Psychiatric Nurse Dating Patient

⚡ 👉🏻👉🏻👉🏻 INFORMATION AVAILABLE CLICK HERE 👈🏻👈🏻👈🏻

First off, I work as a psychiatric technician - I am not a nurse.
Can I legally date a patient after she has been discharged from the psychiatric hospital in which I work? I cared for each of the patients under my care equally - she and I seemed to hit it off instantly, though. Would I be breaching confidentiality laws or the code of ethics by seeing her outside of the hospital now that she has been discharged?
Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU. Has 5 years experience.
It would be a huge ethical breach to date her. First you were part of her healthcare team, second it was a psych facility so she is part of a vulnerable population which makes it even worse. You cannot date her. You shouldn't even have contact with her. If she was just released from an inpatient psych facility she has enough on her plate and needs to focus on getting her life back on track, not on getting a new boyfriend. Think about what is best for her.
Specializes in NICU. Has 6 years experience.
I would say that would be a huge No-no. If you had met her on the street and in the course of conversation you mentioned your job and she mentioned her inpatient stay, maybe. But like the PP stated she has a lot to deal with right now and does not need to complicate things with a romantic relationship with one of her caretakers.
Specializes in around 25 years psych, 15years medical. Has 42 years experience.
First, thepsychtech, I applaud your action of gaining data before rushing head strong into an Unethical situation that involves matters of the heart. We Guys often don't use our big head for thinking.
Next, I have to concur with Sionainn and Don...
HOWEVER, in our system, a personal relationship between an Employee and FORMER Patient can take place after 6 months of being discharged.
It would behoove you to check with your Employer's Human Resource Dept.
And if you don't want to turn your life into a Daytime Soap Opera, remember this: "Love loves an obstacle."
The Best to you, thepsychtech. Welcome to AN.com. And, hey, don't be a stranger!
Edited Nov 12, 2014 by Davey Do
because I can
A boyfriend might be the antidote she has been seeking.
Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU. Has 5 years experience.
A boyfriend might be the antidote she has been seeking.
I hope that is sarcasm because that is horrible advice. Not only is it unethical, a bf is not the cure for mental illness.
Often times mental illness can stem from underlying needs not being properly met. The affection and love of a significant other can greatly alleviate the struggles one is having.
What I consider horrible advice, is acting like you're a know it all, and telling other posters they are wrong for providing different viewpoints.
Specializes in around 25 years psych, 15years medical. Has 42 years experience.
What I consider horrible advice, is acting like you're a know it all, and telling other posters they are wrong for providing different viewpoints.
Differing viewpoints is the stimulus for great debates and is welcomed, ICUman!
Having several years of experience has afforded me the opportunity to make, and learn from, my MANY mistakes. Bringing situations to the light and considering different options allows others the same opportunity.
The bottom line is that thepsychtech wants to pursue an intimate relationship with a Former Patient. It is established that such an action would be unethical with good reasons given.
However, the action would not be illegal, so thepsychtech is free to act on his desires without the fear of being, for example, fined or jailed. He stands to lose his job, and mentally and emotionally devastating himself and another.
But, as previously stated, "Love loves an obstacle". Class examples: Romeo and Juliet. West Side Story. Countless others.
We may just well be witnessing the birth of a new Tragedy: "The Psych Tech and Patient"! And ICUman might just be the catalyst for this modern-day Tragedy!
So there you have it: thepsychtech will do whatever he decides! Let the Tragedy begin!
Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P. Has 10 years experience.
I can see how this one ends, just remember when you're litigating in divorce court; "you picked her!" LMAO!!!
Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU. Has 5 years experience.
What I consider horrible advice, is acting like you're a know it all, and telling other posters they are wrong for providing different viewpoints.
When someone is sick enough that they are an in patient at a psych facility, it is an absolute certainty that their issues are more severe than just needing a significant other. They have serious, deep rooted issues. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together can see that and can see that it's beyond inappropriate to start a relationship with them. What this pt doesn't need is more upheaval in her life as she's trying to get it back on track.
Here is my point of view....she is mentally ill whats to stop her from saying you did something to her or say that you raped her if this doesn't turn out well for you....We as healthcare professionals have to have a line we don't cross no matter what it is or where its drawn... For some people they won't even hug a patient or rub a patients back where others will... you have to protect yourself and your career...My mother(also in the healthcare field) said that the biggest way to burn out is to be too involved with your patients.
Specializes in Forensic Psych. Has 2 years experience.
How would you connect with her after discharge without acting unprofessionally?
