PDN...Facebook friend??

Specialties Private Duty

Published

So I have read through various threads on here about being "friends" with your patients on facebook but not from any who work in private duty. I would like to know what is your take on this issue. It my opinion the situation is a little different than meds-surge since we are often in these patients home Monday-Friday for several hours out of the day. My patient is 2 years old so dont really have an issue with becoming "friends" but have heard of nurses becoming "friends" with the patients family (i.e mom, dad, aunt, uncle). I think its important to keep that professional boundary but can see how easy it is to become friends with the family when you've been on a case several years. What do you think? Can you maintain a professional boundary with your patient but not the family?

Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

Bad idea. Plain and simple.

However, there is one situation I could see that would be an exception. Say you took care of a patient for a few years a long time ago. You and the family live near each other. At some point you run in to each other years later, maybe while participating in a hobby or something. You then become friends. Then I could see it being possible to "friend" them. But at that point there would be no professional relationship or potential for it to reoccur.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Kyasi-Thats a huge liability!! And what a touch situation to be involved in but I think you did very well. Your main priority was your patient and once tended to you then if needed you could tend to the mother. I agree its a very very fine line sometimes...

PsychNurseWannaBe- Very nice and simply put!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just to emphasize, I no longer take care of this child or work for the agency that handles her case and have not for over 6 yrs. So any relationship I now have with mom is completely outside of any policy/agency constraints. She does live in another city but we do try to get together once a year or so. I never socialized or went anywhere with her during the many years I was employed and her child was my patient. So I'm not sure where the huge liability is?? Also, to clarify, I made sure the clinical director of the agency was aware of the issues in the home and although I was supportive of her mother, if I thought the patient was being neglected in any way during her crisis, I would have reported that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Absofreakinlutely not! My patients mom and sisters sit on fb all day and when they ask me if I have a fb I just say no. I also keep my fb private without a terribly recognizable picture, but even if I got a request I doesn't want I would just not respond and if they asked I would just tell them its not mine our the truth that I keep my fb just for personal friends. I can't see any scenario where that would be a good idea. Imo

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Kyasi- The liability I was talking about was about transporting the patient...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh, got you. Thanks for clarifying Ms Bee.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment