I have a patient who has offered to teach me to play guitar. Is this crossing nurse/ patient boundaries?
loriangel14, RN 6,931 Posts Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative. Sep 6, 2014 I wouldn't think so. I don't see anything unethical about learning to play the guitar.
Caffeine_IV 1,198 Posts Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice. Has 7 years experience. Sep 6, 2014 For free? Or for their regular fee?
chiandre 237 Posts Specializes in EDUCATION;HOMECARE;MATERNAL-CHILD; PSYCH. Has 25 years experience. Sep 6, 2014 Where will you learn? In the hospital?
ICURN3020 392 Posts Sep 6, 2014 I think you must weigh many factors into this before deciding. In addition to what the fee may be and location, as mentioned previously, here are some other things to consider: Is there a chance a romantic relationship could evolve (attraction by either party) / your safety / your company's policies on such matters/ is this patient a frequent hospital visitor, in that you may be in a position of being their nurse again in the future? Personally, I probably would politely decline the patient's offer, but that's just me. I try my best to avoid sticky situations. I often find that when I am really questioning something, there is a good reason. It's like the little angel and devil on the shoulders. Often, we rationalize to convince ourselves that the answer we "want" is indeed the "right" answer. I think of my conscious as a sort of built-in warning system, lol! I have no idea your age, but this sense seems to develop more acutely the older I get. Not to be cynical, but it would be much easier to find somewhere else to take guitar lessons than it would to find a new job (or face discipline from your state BON). Sorry, I tried for paragraphs but couldn't for some reason
Caffeine_IV 1,198 Posts Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice. Has 7 years experience. Sep 6, 2014 To answer your question, I think it has the potential to cross boundaries but not necessarily be unethical. You didn't mention if they were the opposite gender but I would not feel comfortable being in the home of a patient or inviting them to my home male or female. They also may end up leaning on you/calling you for health advice and that could cause issues.
kungpoopanda 215 Posts Sep 6, 2014 I can't imagine a doctor or a physio having an ethical dilemma over this. Nurses are so damn prissy.
Been there,done that, ASN, RN 6,929 Posts Has 33 years experience. Sep 6, 2014 Will you be playing the guitar... or is there potential for playing something else?If it is strictly a student/ music teacher relationship, why not?
ICURN3020 392 Posts Sep 7, 2014 Nurses are so damn prissy.Well there's a generalization if I ever saw one.
icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN 1,970 Posts Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU. Has 24 years experience. Sep 9, 2014 Homework question?
elkpark 14,633 Posts Sep 9, 2014 I can't imagine a doctor or a physio having an ethical dilemma over this ...You're right -- I can't imagine a physician or physical therapist I've known over the years even asking the question; they would not consider the possibility. In my experience, it's only (some) nurses who even entertain the idea of crossing these kinds of boundaries.
