Sexual relations with patients

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Hi there I am new to this site and well new as a nurse as well.

there is a male nurse who we all know is having sexual relations with a patient in acute care. The hospital seems to want to stick their heads in the sand and people do not seem to want to get involved. The female patient is on very heavy narcotics and benzos and the hospitals thought is it may be mutual but given the dosages she may not remember and we know they did not know each other prior to her admittance.

What is our duty to report ?? And to whom ? If the hospital will not listen will the nursing boards?

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Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care, Home Care.

I would report to APS immediately. With the medications etc., that seems like flat out sexual abuse, not to mention an abuse of power and the role.

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This has been going on a while she was in ICU and came down to acute ,, being the lower on the totem pole everyone seems to want to ignore,, night shift is when he works and on duty as well not even on this floor. He is in ICU

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How does everyone know this is happening?! Was he caught in the act?! Did he admit it to you?!

How was it reported and to who at the hospital?! Is this your patient?! Are you the one that reported it?! Was it done in writing?! Did the patient or her family make a complaint that was ignored?! Was an invertigation done?! Just curious as to more of the facts before advising.

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He was caught , heard , someone reported , my patient is next door, she is alone , no family here and patient relations has been running in the door a few times but I dont think she remembers or knows,, like i said glanced ather charts and never seen anyone on such high pain management that is semi conscious , when he is off she seems to be more alert but Ive been told to stay out of it. Dont know him really welll but think he should be fired and loose his license..

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he is a travel nurse short contract ,,

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Specializes in NICU, Pediatric Urgent Care.

that's just sick... and sounds like flat out RAPE. Can't he get fired for, at the least, having SEX during his work shift? Good God.

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Specializes in ER.

Hmmm, seems it would be wise to report it to the BON and let them investigate.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Rather than the BON is there a state agency you can report it to?

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

I agree with reporting this, sounds like the patient is being abused and as a nurse you have to advocate for her.

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Specializes in NA.

3 words: Anonymous Police Report

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Yes, you need to report it.

There are alot of problems with this situation, and the hospital should be looking at it from the perspective, that IF she gets out alive and gets off some of the meds she is on...she could file the biggest lawsuit against the hospital for sexual assault.

Notice I used to the words "sexual assault" and not "sexual harrassment".

That is because someone that is heavily on narcotics, cannot consent to sex in most states, no more than someone that is heavily under the use of alcohol.

A half-dead lawyer could argue and probably win, that the nurse was in a position of power, while his victim was obviously in acute care for a reason.

People under anesthesia and heavy narcotics sometimes gets an inflated libido...but that doesn't equal a sexual invitation...even if she was begging him.

Hospital is dead wrong.

Does this woman have family?

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