Dating Patients

bobnurse · Feb 9, 2005

I guess now is a good as time as any to reveal MY story.....
A man broke his ankle, actually, his foot was in his shoe next to him, after a motorcycle accident. I ended up being the nurse that took care of him 4 out of a 8 day stay. There was no flirting, no NOTHING, just a nurse/patient relationship. He came back to the hospital about 3 months later, one day when I worked. He asked me for coffee, and my phone number. I did not do either. I thought, yuck, dating a patient, even a former patient...yuck. At the time, I did exchanged my temporary email address with him. About 6 months later, (now it has been 9 months), he did an instant message thing, and asked me to dinner. A very persistent man...I finally accepted the offer. It took one date. Then I had realized, that man and I, were meant to meet each other. He is my soulmate. We were married a year later. Now we have 3 children, a wonderful marriage, and a friendship for eternity! Who would have known??? :)

Great story

FutureIsBlue, LPN, LVN · Feb 9, 2005

I guess now is a good as time as any to reveal MY story.....
A man broke his ankle, actually, his foot was in his shoe next to him, after a motorcycle accident. I ended up being the nurse that took care of him 4 out of a 8 day stay. There was no flirting, no NOTHING, just a nurse/patient relationship. He came back to the hospital about 3 months later, one day when I worked. He asked me for coffee, and my phone number. I did not do either. I thought, yuck, dating a patient, even a former patient...yuck. At the time, I did exchanged my temporary email address with him. About 6 months later, (now it has been 9 months), he did an instant message thing, and asked me to dinner. A very persistent man...I finally accepted the offer. It took one date. Then I had realized, that man and I, were meant to meet each other. He is my soulmate. We were married a year later. Now we have 3 children, a wonderful marriage, and a friendship for eternity! Who would have known??? :)

That's a very sweet story!:)

mflynn · Feb 9, 2005

Who has time to date patients? I'm too busy trying to marry a Dr! :chuckle

hypnotic_nurse · Feb 9, 2005

Who has time to date patients? I'm too busy trying to marry a Dr! :chuckle

:rotfl:

bobnurse · Feb 17, 2005

Who has time to date patients? I'm too busy trying to marry a Dr! :chuckle

Why not another nurse?

mattsmom81 · Feb 17, 2005

Laurakoko, you handled things pefectly 'right' and I'm happy for you ! Thanks for sharing your story and I'm sure nobody here faults you. :)

Those who risk charges of unprofessional and unethical behavior make comments at the nursing station about being attracted to their patients, and actively try to 'hook up' while the patient is there. The key is be discreet and don't appear to take advantage during the professional relationship. Huge risk.

THAT stuff disgusts me...patients may be emotionally vulnerable and it is up to us as the profesional to maintain a professional relationship.

goodytwoshoes · Feb 17, 2005

eek I never really even realized I could have gotten myself into trouble...last year I dated one of my patient's sons. He (the son) was a very compassionate and deeply devoted son- also a psychiatrist at a nearby hospital and university-and we spent so much time together with the father(ICU-therefore I had just two patients) that we became friends. There was definitely a mutual attraction so...we ended up dating for a few months, his father was moved to a rehab facility where he died several months AFTER the son and I stopped dating.

Tony35NYC · Feb 18, 2005

I don't think its gross. In fact, I don't see anything wrong with dating or marrying a patient after the care is over.

happthearts · Feb 18, 2005

Gross? What if Brad Pitt was your patient?

OK I can answer this one even though tempted I wouldn't I have been .I nurse to a couple celbs in Calif .One I will say was tan all over his body . Had no modesty at all If you catch my drift. But you just don't think to much about that when you have to give Fleets to the guy .Kinda makes you realize just how human and gross we are at the same time.

My husband is a Doc I have asked him this same question and he said It was againist the law Here in the state of Utah Because you as a health care worker have due influence over your PT .My husband had a Doc friend who did date his Pt and when she called it off she called the board and also had him sued! He didn't lose his licence thank God. We warned him he didn't listen.

I have been asked out many times over the years by my PT's. I just say sorry No its against the law and I explain it to them .I also feel its kinda creepy That my Pt would know so much about my personal life and vice versa.

I guess dateing a family member would be OK I personaly would not !But never ever a PT.

ernurseok · Feb 18, 2005

I drool everytime that hot paramedic comes around. But a patient NO @#$%^&* WAY.

Anyone here ever date/go out/marry a patient. I personally have never done it, but have seen it happen....i recall one time a male nurse dated a patients daughter...We got her on our floor one day after she attempted suicide, he had cheated on her.
Another employee dated a patient and married them........They both were married prior.......
Just curious if anyone else has seen this

sassynurse78 · Feb 18, 2005

I work in a nursing home so I have never had this problem :chuckle

What about people that live in a small town like me? There is one hospital unless you drive 30 miles and two nursing homes. I always run into people I went to school with or have worked with etc. There is no way to avoid that. I took care of an ex's grandmother and thankfully (we had a bad breakup) he never came to visit her, but his mother did. In a small town you have a very good chance of meeting your pts after they have been discharged, and when everybody knows everybody anyway I can't see the harm in dating after they have left the hospital. I guess what I am saying is this: In a situation where almost everybody in town has been admitted to the only hospital at least once how can you avoid dating someone that has not been where you work? So is it ok to date a pt or family member assigned to another nurse? I personally think it is as long as the pt has been discharged.

bobnurse · Mar 11, 2005

You can find love in strange situations