Professional/Personal Boundaries?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi, I am new here! :) I joined because I want to ask if something would be appropriate that I don't necessarily want to discuss with my colleagues.

Although I'm not homosexual, for various reasons, I've been active in the LGBT community in my area for a number of years. I began because my best friend is gay, and he opened my eyes to the issues they face, and I became passionate about working to deal with them.

Anyway, a while ago, I had a patient who was the victim of a gay bashing. She was in VERY bad shape. She was very angry and was yelling at many of the nurses. However, she was wonderful with me and I felt she just wanted someone to understand that she had a right to be upset (none of the other nurses knew the story behind her injury.)

Long story short, she was discharged and I'm still thinking about her. I know her name and where she works and I was thinking of contacting her to see if she had any interest in a benefit or something dedicated to her. I feel she is not well-off socioeconomically and probably is facing large medical expenses. And what's more, I didn't know such horrific things happened so close to my home, and I know others would be as outraged and upset as I am...

But, is it unprofessional or overstepping boundaries to contact her about this? I didn't speak to her about it whilst in the nursing role, but would it be a HIPA violation simply to contact her? We have good rapport and I doubt she'd mind, but I still feel like this is probably a no-no, despite my strong belief that it would be a good thing on all sides.

Advice please? xo

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/Trauma, Corrections, Consulting.

Bad idea. It could come back to bite you at your job and you never want to take that risk. HIPPA violations will get you fired without a doubt, across the board. Say a prayer for her and if you ever HAPPEN to run in to her then it's okay to give her resources but more than that is too much. If you get caught up with her she may end up badgering or harassing you in the future. Keep work separate.

Olivia

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

I am not sure it is a HIPAA violation, but I wonder if it crosses the line of the nurse patient relationship. I am not sure what the answer would be and am courious as to what others think.

While you may have had a good relationship with her while she was a patient she may or may not want a benefit, is she out to her family and collegues? If the other nurse who also cared for her didnt know the full story she may not want people to know what happened to her and want to put more attention to what had happened to her.

I think that it is great that you would want to help, but just as you stated in your post you inital feeling was this was a no no.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey chillchick

It could be argued that you know her name and workplace because she was your patient. You would be using her personal details gained through a position of privilege to basically become a stalker. This is worse case scenario and I’m being the devils advocate here, but it could turn very pear shaped for you. Do things to voice your support in general for stoping hate crimes but I would not approach her directly. Its great that you have taken this matter to heart but please do protect your own interests

cheers essie

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

Wouldn't do it, ever.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, PSYCH ER, MED ER, PSYCH/MEDICAL.

I wouldn't do it. A profession as intimate and sensitive as ours mandates [in my view] maintenance of professional boundaries at all times.

A breach in that well defined line can really backfire, ultimately cause harm to either: caregiver or patient.

My x-mate is a psychiatrist. His credo has always been: "once a patient, always a patient." Makes sense to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

Trust me, don't go there. I promise you that this is not a good idea. I had so many situations like this when I worked in the ED and I tried to reach out to a couple of people in some small way but it turned into a leech situation. These individuals were people that I just tried to help while they were at the hospital, not outside. And they formed a strong attachment. Called me at the hospital non stop, came up to the hospital to see me. You have to maintain a professional distance, no matter how hard it seems. There have been a couple of times that I have attended the funerals of patients (3 times in 32 years) but they were elderly or cancer patients that I took care of over a long period of time. I went out of respect to the family and it was of a professional nature, me representing the staff from the unit where I worked.

If you want to help her, make a referral to social services and have them make the contact.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks guys... I appreciate your advice. I am actually going to consult with some of my mentors though because I think different people have different ideas about where the boundaries lie in nursing.

I most likely will not do anything, especially since I am young and don't want this type of scandal...

however, she very badly needs some support and a benefit wouldn't even really be me - it would be the community I am familiar with that often does things like this. I would only be contacting her to see if it were okay/something she would be interested in... and the answer may very well be no.

Thanks again for the great advice. It's just hard because I know the resources I have access to could make a tremendous difference for her. And she needs all the help she can get, you know?

But, you're right, professional is professional and personal is personal and we should try to keep them separate.

Thanks again xo

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

Unless she invited you to contact her, I'm certain I would be very upset if I was contacted by a member of my treatment team for the purposes you intend. I would be fuming that my personal information was that accessible.

If she did invite you to contact her, BEWARE. It is definitely unprofessional. She may see you in a position of power and she as a victim. The dynamics could suck you up and her too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

While you had access to her information for caring for her, having access to information on how to contact her, and using that information to actually contact her (even if to help her) is a violation of confidentiality laws. Someone could argue that you had no right to take note of her phone number, place of employment, etc. Some would argue you must have written it down or you wouldn't remember it. Also, to make a referral to a social service agency, for a benefit or anything else, without her permission would be a definite violation of confidentiality laws. I think you planned to get her ok before doing that though?

If you do this, you would be putting yourself in a precarious position. So many things could backfire. I see you have only the best of intentions, but it could work out that not everything goes for the best.

Don't do it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nope. Just the fact that you're questioning whether or not it's professional should tell you that it's probably not. Even with your good intentions, it's just crossing that line.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

No. Even if she did invite you to contact her it'd be her word against yours and you'd end up looking the bad guy...like the poster above said, if you're questioning if you should...you shouldn't. If you are to meet again, you will...just don't seek her out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment