Everything Nurses >> Venting Zone >> Poll: Patients Who Want To Cross The Line
Poll: Patients Who Want To Cross The Line
Poll: Have you ever had a "line crosser"?
25 posts back to top |
Posted 2 months ago I sometimes have patients who want to cross the line of caretaker/patient into the 'friend zone". They want your cell phone number, your email, etc. etc. Usually they are near my age and we have many common interests (I am 41) but I find it annoying!
You are my patient; I am your caretaker. I will give you blood, sweat, and tears for 8 hours. I will respond to your needs. I do not want to see my inbox flooded with forwards from you. I've already seen the "Redneck Fire Detector", thanks. I don't want you using my cell phone as your personal paging device for me while I am at work. I don't want to talk to you when I'm NOT at work. No, I cannot stop at the store for you on my way to work. Ask your family members, please. Any niceties on my part (bringing you a doughnut or something I have home-cooked) does not mean you get to take full advantage of me. I do not want to be your friend. I want to take excellent care of you as my patient. Yes, I know you are having a fight/hiding something from Daddy. Please don't try to drag me into it. No, I really DON'T want to spend my lunchbreak sitting in your room chit-chatting. You are not my only patient. It is unfair of you to attempt to monopolize my time because "those other patients don't know what planet they're on, anyway." I also don't want to hear you piss and moan about what my coworkers did or said to you. Please report complaints properly. I don't want to be your dumping ground every day. Please don't drop a bomb in my lap ("I'm not taking my medication!" "I want to kill myself!") and then say, "Let's keep this between us; don't tell the nurse". It is my duty to report things like that and I damned sure will.
I got into a situation like this and it was a bit sticky extracting myself from it. The patient now knows there are professional boundaries that must be kept between us.
Have any of you experienced this, and were sadder and wiser when it all came about? |
6 posts back to top |
| Posted 27 days ago Yes, I had an experience like this when doing home health. I eventually quit the job because my supervisor would not take me off the case and this patient needed to be seen daily for wound care. She showed up at my new place of employment unexpectedly - this was quite unnerving. You should post your story at www.truenursing.com. |
2650 posts back to top |
| Posted 27 days ago geekRN: I went to www.truenursing.com and it seems to be a bash session on patients and nursing. It is a very derogatory website for nursing. Do you have some issues with your career? "Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you" - Robert Fulghum |
