Nurse chatting/dating patient

Nurses Relations

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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

Specializes in ER.
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...

Name calling? Really?? OP, ignore it, there's no place for this.

The OP stated in their post that they did not go any further ie ask phone number, because they were not sure of the consequences. They decided to err on the side of good judgement and came here to ask advice, not get called a chump. These type questions can't be addressed at school or on the clinical site, can you imagine that conversations. Go up to your clinical instructor and ask if it's ok to get the phone number and address of the pt in Rm 5 because you wanna date them, bet that would go over pretty good. The same with asking nurses on the floor or classmates, wouldn't be pretty and may lead to disciplinary actions against the student. So, here we are discussing this and telling this anonymous person that it is indeed very wrong to become romantically involved with a patient in any way, shape, form or fashion. To me this is a failure on the schools part by not addressing this prior to putting the students in clinical rotations.

To me you made the right choice and did not put yourself in situation that could result in actions being taken against you. Then you demonstrated sound judgement by coming here to find out what you should or should not do. It's a learning experience and as you grow as a nurse you'll get a good feel for when things become questionable and you'll know how to react. Just on a side note, focus on school and leave the relationship drama out for now.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Damn some harsh responses lol. If she if interested she knows where u work and will come see you when she is better.

Deservedly so. It's a hospital, not a meat market.

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Deservedly so. It's a hospital, not a meat market.

I can understand that but according to the original post they didn't cross any lines so some of the responses were a lil harsh IMO.

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Specializes in Cardiovascular, ER.

Sorry OP but.... yuck. This puts a very unpleasant picture in my mind. Especially your last statement where you put romance and them being on all sorts of drugs in the same sentence. Really? That did not strike a cord and give you your answer when you typed that out?

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Specializes in Mental Health, Medical Research, Periop.
Name calling? Really?? OP, ignore it, there's no place for this.

The OP stated in their post that they did not go any further ie ask phone number, because they were not sure of the consequences. They decided to err on the side of good judgement and came here to ask advice, not get called a chump. These type questions can't be addressed at school or on the clinical site, can you imagine that conversations. Go up to your clinical instructor and ask if it's ok to get the phone number and address of the pt in Rm 5 because you wanna date them, bet that would go over pretty good. The same with asking nurses on the floor or classmates, wouldn't be pretty and may lead to disciplinary actions against the student. So, here we are discussing this and telling this anonymous person that it is indeed very wrong to become romantically involved with a patient in any way, shape, form or fashion. To me this is a failure on the schools part by not addressing this prior to putting the students in clinical rotations.

To me you made the right choice and did not put yourself in situation that could result in actions being taken against you. Then you demonstrated sound judgement by coming here to find out what you should or should not do. It's a learning experience and as you grow as a nurse you'll get a good feel for when things become questionable and you'll know how to react. Just on a side note, focus on school and leave the relationship drama out for now.

Yes the school should let students know the boundaries before they start clinical rotations. Mine sure did. Despite my school making it clear that we are only to have professional relationships with the patients, a fellow student (while in psych) did get a little TOO friendly with a patient, leading to investigation - she was later dismissed from the school for another reason not related to the clinical rotation. Anyhow, with that said - I thought all schools taught professionalism, and what is appropriate and what isn't, guess they do not - IT SHOULD BE TAUGHT. You made the right decision in not taking it any further, I know you felt a connection because she is from your country, but if it is destined let it happen outside the hospital. Do not pursue it. Maybe you will run into her one day at the market, and she will walk up to you and begin conversation. I dont know, maybe I'm a dreamer, but I say - let this one go (especially since you mentioned she may be on all kinds of drugs - that cant be good at all). Although, I am curious as to how you know she is single (hopefully from the chart, not by asking) ANYHOW, GOOD LUCK TO YOU in your studies!!!

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Specializes in LTC.

OP you were right following your instincts. I commend you for this. Although, I've chatted it up with one of my patients before... he was 95 years old and just as sweet as he could be. If he was about 70 years younger and I wasn't his nurse he may have had a shot. lol

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Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.
Name calling? Really?? OP, ignore it, there's no place for this.

The OP stated in their post that they did not go any further ie ask phone number, because they were not sure of the consequences. They decided to err on the side of good judgement and came here to ask advice, not get called a chump. These type questions can't be addressed at school or on the clinical site, can you imagine that conversations. Go up to your clinical instructor and ask if it's ok to get the phone number and address of the pt in Rm 5 because you wanna date them, bet that would go over pretty good. The same with asking nurses on the floor or classmates, wouldn't be pretty and may lead to disciplinary actions against the student. So, here we are discussing this and telling this anonymous person that it is indeed very wrong to become romantically involved with a patient in any way, shape, form or fashion. To me this is a failure on the schools part by not addressing this prior to putting the students in clinical rotations.

To me you made the right choice and did not put yourself in situation that could result in actions being taken against you. Then you demonstrated sound judgement by coming here to find out what you should or should not do. It's a learning experience and as you grow as a nurse you'll get a good feel for when things become questionable and you'll know how to react. Just on a side note, focus on school and leave the relationship drama out for now.

Where is the name calling?...unless the shoe fits...this is a 25 year old man. School should not have to teach respect. If his question was so innocent, he would not have mentioned drugs. There was no place for it. He is messing with you, you just don't get it. Peace!

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

I saw a post once that summed it up; don't have sex with your patients or their families! Out of all the people you've slept with, how many relationships ended? And of those how many ended well? Equate ending poorly with losing your job and you have your answer.

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Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.

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

Thanks

There is everything wrong with it.

Might have been better to take a few moments and reflect before posting such things on a public site.

The general public read this.

Might be a good idea to spend quite a lot of time and effort on the study of ethics and how they apply to nursing practice.

Best wishes to you.

You are going to need to get this sorted before you graduate

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Specializes in New PACU RN.

I put gloves on when dealing with my non-isolation pts - the thought of being intimate with even the healthiest of them grosses me out (I don't care if they came in for a sprained ankle).

The hospital is as sexy of a dating pool as the morgue/prison.

But enough about me....if you KNOW that you can't accept simple gifts from patients - what makes you think you can have relationship with them?

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Never date a patient. Unless you run into them somewhere and become friends. But be careful to not say something in front of other people that you were even thier nurse.

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Specializes in EDUCATION;HOMECARE;MATERNAL-CHILD; PSYCH.

It is unethical. It may be intepreted as taking advantage of a vulnerable person. If the patient is interested, she will find you after she has been discharged.

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