What's your opinion? Unethical???

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I have a question for anyone willing to take the time to give me their two-cents worth.

Scenario: Nurse has a pt. Male. His SO stays w/ him at the hosp. They are both homeless. They are living out of a van. For whatever reason, these two have really touched the heart of the nurse in the two days that she has gotten to know them. Pt and SO have a small dog. She is very attentive to dog's needs...outside q1-2h to let dog out of van...ensures windows are partly open. Pt is disabled (severe COPD, requires crutches to amb). She is not disabled but has no official address or phone number to offer perspective employers. Pt was working but during his last hospitalization, his sleezy employer essentially stole (repossessed) his truck saying that he was not able to fulfill his verbal contract because he was in the hospital and knowing pt did not have funds to get attorney to fight for what was rightfully his.

Question: Is it unethical for the nurse to offer to sponsor (i.e. allowing pt and his SO/fiance to move in her home) this pt and his SO once he is d/c'd from the hospital?

Please, don't point out the dangers of letting total strangers move in w/ nurse. She feels that she is generally a good judge of character and has very rarely been "burned" in the past. She does not feel that they are the type to pilfer and steal. She has no long distance service available on her phone line (she uses only cell phone for long distance calling). And, even if they were the type, she is willing to take the chance. She is just looking for possible ramifications from the nursing perspective.

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
I have a question for anyone willing to take the time to give me their two-cents worth.

Scenario: Nurse has a pt. Male. His SO stays w/ him at the hosp. They are both homeless. They are living out of a van. For whatever reason, these two have really touched the heart of the nurse in the two days that she has gotten to know them. Pt and SO have a small dog. She is very attentive to dog's needs...outside q1-2h to let dog out of van...ensures windows are partly open. Pt is disabled (severe COPD, requires crutches to amb). She is not disabled but has no official address or phone number to offer perspective employers. Pt was working but during his last hospitalization, his sleezy employer essentially stole (repossessed) his truck saying that he was not able to fulfill his verbal contract because he was in the hospital and knowing pt did not have funds to get attorney to fight for what was rightfully his.

Question: Is it unethical for the nurse to offer to sponsor (i.e. allowing pt and his SO/fiance to move in her home) this pt and his SO once he is d/c'd from the hospital?

Please, don't point out the dangers of letting total strangers move in w/ nurse. She feels that she is generally a good judge of character and has very rarely been "burned" in the past. She does not feel that they are the type to pilfer and steal. She has no long distance service available on her phone line (she uses only cell phone for long distance calling). And, even if they were the type, she is willing to take the chance. She is just looking for possible ramifications from the nursing perspective.

No, I don't think it is unethical but I do have questions about your motivation. Nurses tend to have rescuer complexes and they can get us into a lot of trouble. These folks need a lot more than you can offer. If you get them hooked into social services while they're in your house, social services won't be in such a hurry to find them permanent housing. You're a nurse - not a social worker which is what they need right now.

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I am a psychiatric CNS who has also spent years doing crisis social work with street people before I went into nursing, and I agree with subee; although your heart is obviously in the right place, what you propose is just asking for trouble (and not just of the obvious kinds that you note). The healthiest thing for you to do, for all concerned, is to hook these people up with the local social service agencies who can work with them to get their needs met within "the system." I realize that's far from a perfect answer, but there is no perfect answer in this sort of situation.

I strongly urge you not to invite them into your home. As my coworker and I always say, "healthy boundaries are the key to a happy life!" What you are proposing would be a v. serious boundary violation which would be out of the question in any psychiatric or social work setting/context, and there is really no reason why it would be any better of an idea in any other healthcare setting.

Best wishes --

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Agree w/ the above.

Even a 'good judge of character' can be wrong, and the newspapers are full of stories about good-hearted folks who opened their home to a stranger and then got ripped off, their property destroyed, their homes turned into a haven for drug abusers, or their bodies found buried in their own back yards. I'm NOT saying this couple are bad people just because they're homeless---after all, most Americans are just a few paychecks away from the streets!---but why take such a risk? That's what social service agencies are for, and that's what they need.

