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 Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.

A really "intelligent" and compassionate nurse--oh, everyone raved about how bright and kind she was--that i worked with several years ago fell in love with her patient. He was in the hospital after doping up his leg with heroin and developed flesh-eating bacteria and had to have half of his leg cut off. Well, they got married, had a kid, he is a stay at home dad, is on methadone and she works like a dog so he can stay home. Sounds like a prize, huh? Some folks will date anyone. Ick. Another staffer--a unit clerk, not an employee then, but a patient at the time married the RN who took care of him after his surgery, gave her a bizzillion kids, he stays home while she works like the dickens. :lol2:

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A really "intelligent" and compassionate nurse--oh, everyone raved about how bright and kind she was--that i worked with several years ago fell in love with her patient. He was in the hospital after doping up his leg with heroin and developed flesh-eating bacteria and had to have half of his leg cut off. Well, they got married, had a kid, he is a stay at home dad, is on methadone and she works like a dog so he can stay home. Sounds like a prize, huh? Some folks will date anyone. Ick. Another staffer--a unit clerk, not an employee then, but a patient at the time married the RN who took care of him after his surgery, gave her a bizzillion kids, he stays home while she works like the dickens. :lol2:

If they have a "bizzillion kids" then it may be more economic for him to stay home than pay daycare. But I get your point, certainly.:up: The first one certainly sounds like no prize.

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Please don’t do it springgarden. You know it’s wrong that’s why you are doubting right? Find someone else. Not a patient under your care who is on some form of drugs and someone vulnerable and couldn’t determine what is right from wrong. You don’t want to be fired and reported to the BON. You don’t want to be financially drained and legally challenged. I don’t think it’s worth it. If you are a thrill-seeker or want some adventure, why not try sky-diving or bungee jumping if you will instead? :idea:

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Thanks for all the responses.

Even the responses others called harsh, were not harsh. I like and prefer the frankness and saying it as you see it without any sugar coating.

Anyway, in my particular case she was not on any mind altering drug, sedative etc. The drug reference was an observation.

I was also thinking of the fact that it can be seen as "taking advatage" of a patient whom people can see as "vulnerable".

I was not not sure if it is unethical, against the law, frowned at by employers and if the patient could sue claiming anything.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
If they have a "bizzillion kids" then it may be more economic for him to stay home than pay daycare. But I get your point, certainly.:up: The first one certainly sounds like no prize.

God forbid they'd have used birth control and had the kids they could have afforded to support. :uhoh3:

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God forbid they'd have used birth control and had the kids they could have afforded to support. :uhoh3:

True, true. I can't disagree. But since they didn't I'd rather see someone stay at home with them rather than parents constantly dumping them off on a worn out granny. Hmmm, worn out grannies getting grandkids dumped on them...that is for another thread elsewhere!

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my preceptor met her husband because his mother was her patient so maybe if it's through a third party, it won't be so complicated. other than that, with these kind of scenarios, i smell a [color=deepskyblue]l.a.w.s.u.i.t (the sexual harrassment kind).

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

Yes, it does. Your answer was short and sweet and completely spot on.

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Specializes in ICU, ED, Trauma, Transplant.
The hospital is as sexy of a dating pool as the morgue/prison.

I wanted to mention that my father is a superintendent at a prison and he's dealt with more than one situation in which a female correctional officer falls in love with an inmate! Most of them in my father's experience have ultimately made the choice (after my dad made the choice for them) to quit their job to be with the inmate romantically. I'm sure it makes for an awkward situation for everyone involved when the women come to visit their incarcerated boyfriends and they have to go through the security clearance rigmarole with their former co-workers.

It boggles my mind why these women would choose to leave a decent job so they can support an ex-con just released from the pen.

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Specializes in Paediatrics.

Aw as disappointing as it may be or as much as you may like this lady its completely against the nursing code of conduct. As she is a patient in your care there is an unequal power level and it is seen as taken advantage of a vulnerable party. This can completely result in yourself being deregistered if the client or their family, let alone staff put in a complaint about you.

If you truly feel this way then I'd advise you to give this patient up due to conflict of interest of being too emotionally involved and allow another nurse to care for her.

Due to professional boundaries it just is seen as completely inappropriate, no matter how friendly or aware she may be. It's a similar argument as to why a teacher cannot date his student, it's all about the powerplay and vulnerability.

Take care alright.

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What everybody else has said.

Taking anything beyond a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship is not professional and can only cause problems... I've seen it happen.

She knows where you work, she knows your name. If she is interested, let her pursue you after the hospitalization.

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Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.

Yes it is unethical....no, it should never be done

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