Patients hitting on nurses

Nurses Relations

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Makes me uncomfortable, especially when they are waay older than me. I usually explain that I'm your nurse so no you can't have my number etc. How should I interact in a way that is neutral and gives the patient the least amount of pleasure in the interaction as possible?

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Even if you're not married or a parent, you could always say something along the lines of, "I'm not sure my husband would approve of me dating other men, but I'll check." Or "I don't have much time for dating between work and caring for my 7 kids."

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

"No, Mr. Schmuck, I am not interested."

If the creepster persists say "No, and don't ask me again."

Some old men do this to control the situation by making you uncomfortable. You have to be businesslike and in charge of the interaction and the conversation and then get out of there.

"Excuse me, I have work to do."

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Specializes in Healthcare risk management and liability.

On occasion, the staff calls me in to talk to a patient about this. I explain the concept of professional boundaries and point out that in my state, having a personal relationship with a patient endangers the license of the healthcare professional, and I expect that they will behave appropriately in the future. I agree with Maggie above that setting limits immediately with the patient is key.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Thanks these are great responses. Hope I never have to utilize these tactics.

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Even if you're not married or a parent, you could always say something along the lines of, "I'm not sure my husband would approve of me dating other men, but I'll check." Or "I don't have much time for dating between work and caring for my 7 kids."

Don't do this. You need to be perfectly clear that you are not interested and that their "advances" are inappropriate and unwelcome. Do not smile when you tell them no.

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Don't do this. You need to be perfectly clear that you are not interested and that their "advances" are inappropriate and unwelcome. Do not smile when you tell them no.

That was my thought, as well. Don't respond in any sort of playful, joking way that could be interpreted as flirtatious or encouraging. There's also no need to response in anger or disgust (often, people don't mean any harm, they just sincerely don't realize that what they're interested in isn't appropriate under the circumstances). Just a simple, neutral statement along the lines of "I don't mix my professional and personal lives," or something similar, is the best option.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Don't do this. You need to be perfectly clear that you are not interested and that their "advances" are inappropriate and unwelcome. Do not smile when you tell them no.

Thank you. I was questioning what would happen if they played along with this and wanted to know how many kids I had or what type of guy my "husband" is. Some men take pleasure in seeing women squirm. Unfortunately I do tend to smile. With the last guy he was such a jerk he was like you know you want to smile don't you don't you and he was just being so outrageous that I did cracked a smile and he's like there is it, there it is, you made my day.

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" I am your nurse, I am here to provide nursing care, perhaps the doctor needs a date. Why don't you ask him/her?"

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Thank you. I was questioning what would happen if they played along with this and wanted to know how many kids I had or what type of guy my "husband" is. Some men take pleasure in seeing women squirm. Unfortunately I do tend to smile. With the last guy he was such a jerk he was like you know you want to smile don't you don't you and he was just being so outrageous that I did cracked a smile and he's like there is it there it is, you made my day.[/quote']

These situations can be uncomfortable at first, but clearly setting boundaries is the best thing. They need to know they are being inappropriate and you won't tolerate it. Don't feel bad about it. And make sure you document your conversation. I had an issue with an elderly male patient making inappropriate remarks to me and so I started bringing a male CNA into the room with me every time I went in there. Very effective!

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Specializes in Education.

"Oh, it looks like the Dilaudid has finally kicked in..."

In all honesty, though, I ignore it when I'm around them. I don't reply, I focus purely on the reason I went into the room.

If I'm worried about a Bad Touch moment, I will have somebody else in the room with me.

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I never have that problem, #1 I am a male nurse, #2 I'm fugly :D

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