Trouble brews over a pat on the back!

[Antikigirl]

Lucky for me I left this one facility a few weeks ago, because this situation kind of made me upset! Just reminds me that human affection is not tolerated in most facilities anymore...and that is so sad.

In this facility we had a couple that worked there, they have been married for quite some time and work in different departments entirely. I worked there a year before I knew that they were married in fact...they just never did public shows of affection where I saw them.

Well, I guess last week the wife patted her hubby on the shoulders at work (after he had had a horrid day) as she walked by him. We are talking a walk past...pat on back saying "hope your day gets better"...and continue walking! This isn't typically what I would call a public show of affection, heck...we nurses and Caregivers do that all the time!

Anyway...she was taken off the floor by the Admin and told that she was to NEVER touch her husband at work again, and to never bring up the fact or show the fact that they are married!!! WHAT?!?! A pat on the back??? Heck, us nurses and caregivers do that all the time...what the heck is wrong with a pat on the back???

I mean, a kiss or a long hug may be too much...heck, a small hug would be okay for me between two people who are married and support each other when the day is tough (again staff does this for eachother!). But to be chewed out and threatened for dismissal for a pat on the back??? I felt this crossed the line of power trip beyond!!!

Why is it that the art of compassionate touch (not sexual) like a pat on the shoulder or a hug for a crying patient or staff member is considered a grey area but accepted more readily than one between to adults that are legally married working in the same facility? Heck, I gave a hug to my hubby when he came in as a paramedic for one of my patients and I didn't get harrassed (one arm hug really quick). It is a cultural sign of compassion and love...and releases endorphines that make you feel good and loved. Isn't that what we as healthcare professionals encourage??? Or did the friv lawsuits on harrassment distroy all shows of affection, compassion, empathy?

What is your take???

[LPN1974, LPN]

Sounds like Administration has other ulterior motives, to me.

That's ridiculous.

As long as the couple are not obviously "making out", kissing, hugging, all wrapped up in each other......there's nothing wrong with a pat on the back. Like you say, non married employees do that all the time.

That's an abuse of authority in my opinion.

[southern_rn_brat]

I met my husband at work. He was a CNA and I was the RN. I was a "self professed nun" and hadnt dated in a year. One night I am at work and I see this handsome man working with one of my CNAs. All I said was "emma, who is that adorable man?" those nuts I worked with decided that night to set us up together, the bunch of busy bodies lol. Before long most of the facility and residents were in on it. It was almost comical. Within a month he was bringing me a rose and an icee every day. He would just put them on my med cart when I wasnt looking and then leave. (he worked nights and I worked evenings...he had just been orienting on evenings) I would come out of a room and there would be a rose and an icee. The residents started calling him The Rose Man. He would bring me supper and we would sit outside and eat together on my lunch. The residents and staff would watch us out the window. The first time he ever kissed me at work we could hear them cheering from the second floor lol It wasnt long before they were planning our wedding lol. It did me NO good to tell them we needed to date first lol.

But I will be honest...we um...sort of got into quite a bit of trouble when after dating for a while...at shift change...um..I would pull him into my med room and kiss on him:D

This has nothing to do with this thread. I just wanted to tell yall how I met the love of my life:p