Getting "digits" from a patient is unethical and surely straight up against the rules. You'd be using your position of power to initiate a relationship. You'd be taking the professional relationship to an unprofessional level.
Or would you dig through her chart to find her info? Surely you can see why that wouldn't be allowed, either.
So I'd say that, no matter what, it's a bad a idea. But unless she hunts YOU down after the usual waiting period required, it's an even worse idea. Don't abide your power. You'll meet people you connect with. But you aren't there to date. You're there to help vulnerable people.
Specializes in Peds PACU & Peds Psych. Has 1 years experience.
At my facility, there is a 2 year period that must pass before an outside relationship is considered legally okay. However, even then, HR has made it VERY clear that no matter the time-frame, dating a former patient would be HIGHLY frowned upon by the facility. You need to check with your own company policies.
That being said, I think this is a bad idea. Unethical, for starters. And as others have said, this girl clearly has other, more important issues to deal with. If you actually care for her, you'll do what's in her best interest.
Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.
Just because she's been discharged, doesn't mean she is all ok. Depending on what her illness is, your life could be turned upside down by what she goes through. Those of us with family and friends with psychiatric disorders can't get away from those we love who are ill, but you don't need to get into something that could be hurtful, emotionally, to you.
Also, when you were her caregiver, whether you realize it or not, you had a position of power over her. If you get into a relationship with her, that position isn't gone. She may not respond to you the same way she would to someone who's her peer. The relationship could be a bit tangled due to that.
Where I've worked, there have been rules about no contact for at least 6 months. This includes any contact, not just dating. It's meant to prevent problems that a change from caregiver/client to the other sort of relationship can develop.
Please review the concept of transference/countertransference, both for what you're going through now, and for future times with other patients. A patient is not someone you should be thinking of as someone significant in your personal life, while the person is your patient, and afterwards, if the caregiving part is what lead to the other part. It's contrary to the psychiatric helping relationship, and twists objectivity in both you and the patient/former patient.
Specializes in Forensic Psych. Has 2 years experience.
.....no. Just no. This kind of thought process is exactly WHY these relationships are doomed from the beginning.
That pervasive idea that we can "save" someone or "fix" them with our love.
Specializes in Forensic Psych. Has 2 years experience.
People in inpatient psych generally have deep seated issues, or they wouldn't be there.
People don't have severe major depression, schizophrenia, bpd, bipolar disorder, ptsd, WHATEVER, because they haven't had the love of a good man or woman. They're there because they need professional help.
On the other side of the coin (our side), we can't get pulled into the idea that we're the white knight a patient needs to be whole. That's how we get used, abused, burn out, or hurt are patients.
Look up stories of staff dating psych patients. There have been suicides, murders, return hospitalizations, and claims of rape and abuse.
Ok sure. I would definitely agree with you on those. I stated a relationship has potential to help some of hose conditions. It could be considered support, in addition to other benefits.
Those type of people need personal support. No, it likely won't solve everything, but I disagree with the sentiment that it is 100% the wrong choice. Relationships are a form of therapy.
Remember me Not recommended on shared computers
Or sign in with one of these services
Specializes in around 25 years psych, 15years medical.
allnurses is a Nursing Career & Support site. Our mission is to Empower, Unite, and Advance every nurse, student, and educator. Our members represent more than 60 professional nursing specialties. Since 1997, allnurses is trusted by nurses around the globe.
allnurses.com, INC, 7900 International Drive #300, Bloomington MN 55425
1-612-816-8773
allnurses® Copyright © 1997-2021, allnurses.com INC.
By using the site you agree to our Privacy, Cookies, and Terms of Service Policies.

Dear Nurse Beth, I'm wanting to date a former patient. He was never my patient, just there while I was on duty ... Navy Psych Tech...
Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, ICU, Ortho. Has 30 years experience.
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!
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.
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.
This article is featured in the Fall 2018 issue of our allnurses Magazine...
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
Share this post
Link to post
Share on other sites
The NCSBN can say whatever it wants to; the standard in "Psych World," for all the mental health disciplines working in psychiatric settings, including psychiatric nurses (and CNAs, techs, etc.), is that it is never appropriate to enter into a personal relationship with former client (someone you met in a work setting). I've seen multiple people violate that well-established boundary over the years, and I've seen it blow up in their faces. I've never personally been aware of a situation in which it turned out well.
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CNE, CEN, CPEN, TCRN. Has 13 years experience.
