Can a patient fall for a nurse?

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This may be a highly subjective question. I want to know your opinions on a patient falling for a nurse. Let's say a male patient who is very ill has a wife who may be in denial about how ill her husband is due to the nature of the illness. He befriends a nurse who understands that situation and tries to be there and provide emotional/professional support. It appears as though the patient has formed a strong bond with the nurse (and vice versa) because she's probably providing something that he may not be getting at home...understanding and compassion. The relationship has become a friendship and has transcended beyond the clinical setting. How likely is it that this relationship could cross over past platonic in the minds of a) the patient or b) the nurse?

Specializes in ER/Trauma.

Patients often mistake our compassion, kindness and concern as genuine affection.

It's been known to happen.

And as professionals, we need to set and maintain boundaries.

cheers,

i think this would be transference (or if the nurse was the one who fell for the patient, counter-transference)... well anyway, i think its very possible considering we are all humans capable of falling for someone, esp if that someone is caring ( who wouldnt fall for someone caring?)...

however, with that said, i think if the nurse will also fall for the patient,then the nurse's objectivity and professionalism will inevitably be questioned. the nurse i think should clarify what her role is in this therapeutic alliance with the patient. if feelings get in the way, the nurse should use her better judgement and ask to be assigned in another area or to another patient

Specializes in nursery, L and D.
I've never even thought of this!! I'd be afraid to have my husband on your floor!!!!

So how did these relationships end? Are the patients and RNs still together? Does the nurse still have a job?

You guys won't believe this but the place I was working was a nursing home! All but one of the nurses kept there job. The one that didn't, the pt. she ummmm, started dating, was way rich so no need to keep the job. In all 4 situations the nurses took the pt home to care for them, after they started the relationship. I always thought it was kinda weird, but to each their own :uhoh3: I guess!

HM2Viking: That is exactly what I think! We, as nurses, need to keep our professional boundary. We need to keep in mind that we are there for the patients to be the "professional" - not to be their friends (or girl/boyfriends). If the patient starts making moves or references about liking you and "you're the only one who understands him/her," then that is a red flag! Do not cross the line if you don't want to compromise your profession. It's unethical, as well.

Specializes in ICU, CCU, Trauma, neuro, Geriatrics.

I had one very demented patient fall for me, it took 3 weeks of him being very inappropriate before managment transferred him to another unit. He would wheel himself into our report room to confront me about our realtionship. All I did was care for him, nothing further. I was friends with some of his friends who were pilots and maybe he confused some of this simular knowledge and simular friends. I had encountered him at the local airport in the past. He was not a nice person and behaved inappropriately then too and I never chatted with him in the past nor did I ever more than say hi to acknowledge his presence.

It is amazing what the human mind is capable of. We can convince ourselves of most anything if we want it bad enough.

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