ethics

[sassrn]

I have a patient who has offered to teach me to play guitar. Is this crossing nurse/ patient boundaries?

[loriangel14, RN]

I wouldn't think so. I don't see anything unethical about learning to play the guitar.

[Caffeine_IV]

For free? Or for their regular fee?

[chiandre]

Where will you learn? In the hospital?

[ICURN3020]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Nurses are so damn prissy.

Well there's a generalization if I ever saw one.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

Homework question?

[elkpark]

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.