Unethical?

[RebecaRN]

Is it unethical to date a recent patient? A coworker was the nurse for this patient and days after discharge she was "in a relationship" with this patient. We work psych and this seems unethical and a boundary issue to me. It makes me sick to my stomach thinking about it. I'm not sure if I feel that this is a bigger issue than it is or not.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Yes ethical violation and possibly reportable to the facility risk management or ultimately BoN for ethics violation with a vulnerable patient

[twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN]

Yuck, yeah red flags going off.

[Boomer MS, RN]

Oh dear.

[cucumberly]

Definitely a no-no.

[geek, BSN]

Especially because a psych discharge may not stay a psych discharge for very long

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Yes, unethical.

Shaking my head...

[WheresMyPen]

VERY unethical!!! That patient is vulnerable and your coworker should know better!

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

Until you said psych I would have said no issue, not something I would do, but the professional relations ends at d/c. For psych patients it may vary by state but in my state it's 3 yrs. rarely do we have a patient last that long without coming back

[nutella, MSN, RN]

Yes, it is a boundary crossing and unethical.

[oldpsychnurse]

I've seen this happen a couple of times in 30-plus years as a psych nurse. I've found that the nurse usually has at least as much pathology as the ex-patient they're dating. And it's not always the patient that's the vulnerable one. Some of these guys are cons and know how to weave their way into some idiotic nurse's heart. Either way, this is definitely a bad situation and somebody needs to have a talk with Nurse Hot Pants.

[sailornurse]

I work at an inpatient psych hospital doing admit H&P's and the HR manual clearly addresses this situation as grounds for termination. I do not remember if it is reportable to BON or not. You need to report to HR/manager. Do you have proof/evidence?