Is it ever okay to follow up with a patient you've cared for outside of work?

LadysSolo · Apr 17, 2016

I had a young man die on my floor (oncology) some years ago, his mom and wife took it hard. I had done some "extra" things for him from time to time (searching the hospital lounges/waiting areas for magazines he might be interested in, hunting other unit pantries for special snacks, etc.) They showed up on my doorstep the day after Christmas the year he died (I lived 30 miles from where I worked.) To say I was shocked would have been an understatement. I truly felt I had done nothing I wouldn't have done for any of my patients, but they wanted to hang onto me. I had to gently cut their cord, it was not good for them to hang onto me. I agree with keeping work and home separate.

nURse_dEZi · Apr 17, 2016

I had a preceptor that would get attached to some of his patients and tell them to call the unit or his number just let him know how their procedure went (patients that would go for a CABG at another hospital). I respected this and I believe it s something I wouldn't mind doing.

I know the rules etc and I know some people are strongly opposed to this kind of thing but I'm not completely closed to the idea of opening the door if they want to follow up with me.

spaghetti2520 · Apr 17, 2016

I'm not a nurse but I am a professional patient. Unfortunately, I have lots of health problems and spend time in the hospital at least once per year. These last 2 years have been particularly bad. I go to the same hospital every time. One nurse "Heather" has been there ever since I had my first surgery 15 years ago. I know she sees so many patients over the years and I hadn't seen her in about 5 years so of course she had no idea who I was. I gave her a quick recap of our history and she did in fact remember me. She said oh yea and then you had this done right? So this past year, I have had 3 surgeries so far and one more to go. I always request she be my nurse. One, she is awesome at her job, two, we do connect on a patient/nurse level and three I am so comfortable with her it makes the healing process a little easier for me. And I feel she takes extra special care of me. I probably wouldn't recognise her out of scrubs and she wouldn't recognize me in anything but a hospital gown. But after my stay, I always send a huge edible arrangements basket to the whole ward that took care of me during my stay.

When I leave, several of the nurses and aides at the nursing station come to my room and give me hugs goodbye. I think they all show a great level of care. I know they don't do that for all their patients. So is it weird for nurses to have a patient request them?

Fiona59 · Apr 18, 2016

Yes. I puts pressure on the nurse, who may or may not want you in their care assignment on a daily basis