Relationship with patient?

Nurses Relations

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Hi. Im a student nurse. I just finished my rotation in a psych hospital. A psych patient i interviewed, though i did not treat or counsel, approached me on my last day. She asked if we could see each other outside of the facility.

I told her that its not appropriate at this time, to which she gave me her number and facebook and told me to call her if i want.

We hit it off at the facility and i can say their was a mutual attraction.

Im wondering if i contacted her after she is discharged would put me in some sort of trouble.

Thanks

There's so many other fish in the sea. So many stable, less manipulative fish who won't cost you your license.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

No. Move on. Forget about him or her. You are not The One. They are not The One. The risk to gain ratio is severely not in your favor and that does not mean this is romantic or a fairly tale worth fighting for. Your consideration of it speaks to your lack of experience and naivete. This is a "likely to ruin my life and be the source of profound regret" scenario. Do. Not. Do. It. Wish them well, say goodbye and leave it in the past. Seriously.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
Just out of curiosity, what if you later ran into this person "on the outside" and the attraction persisted? Would they still be off-limits?

Heck yes.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
A friend of mine was an ER nurse who met a very nice guy who worked in construction when he lacerated his hand. He asked her out after work - she said no. He persisted over the course of three months - she relented - They dated, married and 20 years, 5 children and 3 grandchildren later they are still happily married. Still I wouldn't do it.

Hppy

It bears noting that a laceration is not a psyche patient. That one fact makes these two scenarios to be completely different ballparks. I am glad you said you still Advise against it.

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Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.

Psych 101 don't have sex, date, or have anything beyond a professional relationship with patients period.

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