Nurse chatting/dating patient

[springgarden]

The other day in clinical, I had a patient that I started talking with.

She is from my home country and I found out we grew up in the same area.

I did not get her phone number or information from her.

I did not because I did not know if it is against any law, unethical etc.

So My question, is there anything wrong in a nurse or doctor chatting up a patient or client if he/she is single?

This is "work romance" but it is between a healthcare proffesional and a patient who is there for medical help. The patient or client may be on all sorts of drugs.

Thanks

[CaregiverGrace]

"Chatting up" a patient that may be on "all sorts of drugs". That sort of sums it up, no?

[AKA_Glamour_Pearl]

Noooooooooooooooooooooo. No. No. No. No. No. Maybe if you happened to bump into someone in the cafeteria after they had been discharged, and they weren't your patient... then maybe. But this was your patient and this patient was also medicated. This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Very unprofessional, in my opinion. Hospitals are really not the place to meet people though.

[caregiver1977]

I think chatting with a patient is fine, but chatting them up, as in a dating prospect could cause more problems than my poor fingers could type.

[Guest717236]

No, never, ever. Great advice above. If the person is your patient, or

someone who your team is caring for no. You need to set a professional

boundary with all patients. Keep your work life and personal life separate. In addition to

a disciplinary write up , you could find yourself in a potential legal situation.

Not worth throwing away your career.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Work is not social time. No chatting up, flirting, making dates. Having a chat...how are you, fine I hope, now let's see what your vitals are...that's fine. And that's ALL.

[CaitlinAnn]

I agree with the above. No, don't do it. Ever.

[shhhh]

Very unprofessional, and frankly, pretty creepy and kinda gross.

The only time I've ever heard of a nurse and a patient dating was a former co-worker of mine in the past. She had cared for him a bit after he was injured on the job and in the hospital for weeks. It only started up LONG after he was discharged and was at full speed again, and HE was the only who initiated it, not the nurse.

I think since the patient tends to take the orders of the nurse or doctor caring for them and does what they tell them to do to get better (especially in the hospital), it's implied that the patient is like a subordinate to the nurse or doctor. The patient may just accept the invitation to a date out of feeling obligated to because this person cared for them. It just makes everyone feel like that doctor or nurse has taken advantage of that patient, and that's not a reputation you would want. If she's really interested in you she'll seek you out.

[1spunky]

Other than harming a patient, it is probably the fastest way to get fired! You workedtoo hard to get through nursing school to blow it on something that maybe headed nowhere. Is it really worth the risk?

[Chin up]

All the above...and once her meds wear off, she may not want to talk to you anyway! Leave her alone, you are no man. A man would not try to take advantage of an impaired person. A chump would though...

[calitotx]

Damn some harsh responses lol. If she if interested she knows where u work and will come see you when she is better.

[Nccity2002, MSN, RN]

The other day in clinical, I had a patient that I started talking with.

She is from my home country and I found out we grew up in the same area.

I did not get her phone number or information from her.

I did not because I did not know if it is against any law, unethical etc.

So My question, is there anything wrong in a nurse or doctor chatting up a patient or client if he/she is single?

This is "work romance" but it is between a healthcare proffesional and a patient who is there for medical help. The patient or client may be on all sorts of drugs.

Thanks

In a nutshell...yes, there is something wrong. From an ethical standpoint, as a healthcare provider your are there a as trusted figure to guide care when most individuals find themselves in a vulnerable period of their life. Legally...you are opening yourself to a lawsuit.When I heard of nurses/physicians engaging in such relationships...make me wonder about their common sense and professional ethics. Most facilities have written policies against the practice. In California, it is a reportable offense and ground for termination.