Facebook nurses and patients

Rnundrfire · Oct 11, 2016

I strongly urge you to completely draw this line. From personal example. I'm currently being investigated and have a hearing this week with the board of nursing... 2 summers ago I had a sweet elderly male patient. He was lonely. Had no family...just step kids and their family. We spent many visits just talking while I drew labs and assessed. He asked me if we could be friends on Facebook and I saw no problem with it, as I was discharging him from home health care. A month or so later I saw he posted that his sister died. I sent a quick "I'm sorry to hear about your sister. Hope you're doing well". Then later i was on my way to a patients house and saw he was home. Literally popped my head in to say hi. Wasnt even there 5 minutes. I felt so bad for the guy bc he was lonely.

Weeks later this "family" reported me to the BON saying I was soliciting him for money

My heart was broken. I had let my heart cross the boundary of personal and professional..and now I'm being investigated bc a jealous family accused me of being nice to the man they were just waiting for to pass away so they could get what "belongs" to them..and I was just being nice. So please don't cross this line. It's causing myself, and my family, more hell than being the compassionate beings we are is worth.

mEDrn85 · Nov 14, 2016

I am Facebook friends with my nurse midwife. She is also my pcp when it comes to general health concerns.

She was totally cool with it..saying its nice to still be connected to a patient after we spent 9 months of pregnancy getting to know each other. She loves seeing pictures of the baby she helped me deliver and occasionally checks in and says hi. I dont use facebook to connect with her about anything medical and always call the clinic if i need something. I think in this circumstance its ok

I work as an RN in an ED. Now, in that case if i dont know the patient outside of work, nope..Wouldn't allow it.