Please urge your co-worker NOT to do this foolish thing........instead, tell her to set them up with discharge planning so they can get the kind of help they really should have. Homelessness generally isn't a simple problem anyway; there are almost always multiple needs/issues that can't be 'fixed' simply by giving them "three hots and a cot". :stone

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Agree with above as well (elkpark ) Dont do it.

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

I admire your impulses, but have to agree with the others. It doesn't seem strictly unethical, but does appear unwise.

Knowing that social agencies can move slowly, I would suggest contacting local churches for assistance, too. Some may have programs in place for such emergencies, or some may be able to improvise an interim solution.

Maybe you could get enough co-workers interested to raise money for a residential hotel or something similar? I mean, if 40-50 people could kick in a buck a night for a month or two, that could be the bridge they need...

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Totally in agreement with the above posters. Not unethical but certainly unwise!

A social worker should be able to help them get the start they need, so I would seek out their advise and try to get them the care they need via those avenues made specifically for these types of issues. Sometimes even church groups are able to help, and hopefully your social workers know of these avenues.

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take patients, no matter how in need, into our homes, crosses the line.

These are adults who are in a bad spot, but a call to social services, and then following up to make sure that they were taken care of, is an appropriate level of caring.

To be quite honest, and maybe it is my cynical side coming out, but it sounds like these people are playing (or maybe preying) on this person's misplaced good intentions.

I think that learning to maintain a healthy professional distance is key. My patients have my complete attention when I am there, but when I am not, my family and friends are front and center.

J

I have a question for anyone willing to take the time to give me their two-cents worth.

Scenario: Nurse has a pt. Male. His SO stays w/ him at the hosp. They are both homeless. They are living out of a van. For whatever reason, these two have really touched the heart of the nurse in the two days that she has gotten to know them. Pt and SO have a small dog. She is very attentive to dog's needs...outside q1-2h to let dog out of van...ensures windows are partly open. Pt is disabled (severe COPD, requires crutches to amb). She is not disabled but has no official address or phone number to offer perspective employers. Pt was working but during his last hospitalization, his sleezy employer essentially stole (repossessed) his truck saying that he was not able to fulfill his verbal contract because he was in the hospital and knowing pt did not have funds to get attorney to fight for what was rightfully his.

Question: Is it unethical for the nurse to offer to sponsor (i.e. allowing pt and his SO/fiance to move in her home) this pt and his SO once he is d/c'd from the hospital?

Please, don't point out the dangers of letting total strangers move in w/ nurse. She feels that she is generally a good judge of character and has very rarely been "burned" in the past. She does not feel that they are the type to pilfer and steal. She has no long distance service available on her phone line (she uses only cell phone for long distance calling). And, even if they were the type, she is willing to take the chance. She is just looking for possible ramifications from the nursing perspective.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

I would have to agree with the others, if for no other reason than that Social Services can connect this couple with the services they so badly need, and that the Social Worker is the best person to help them at this time.

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Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.

I also agree with the others but I certainly admire what a big heart you have! We need more people like you in this world! Is there another way that you might be able to help them that doesnt involve letting them move in with you?

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

((((((((((Big hug)))))))))) :icon_hug: for "the nurse" with a big heart who wants to help that family. What a heart "that nurse" has to want to do such an unselfish thing. It's not unethical, but it may be unsafe for that nurse to invite them into his/her home without truly knowing much about the couple in need. I agree with everyone else that it would be best for that nurse to place a consult for that couple to be seen by a social worker while the patient is hospitalized. They may need long term help, and it would be best for them to be set up with social services to see how they can help them. I hope they find the help they need without the nurse placing his/her self in harms way just because the nurse has a big heart and compassion for others in situations such as that. Think safety first, and then offer what professional services are available to assist that couple. :)

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Specializes in Government.

Please maintain a professional distance. I realize this is hard but you need to do it to remain effective as an RN. There are codes of conduct for a reason...often to protect the professional.

I worked with a nurse once who became totally enmeshed with a pediatric patient and the family. She, too, thought she was a great judge of character. Nurse of the year, above and beyond, that sort of thing. She ended up getting sued in the divorce proceedings for her interference and alienation of affection. It cost her thousands in legal representation...the heart of the case was that as an RN she had a duty to remain out of the family dynamics.

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