Facebook nurses and patients

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Oct 6, 2015

I don't have a Facebook so this isn't a concern. But even when I did I would never be friends with a former patients, ever.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 6, 2015

Nope. Not appropriate.

canigraduate · Oct 6, 2015

Not a good idea.

However, I do have one FB friend that was a patient from my first year, before I understood boundaries. Never again, though.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Oct 6, 2015

Nope. And here's another reason why not. Nurse accepts friend request. Thinking that the person is nice, funny, wonderful, whatever. (And this suggests that nurse should maybe think about boundary issues at work).

In any event, person then is psyched, because then they have a sounding board for their medical woes. And the familiarity then creeps into a nurse's personal life. Meaning lots of "hey, remember when I had that weird pain in my legs and when you suggested I xyz/pdq? It's back. I thought the doctor sucked. What should I do?" "Can you talk to them about getting me in to the ER, I hate the waiting room, you know how I get".....

Then that turns into quoting you to other nurses/providers when they do go seek treatment "My friend, Nurse__________. messaged me on facebook and said that I should come in...."

Then try and get rid of them in a really nice way "I can't be your friend on here, because it is against the rules of my job" and depending on how strange they are, it could be a hot mess of complaints and other issues.

People are not there "true" selves when they are ill and in a hospital. Much like nurses are not their "true" selves when they are working.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Oct 6, 2015

At my current and previous LTC jobs, I've had many residents send friend requests. I ignore them. What little bit that I care to share with them about my home life, I can share anecdotally in person. I just tell them it's against my personal policy. My current employer has no specific policy, but states that it could help build a family atmosphere if we included residents into our daily life. To me, that's a setup for major boundary issues

chacha82, ADN, BSN · Oct 6, 2015

No - even if you have 100% innocent intentions and the same from the patient, it will never look good to HR.

Farawyn · Oct 6, 2015

I don't have a Facebook so this isn't a concern. But even when I did I would never be friends with a former patients, ever.

I don't have FB either, or Insta. I do however, text a bazillion pics to my friends so they know I'm not just an Internet.

I just never joined. Most of the time, if I lose touch with you, it's for a reason.

It gets sticky with being a SN as well. I don't want my kids here at school knowing my poop.

Or their parents.

My cousin is a teacher and FBs all her students. I think it is totally inappropriate.

Oedgar · Oct 6, 2015

I once had a patient who was friends with my neighbor. When I got a friend request from her I sent a pleasant but not too familiar "nice to see you. Hope your family is well sort of private message... but did not accept her request.

bsyrn, ASN, RN · Oct 6, 2015

Nope!

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Oct 6, 2015

Sounds like homework for ethics class. I'll bite. No. Don't do it. Ever.

Should a nurse befriend a former patient when that patient sends a friend request. I have seen both positive and negative outcomes when this happens, what is your opinion?

freyarn · Oct 6, 2015

I've seen only bad things come of this. I have nursing friends who have allowed patient family members to add them on social media. I truly believe that is too much of a mixture of my personal and professional life. I am personal and individualized with each patient, but having them able to see my life outside of the hospital when they weren't my friends before is a step too far for me.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Oct 6, 2015

I don't have a Facebook account but if I did I would not 'friend' a former patient. This is a boundary issue. We wouldn't consider ever exchanging phone numbers or email addresses with our patients, why would we 'keep in touch' on Facebook after the fact? No, not a good idea.