Do you "friend" your pts on Facebook???

Specialties Private Duty

Published

I am a new nurse and just started private duty nursing. My pts parents sent me a friend request on Facebook. I have yet to accept. I am friends with several of my co-workers on facebook and I saw that they do become friends with their patients. I am very hesitant to do this. I don't have anything "bad" on my page, but I just don't know that it would be appropriate. What do you think? Thanks!

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

My work life and private life are two different entities, although sometimes one will spill over into the other.

Although I never complain about work on FB, or post anything there that I wouldn't say to someone's face, there simply is a division between what I do for 40+ hours a week and what I do during the rest of my waking hours. Therefore, as much as I love most of my residents, I don't 'friend' them on FB, as they don't really need to read about my church activities or what's going on in my personal life, e.g. family issues, my sick kitty, and so forth. :)

Specializes in thoracic ICU, ortho/neuro, med/surg.
I am a new nurse and just started private duty nursing. My pts parents sent me a friend request on Facebook. I have yet to accept. I am friends with several of my co-workers on facebook and I saw that they do become friends with their patients. I am very hesitant to do this. I don't have anything "bad" on my page, but I just don't know that it would be appropriate. What do you think? Thanks!

Absolutely not!! That is very unprofessional and inappropriate!

noooo

Specializes in HIV, Psych, GI, Hepatology, Research.

Not worth the possibility of how it could turn negative.

Specializes in Gynae,General Surgery,Blood transfusion.

You are quite right to be hesitant & please whatever you do do not accept. You have your professional life & your own life do not entangle them. I have had some of my patients put in friend requests & i have rejected them. We may think we know our patients but we only see a small part of their lives & in my opinion it is unethical no matter how close we may get to some patients. Your gut instinct was right.

Good luck with your career enjoyl your job but remember it is a job & you need your own private time.

Kind Regards

Lozz xxx

I am a new nurse and just started private duty nursing. My pts parents sent me a friend request on Facebook. I have yet to accept. I am friends with several of my co-workers on facebook and I saw that they do become friends with their patients. I am very hesitant to do this. I don't have anything "bad" on my page, but I just don't know that it would be appropriate. What do you think? Thanks!

I think it is a bad idea. Blend work and personal life is never good. Boundaries are important to keep now and always.

Read ANA guidelines about Social Networking.

Good luck.

I am a new nurse and just started private duty nursing. My pts parents sent me a friend request on Facebook. I have yet to accept. I am friends with several of my co-workers on facebook and I saw that they do become friends with their patients. I am very hesitant to do this. I don't have anything "bad" on my page, but I just don't know that it would be appropriate. What do you think? Thanks!

well, i do agree about the "professional" part, you definitely need to set boundaries. that said, doing private duty work can be a different animal. if you are going into a person's home the atmosphere is different than in a hospital or a nursing home, and the tendency is to become a little more invested with your patients. hey, we are all the same species as our pts, and that is why you became a nurse...right?...right? but becoming facebook friends is definitely a bit too much...i think...

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

No don't do it. Plus you might want to change your name to something that is not easily associated with work. And not post pictures that can give your location.

I wouldn't do it while you are on the job/case or still employed. While on a case, I knew my pt had FB, but we both respected each other's boundaries and never added each other. Once I was off the case for awhile, and no longer employed by that agency, my pt friend requested me. Of course I was hesitant, but I accepted. I'm still not employed by that agency, am actually a stay at home mom now, and no longer even on facebook. But I agree with the others, I would not accept a request or friend request while working for that client.

To be honest I take this even one step further. I have heard mention of nurses giving clients their cell numbers. I know not everyone can help this, but I don't even give clients my cell number. I have an agency, so if they need to get ahold of me they can contact them. I used to give out my number until I had a clients family that started to borderline harass me nonstop about different things and started to call me even on my day off. I quit that client and never gave out my number again. I can't stress enough about maintaining professional distance.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

The ONLY home care client I have a facebook / non-work relationship with is the one I no longer work for because their child no longer needs nursing care. I also no longer do home care- so the professional 'boundary' no longer even exists.

For this particular situation, it allows me to keep in touch with a family I cared a lot for after they moved from the area.

That is the ONLY situation I would even consider having this type of online 'relationship'.

I wouldn't do it. Professional-KatRN78 is a totally different person/personality from Off-duty-KatRN78 and neither of us have Facebook anyway. (Facebook was not enriching my life in anyway... so had to terminate my account).

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