Dating former patient

Nurses Relations

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hi I am in a very difficult situation and need sum advice...I have been asked on a date by a friend of a friend who happened to be a patient for very short time in psychiatric unit after a previous relationship failed for depression. He asked my friend about me after he left. I was never his nurse and not even sure if I wrote in his notes...this was about a year ago. Hes not in the services anymore and I don't remember any confidential info about him only why he was there. Is it wrong for me to accept this date?

Specializes in MICU.
After a previous relationship failed he was in the psych unit for depression? Why would you even go there? Plz don't do this to him or yourself.

Thank you!!!!! I was thinking about the same thing too. :no: don't do it

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Just curious why you are even considering this?

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Specializes in Thoracic Cardiovasc ICU Med-Surg.

The fact that you are considering it concerns me. This is a no brainer.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
The fact that you are considering it concerns me. This is a no brainer.

The pt must be cute enough or the OP's "type" to consider it... :cheeky:

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry.

I don't work as a nurse yet but I have seen it happen with other health professions. It is kinda creepy in a way, but you never know who you will far for at any given time, still bad though.

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And as a complete aside, whooo boy, not an ideal friend moment......

If the man with relationship issues to the point of hospitalized depression discloses to a mutual friend that he likes you and wants to ask you out, a prudent friend would say "I am not sure if she's involved with someone" or "I am not sure she is available" or some other vauge "don't do it" response to nip it in the bud before it even begins.

People who have major depressive episodes from a relationship breakup are looking for validation. As a nurse at the only psych game in town, I would not want to be the one to be the validator. Could get your in trouble, yes, but also could prove to be very, very awkward should history repeat itself...

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What is very concerning the the number of posters who are stating that hospitalization for a depressive episode is a huge red flag and that the guy has "relationship issues".

a large number of people suffer depression - for a variety of reasons- and many are hospitalized or medicated. It does not mean that people are necissarily permanently afflicted, creepy or "psychiatric".

The judgemental attitudes from so-called caring professionals are very disturbing.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
What is very concerning the the number of posters who are stating that hospitalization for a depressive episode is a huge red flag and that the guy has "relationship issues".

a large number of people suffer depression - for a variety of reasons- and many are hospitalized or medicated. It does not mean that people are necessarily permanently afflicted, creepy or "psychiatric".

The judgmental attitudes from so-called caring professionals are very disturbing.

It's not judgementl...your workplace is not a place to find dates amongst the patients.

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What is very concerning the the number of posters who are stating that hospitalization for a depressive episode is a huge red flag and that the guy has "relationship issues".

a large number of people suffer depression - for a variety of reasons- and many are hospitalized or medicated. It does not mean that people are necissarily permanently afflicted, creepy or "psychiatric".

The judgemental attitudes from so-called caring professionals are very disturbing.

However, hospitalization for a relationship issue IS a huge red flag that the patient perhaps has some work to do before getting into a new relationship with someone else. Who happens to be a psych nurse.

Not at all judgemental, however, honest that if a patient is checking out the nurses whilst hospitalized for his depression, that is something I am sure I would want to get into.

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Dating a former patient does not sound well at all. Your license as a nurse should be of more meaning to you. It sounds wrong from all ways you look at it.

He was "looking at you" while being treated in psychiatric unit come on now. You should assume there's something off with this picture.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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It's not judgementl...your workplace is not a place to find dates amongst the patients.

I didn't mention finding dates. I was talking about the negativity and sterotyping of people with mental illness byt some nurses.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
I didn't mention finding dates. I was talking about the negativity and sterotyping of people with mental illness byt some nurses.

There are two issues here. One is, should she date him, and the unanimous answer appears to be no. The guy only knows her from brief contact or maybe just seeing her while mourning his lost relationship. Not a good idea for the many reasons stated.

The second issue is that of stigma of mental illness. A least two posts were of the "psych patient...run away" variety. That disturbed me too. Many people go through a crisis, recover, and our better people for it. This gentleman may be a fine person, and learned from his ordeal, but there is always the possibility of a reoccurrence, and rehospitalization. Not a good thing if he was ever rehospitalized on her unit

His only contact with her seems to be one of fleeting idealized imagery. We have no idea what attributes, real or imagined, are attracting him to her. It would be healthier for him to seek someone who is not associated with his past emotional turmoil.

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