Info on patient nurse relationship.
https://nurseneedscoffeestat.org/20...atient-relationship-have-to-end-at-discharge/
From this blog. There is more.
Ask yourself if continuing a relationship after discharge from nursing services in these situations is acceptable or not.
Old high school teacher, who has asked you to add her to Facebook as she is leaving the hospital after recovering from a heart attack.
Mother of child who is dying of cancer and states she has a bond with you, you have been her rock. She wants you called and there when her child dies. You want to be there.
Child with chronic condition who is everyones favourite, spends months and months on your unit. Has a smile that melts your heart. You buy him a birthday present.
You have started your own Facebook page for mothers who have lost a child during childbirth. You share with a mother who delivered her baby stillborn that you have had a similar experience. You offer the Facebook page to her.
A patient with whom you have spent many nights sitting and writing letters to her children for her, as her hands were too weak to write them herself before she died. The family expects you at the funeral.
So should any of these individuals both adults and a child be able to contact you personally after discharge? Do some of these relationships seem harmless? Do the patients and families we take care of sometimes begin to feel like family? Is that normal?
Ask yourself: do the patients and families need the interaction or do you need the interaction? If so why? Is it crossing a boundary?
The therapeutic nurse relationship- defined
This relationship is dynamic, goal-oriented and patient-centered because it is designed to meet the needs of the patient. Regardless of the context or length of interaction, the therapeutic nursepatient relationship protects the patients dignity, autonomy and privacy and allows for the development of trust and respect.
RED FLAG BEHAVIORS
Some behavioral indicators can alert nurses to potential
boundary issues for which there may be reasonable
explanations, however, nurses who display one or more
of the following behaviors should examine their patient
relationships for possible boundary crossings or violations.
Signs of inappropriate behavior can be subtle at
first, but early warning signs that should raise a
red flag can include:
 Discussing intimate or personal issues with a patient
 Engaging in behaviors that could reasonably be
interpreted as flirting
 Keeping secrets with a patient or for a patient
 Believing that you are the only one who truly
understands or can help the patient
 Spending more time than is necessary with a
particular patient
 Speaking poorly about colleagues or your employment
setting with the patient and/or family
 Showing favoritism
 Meeting a patient in settings besides those used to
provide direct patient care