Nurse dating former patient?

Nurses Professionalism

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Unethical? What are your thoughts on this?! Thanks

Specializes in Psych, Peds, Education, Infection Control.

I will say, in response to those who have brought it up, that if it was long enough ago/minor enough care that neither patient nor nurse remembers the prior meeting, I don't have any issue with that. But the basic tenets of appropriate behavior and respect still apply, as they should in any relationship.

Specializes in Med-Surg., LTC,, OB/GYN, L& D,, Office.

I once had a patient post TUR who was passing blood clots, fist to liver size from his urethra and still managed to ask if I was married and if I would date him...?!?!

Alarm bells should go off, mostly because other concerns should be taking priority!

Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
Amen to this. If the guy was decent and normal and just interested, here is what he'd do: After being told "no" he would send you a note at your workplace. He would thank you for the care and understand why you would say no. Then he would leave his contact information and leave it up to you if you changed your mind later. And that would be that.

Persistently calling anyone in their workplace is called harassment. Even spouses and family members are discouraged from doing this. It is disruptive and can cause employment problems for the person being called. That's why this is red flag behaviour.

That you can't see the awful signs of stalking/harassment/controlling behavior is worrisome that you have shaky boundaries, low self esteem and seem desperate for male attention.

These predators can sniff that out and use it to your disadvantage with a smile on their face as they twirl the zip-ties behind their back.

Addressing one aspect of this question.

As far as ethics goes, i dont think its unethical. Its obe of those rules that people go alobg with because its a rule thats been around forever.

But the rule originated from caregivers and patients that have had interaction over a long period of time, where the pt ends up kind of imprinting on the caregiver, abd the caregiver almost in a position to take advantage of it, almost like a stockholm manner.

These days, how much time you spend with a pt depends on what dept you work. So if its been like a few hrs, or even a 3 day week shift you spent, chances are this person was attracted to you much much sooner before than the whole stockholm syndrome set in, so youre not really takibg advantage of anyone, and especially if the encounter has since ended and youre no longer providing care for sone period of time.

With that said, this guy calling once to see maybe if he vould get a hold of you, fine sure i can kinda get that. Repeatedly though ? No way. Next he'll be waiting for you to get off work abd other further nonsense you dont need

I wouldn't do it. Its not worth your license, its not worth your safety and security, its not worth the drama at work. It really sounds like you are crushing on him a bit tho. I can understand maybe he doesnt know not to call you at work, that its not like a retail job or something, one time okay fine. If hes been calling after you gave a No. you need to CYA, before this gets worse. Avoid him, warn your coworkers to not tell anyone about your whereabouts, get security to take you to your car late nights.

If you are both interested in each other after some time, God will find a way for it to happen. THIS is just not the way.

Unethical? What are your thoughts on this?! Thanks

Maybe if it had been years, otherwise poor boundaries.

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Its not worth your license

How could it cost someone his/her license unless the nurse were stealing narcs for this guy?

Of course, the fact that he is a creepy stalker, there's your reason for saying no.

How could it cost someone his/her license unless the nurse were stealing narcs for this guy?

Of course, the fact that he is a creepy stalker, there's your reason for saying no.

If your nurse practice act forbids dating a current or former patient, doing so could get you into trouble with your license.

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
If your nurse practice act forbids dating a current or former patient, doing so could get you into trouble with your license.

Out of curiosity, is that a common regulation in state nurse practice acts?

Out of curiosity, is that a common regulation in state nurse practice acts?

I know I've seen something regarding professional boundaries/romantic entanglements with patients/former patients in mine, but I don't feel like searching through it at the moment.

So what's the update?

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
I know I've seen something regarding professional boundaries/romantic entanglements with patients/former patients in mine, but I don't feel like searching through it at the moment.

Not expecting you to. :) If I was really had a legitimate issue with it, I could look it up.

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