugs to my PT .Kissing is very personal to me for family and close friends .Yes I have cried and have hugged my Pt when they need it .I have had PT/ family kiss me ,I just hug back.That's just me .I was always taught to keep somewhat of a professional distance.So I can be objective with my care.

.

I know in the hispanic culture they kiss you on each cheek. Its just a friendship thing.

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The pts refer to him as a gentleman so apparetnly they appreciate his bit of personalized greeting.

If the kissee and kisser are comfortable, why should we take it away from them.

LTC pts so often have no one to hug or kiss them, family dead or just not visiting.

Everybody needs somebody and if this gentleman fills that hole, more power to him!

Thankyou for your reasonable and reality based response! Why does it need to be any more complicated?

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Leave it alone. Why is this even an issue? It not my cup of tea and no sexuality/abuse seems to be involved then it's none of my business.

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Specializes in Hospice/Palliative Care, Critical care, Burns.
Why is this even an issue?

Perception! Good advice in healthcare: avoid even the appearance of "evil." Will keep you in medico-legal good graces.

Affectionately,

The Kingster

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I dont know why American culture automatically sees this as sexual.

I come from a Greek American background. Kissing people on the cheek is the norm.

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Specializes in Hospice/Palliative Care, Critical care, Burns.
I dont know why American culture automatically sees this as sexual.

I come from a Greek American background. Kissing people on the cheek is the norm.

Hmmm...remember that hostile environments are not always created by what we think (I personally have no problem with people kissing/being kissed...) but rather by how they effect others. Is kissing patients inherently bad - of course not. Could it create a hostile environment for other patients, staff, visitors, etc.? Quite possibly - since, as this poster alludes, we all come from different backgrounds (professionally, culturally, etc.).

Avoiding puckering up might keep down the Pucker Factor later... :uhoh3:

Affectionately,

The Kingster

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I dont care for the kissing myself, but if the pt. feels comfortable with it, go for it. I really dont have the information on how it is responded to by the pt's. because they havent posted anything. male/female ? in my book it isnt a good idea. infection control/ how it would be seen by others/how the pt or pt family feel about it/professionalism. to many things for me to worry about. but if the NURSE and PT are comfortable with it. more power to them both. if itmakes the pt feel better go for it. as long as nothing out of line is done. no harm/no foul

JMO.

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