In over 30 years of direct patient care, I can count on one hand the number of times I have done a favor where money or off-duty time was involved.
One was actually in nursing school! and not my patient, either. I came on my own time, in the evening, to shave a patient that had a broken arm, not yet set. He was my age, and the break was from a cancerous tumor. As I left, his dad gave me 10 bucks that I tried to return.
When I was a home health nurse, I had a patient whose daughter did his grocery shopping. She rarely brought him any fresh fruit or veggies. He was a very angry man, very depressed, constantly complaining. One day, I passed by a fresh produce stand and bought a basket of peaches and took him a few. It was like bringing him gold nuggets. His entire demeanor changed toward me AND his HHA! He understood that this was an anomaly, and never expected anything else. But he felt like I listened to his complaints, and was so happy.
We need to be very careful when 'crossing the lines' because we can inadvertently put ourselves in a compromising situation.
A quick run to the gift shop or cafeteria may turn into an expected activity.
Be very careful about your choices.
