Student clinicals

[elaina0832]

I just finished my first clinical rotation as a nursing student, and wanted to share a wonderful experience. My patient was a swing bed pt, 88 years old who had suffered a right sided cva. She could not speak, or move, but I could tell that she understood what I was saying to her, and would grasp my hand when I spoke to her. Every day, her husband came to see her. When I walked past her room, I could hear him talking to her, singing to her, and reading the bible to her. He told me that they had been married for 72 years, he told me that she was his "angel". I was so touched by his love and devotion to her. On my last day of clinicals, he hugged me and thanked me for caring for his wife. At that moment, I fully realized why I decided I wanted to be a nurse.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

That is a wonderful example - but. . . . waaaay too much 'identifiable' patient information. If anyone knows which school you attend, they could easily figure out the setting and even the patient you describe. You wanted to share a great story, but this wouldn't prevent you from being accused of a HIPAA violation, particularly since the information is now on a social media site. That's the reality of healthcare - and nursing.

I don't want to diminish the joy you are finding in nursing, but please be more careful. Learning to manage professional boundaries is one of the hardest things we have to do.