Former patient relationship

World Canada

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Hello all.

i am not asking for judgement here just honest advice or similar experiences.

I work as an LVN at a mental health facility. I float from unit to unit as needed. Recently I have found myself smitten with a patient. I feel like we have a real connection, have so much in common and we would like to get to know eachother outside of work. I have never directly cared for him, I just know his diagnosis. i have not done anything while working that is unethical or pay him any special attention but as I stated I would like to get to know him in a different setting.

my question is - is this ok? At what point would it not be? Could I be fired? I'm looking for rules that would be within Canada. A nursing instructor of mine married a patient of hers and they had to wait 6 months.

I don't believe it is ok.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

No, it is not ok. At no point, ever. You could be fired if you start a relationship with the patient while he is still there. Since he is a mental health patient there is a chance he could be re-admitted to the facility & you still work there. That would be a huge complication.

You have to ask yourself, does he really like me or is his diagnosis taking over? Don't get played by a patient. You have to remember they are in there to better themselves & they have a lot of issues. I wouldn't be surprised if that patient doesn't have true feelings for you but in all honesty is just manipulating you. Be careful!

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Hello all.

i am not asking for judgement here just honest advice or similar experiences.

I work as an LVN at a mental health facility. I float from unit to unit as needed. Recently I have found myself smitten with a patient. I feel like we have a real connection, have so much in common and we would like to get to know eachother outside of work. I have never directly cared for him, I just know his diagnosis. i have not done anything while working that is unethical or pay him any special attention but as I stated I would like to get to know him in a different setting.

my question is - is this ok? At what point would it not be? Could I be fired? I'm looking for rules that would be within Canada. A nursing instructor of mine married a patient of hers and they had to wait 6 months.

I didn't wait to read other answers I just responded from my gut - No, NO, No, back away from the patient and no one will get hurt. Most Psych facilities have rules about dating or even getting together socially with patients weather they were under your direct care or not. This is a huge boundary violation and could get you fired or even brought before the BON. There are plenty of fish out there but there are some ponds you just don't drop your line into.

In my years as a psych nurse I have been asked out multiple times. offered steak dinner' trips to Vegas and Hawaii as well as one who offered to pay off my house and car "No strings attached" I had to say no to them all. 1.) because doing so would be taking advantage of a psychiatrically vulnerable patient. 2.) It was clearly against hospital policy and 3) I'm married.

Just don't do it.

Hppy.

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

No no no. For many reasons. A big one being that mental health patients can be very manipulative. What you may think is a

"connection" could very well just be a situation crafted by the patient.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

As this is specific to Canada, it has been moved there.

If you are Canadian why are you referring to yourself as an LVN? It's not a term that's used up here.

Also, as others have said the mentally ill can be very manipulative. In fact if you are working in an inpatient residential care centre, you have a very ill patient. In my province unless the patient is in a rehab, halfway house there are very few inpatient units that have patients stay long enough for anyone to develop personal feelings for.

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