I'm just curious if it is against any rules to date a former patient of mine at the inpatient ward?????? please let me know he's such a sweet man and we totally connected a few months after he was in!Dear Wants to Date Former Patient,Nurses are the most trusted profession and as such follow a code of ethical behaviors. There are no legal rules around dating a patient, but we are bound to a code of ethics. The ANA Code of Ethics tells us when there's a conflict between personal values and professional values, the conflict must always be addressed in a way that puts our patients' safety and concerns first.The intimate nature of nursing can lead to a risk of boundary violations and it's up to the nurse to establish the boundaries.According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) there are questions to help determine the appropriateness of dating a patient and guide professional boundaries.How long ago was the nurse patient relationship? If it's a current relationship, dating is prohibited.Was the care provided extensive? A one day stay in the hospital is different than a two week stay.Is there a chance he'll be your patient in the future?In your case, he was not your patient, and you did not enter into a nurse-patient relationship. You connected after he was hospitalized. You are not violating any professional boundaries, and I wish you and your sweet man well.Best wishes,Nurse BethAuthor, "Your Last Nursing Class: How to Land Your First Nursing Job"...and your next!This article is featured in the Fall 2018 issue of our allnurses Magazine...Download allnurses Magazine 1 Down Vote Up Vote × About Nurse Beth, MSN Career Columnist / Author Beth Hawkes (Nurse Beth) is an accomplished nurse working in Acute Care as a Staff Development Professional Specialist. She is also an accomplished author, blogger, speaker, and columnist. As Nurse Beth, she regularly answers career-related questions at allnurses.com Check out her book, "Your Last Nursing Class: How to Land Your First Job" Nurse Beth blogs at nursecode.com 145 Articles 4,099 Posts Share this post Share on other sites