OP, if you're asking, you know there is an issue with this. It crosses lines that are best left uncrossed. I wish you both well.
Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor. Has 22 years experience.
Dating former patient he was never my patient just there while I was on duty ... Navy Psych Tech
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!
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?
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.
I am still married and have been throughout my career so dating was a non-issue. I had a friend whom, upon her license being suspended for other reasons, had the BON dig through her entire life and dinged her on dating an ex-patient but this was working as a jail nurse and she'd gone way past what she should have on boundaries in getting too familiar with him while he was still in jail. I still think it is a bad idea in other areas of nursing.
"Dating former patient he was never my patient just there while I was on duty ... Navy Psych Tech
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!"
Was he your patient or not? You seem to contradict yourself?
You call yourself a technician so it appears you are not a nurse.
Are you both still on Active Duty or is he a dependent?
It seems you are already in a relationship with him.
You want to date a guy you met as a patient in a mental hospital?
Hey good luck but when he starts displaying all the reasons that got him placed in mental health treatment you sure as heck can't say you weren't warned
Specializes in Psychiatry. Has 6 years experience.
It's not so much that he's a patient, but that you met him in a psych hospital. Nothing against mental illness, however, this isnt the case where you met a guy, and then discovered he had a mental illness.
I work in a psych facility and the patients there are really nice people of course that is until you read their chart and then it's apparent why they are getting treatment in the first place.
You will ultimately do what you want but please try to get to know this person first.
WHY??? Why is it always psych patients?
This precise question comes up on AN at least once every few months. Psych patients are an inherently vulnerable population, and the nature of psych nursing care makes the whole situation even more questionable.
OP, consider using the AN search bar to search for 'dating former patient' or 'dating former psych patient,' and you will see hundreds of responses with a myriad of reasons why this is a terrible idea.
I am really disgusted with how more than one person has brought up that the person was in for a psych issue, aside from mentioning this could be a vulnerable population. You should really think about how you are stigmatizing people as a medical professional. So people with mental health issues are not good people, they are not worthy of relationships or love? That honestly has not much to do with the issue at hand, it is just a dig at those who have mental health issues. None of your spouses have ever been depressed? That is lucky. Think about how you are perpetuating the stigma of mental illness which can and does happen to anyone, next could be you or your loved one.
As a psych nurse of over 20 years I can only offer this sound piece of advice. NO!! NO!! NO!! That is unless you plan on never working in the psych world again and know it is true what NEO Soldier said... what got the guy there in the first place? I can't stress enough NO!!
Specializes in Hospice. Has 40 years experience.
I am really disgusted with how more than one person has brought up that the person was in for a psych issue, aside from mentioning this could be a vulnerable population. You should really think about how you are stigmatizing people as a medical professional. So people with mental health issues are not good people, they are not worthy of relationships or love? That honestly has not much to do with the issue at hand, it is just a dig at those who have mental health issues. None of your spouses have ever been depressed? That is lucky. Think about how you are perpetuating the stigma of mental illness which can and does happen to anyone, next could be you or your loved one.
This isn't about the ability of people with mental health issues being capable of healthy relationships. It's about the temptation for the caregiver to use the exceedingly intimate nature of the therapeutic relationship - which is inherently unequal - to meet his/her own needs.
That is what I am saying, I am saying it is unnecessary for all of the negative things that have been said about being seen for mental health issues, that the only thing that was appropriate was the fact that someone said it can be a vulnerable population. Let me point out what I am talking about : " Is this real?
You want to date a guy you met as a patient in a mental hospital?
Hey good luck but when he starts displaying all the reasons that got him placed in mental health treatment you sure as heck can't say you weren't warned " or "It's not so much that he's a patient, but that you met him in a psych hospital. Nothing against mental illness, however, this isnt the case wher
White Boxxx Sex Flims
Son Forced Sleeping Mom
Real Old Teen
Mat I Sin Xxx
Tg Tf Ass Pussy Transformation
Dating a former patient - Psychiatric Nursing - allnurses®
The Unwritten Rules Of Dating As A Nurse - Ask Nurse Beth ...
Do nurses obey the relationship rules? | Nursing Times
When does a nurse-patient relationship cross the line ...
Mental health nurse dating patient – Minuto Digital
Psychiatric Nurse Dating Patient
Psychiatric Nurse Dating Patient - cavuvox.site
Psychiatric Nurse Dating Patient
Psychiatric Nurse Dating Patient
Psychiatric Nurse Dating Patient - tehiqak.site
Psychiatric Nurse Dating Patient