Hypothetical Situation

Nurses General Nursing

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You're a nurse. You are told a scenario as follows:

A coworker at a Children's hospital spends a few weeks caring for a sick child as primary nurse. Child is eventually discharged to home with home health referral. Same nurse is asked by mother to serve as nurse for child at home. Nurse agrees.

Weeks pass. Nurse's wife comes to hospital, furious. Describes situation where nurse and mother of patient have been engaged in a sexual relationship. Another gossiper implies that nurse and mother spend his shifts drinking adult beverages, and etc. at home of child. Wife files for divorce. Nurse tells mother of child that he can no longer have relationship or serve as nurse for child. Mother of child threatens to contact board of nursing.

Reactions?

*The above scenario is probably hypothetical.

Specializes in Emergency.

Time for that nurse to lawyer up and do it now.

Specializes in Home Health (PDN), Camp Nursing.

I would advise this nurse to get a lawyer and get their story on record and standby incase this goes to the BON. Then take a nice long vacation, pick up a travel job, or commute about a hour or more for about a year. By that time it will all blow over, or be coming to a head. If it's coming to a head circle the wagons and prep for a he said she said to the BON. Unless there is evidence that what it boils down to. Same with the accusation of insurance fraud. If it's all blowing over half the nurses will have forgotten it, the other half will just have to be told that it was a crazy family dynamic, that got the nurse sucked in, and it's all over now.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

The nurse in question has the ethics of an earthworm. License lost and good riddance to the profession.

Specializes in Home Health (PDN), Camp Nursing.

I think everyone is so anxious to assume the nurse did all this. I think it's equally likely that the family is crazy. I have really seen this go both ways sometimes the nurse used stupid and irresponsible. Other times the nurse gets sucked into a rip tide of crazy that is a family with undiagnosed metal illness and a medically fragile child who they are now responsible for.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Hypothetically, that nurse is going to need a couple of really good lawyers and probably some depression medication and job training in a new industry.

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

poor judgment leads to consequences. Really stupid on the part of both parties, in my opinion.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
I think everyone is so anxious to assume the nurse did all this. I think it's equally likely that the family is crazy.

In the hypothetical scenario the OP describes, the wife of the nurse must also be cuckoo, considering she came to the hospital ranting and raving and subsequently filed for divorce. In fact, the OP never said anything about the family making accusations, just filing a report to the BON.

OP: If the nurse told the mother of the child he can "no longer have a relationship," are you saying that the nurse admitted to having a sexual relationship with the mother? I assume (again) that the report to the BON is retaliation for breaking it off?

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
It's pretty simple. If you're not interested in the discussion, go back to Pinterest or whatever holds your interest. I was simply wanting some discussion and opinions on this particular (probably hypothetical) situation.

That was rude and uncalled for.

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

Nurse tells mother of child that he can no longer have relationship or serve as nurse for child. Mother of child threatens to contact board of nursing.

Reactions? -- UNQUOTE So this nurse, hypothetically speaking, has learned a very valuable lesson about Karma and morals. To take advantage of a family member in that situation is deplorable as is the reverse. If the mother was the one to take advantage of the nurse she is truly an awful person, too. He is out of a job and has lost his reputation. No way of knowing what action the board may take. If the complaint is investigated and screwing and boozing on duty is proven then this person is likely in a heap of trouble. If you have any questions, read your nurse practice act. My reaction is "he got just what he deserves" Seriously. I will tell you that I have seen disgruntled soon- to- be- ex spouses threaten to report their s/o to the board of nursing and in all 3 cases the Board never contacted the nurse-they never knew for sure if complaints were really made so it was an anxious time for them all. One guy did go to the office of the hospital admin and was thrown out by security. Such drama....

Before I go back to Pinterest I'd say lawyer up or go speak to your union rep on your "hypothetical" situation. You wouldn't be asking if it wasn't for a reason which probably makes it not hypothetical. Good luck.

Specializes in Med Surg.

Reactions?

Stop watching TV medical dramas.

It's pretty simple. If you're not interested in the discussion, go back to Pinterest or whatever holds your interest. I was simply wanting some discussion and opinions on this particular (probably hypothetical) situation.

Wow. Why the hostility?

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