Can a nurse date a patient? The short answer—it depends.
But before you get all McDreamy over an attractive patient who walked into the emergency room while you were on shift, there are many reasons why you shouldn’t mix professional duties with the potential for a romantic relationship.
There are ethical principles in nursing that touch on nurse-patient relationships. Most of these principles suggest that engaging in a romantic or sexual relationship with a patient is probably not a good idea.
However, in the United States, there is no law that prohibits a nurse from dating a patient, and this is where the lines can get blurry.
Starting to sound like a complicated love story? We have just the prescription: Below, we will clarify some things for you if you are a nurse and curious about the nuances of the nurse dating life.
Is it illegal to date a patient as a nurse?
For some nurses, the thought of dating patients isn’t even something that crosses their minds. However, if you check out Reddit, you will find plenty of nurses discussing their personal encounters and ethical concerns surrounding dating patients.
One Reddit forum nurse asks:
“I’m an ED RN and an attractive man who slipped on ice recently gave me his number. I’ve never taken a number before, but I’m thinking what the heck. Thoughts?”
This example seems like a slippery slope (pun intended), and the answers to this inquiry suggest why it’s so important to maintain professional boundaries in the workplace.
So, is it actually illegal to date a patient as a nurse? In the U.S., most state jurisdictions don’t have an explicit law forbidding nurses from dating their patients. Even so, there is a serious ethical dilemma in nursing that requires careful consideration before engaging in a romantic or nonclinical nurse-patient relationship in the work environment.
In other words, a nurse will commit certain boundary violations if they have a relationship with a patient in their care.
The scope of practice that a nurse should abide by is essential for providing ethical nursing care. So while you won’t go to jail for dating a patient, doing so can cause grave consequences.
What are the boundary violations in the nurse-patient relationship?
Not trying to ruin the mood, but let’s get straight to it. Dating a patient while practicing as a nurse isn’t advisable.
According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) Nursing Code of Ethics—the definitive standard for ethical nursing practice—ethical nurse-to-patient care requires a nurse to uphold the dignity and respect of each patient.
Provision 1 of the regulatory code of ethics states:
“The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person.”
This provision goes on to highlight the importance of identifying and mitigating any bias or prejudice that could potentially interfere with or harm a nurse-patient relationship.
While this provision doesn’t precisely say, “Do not date a patient,” it does inherently accentuate the importance of upholding professional boundaries when providing care to a patient.
The bottom line? If you are a nurse caring for a patient, you should avoid pursuing a romantic relationship with said individual.
Can a nurse date a former patient?
Technically, yes. Again, it’s still vital to tread carefully around this territory. If you really can’t get over a patient who happened to stumble into your care and personal life, you could entertain a relationship with them after a significant amount of time has passed.
Before pursuing any romantic involvement, you should consider asking your state nursing board or seeking legal counsel. Risking losing your license for love may sound like a romantic notion, but you should think twice before jeopardizing your career for it.
Are nurses allowed to date each other?
Okay, now that we’ve covered the boundaries and nuances in nurse-patient relationships, what about a nurse-to-nurse relationship?
Circling back to McDreamy and the infamous high-intensity medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, where love and duty lines are crossed frequently, is it ever okay to date a coworker?
Eh, it depends. The ethical issues in nursing surrounding the dating of a nurse coworker are a bit more straightforward, but should still be handled with care. Any potential conflicts of interest that come up while dating a coworker that could risk a patient and their safety would be considered unethical.
Provision 4 of the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics states:
“The nurse has authority, accountability, and responsibility for nursing practice; makes decisions; and takes action consistent with the obligation to provide optimal patient care.”
If you are engaging in an intimate relationship with a coworker that compromises your professional judgement as a nurse, it’s advised not to continue with the relationship.
This doesn’t mean that you are barred from ever dating or forming a relationship with your nursing colleague. There are happy endings to love that blossoms in the workforce.
On Reddit, one nurse says:
“I have dated a coworker, same facility, different departments. I knew it was risky, but we were older and had known each other a long time, so it felt safe. Things progressed with our relationship, and we didn’t want to draw adverse attention to ourselves, so I transferred to another facility in the same system. We ended up getting married, and it’s been one of the greatest joys of my life.”
What about dating as a male nurse? While nursing has historically been dominated by female nurses, more male nurses are entering the scene. Regardless, the same ethical guidelines apply to male nurses and female nurses (which honestly should go without saying).
To boil it down? Being a nurse in a female-dominated workplace may come with its own challenges, but it’s just as vital for male nurses to maintain professional boundaries to ensure a respectful work environment.
Putting ethics first, love second
Sigh. Why does love have to be so complicated? In the world of stethoscopes, scrubs, and long shifts, dating can be challenging.
However, dating a patient or a colleague is an area to tread with the utmost caution. While there are exceptions to this rule, it’s best to maintain professional boundaries while providing nursing care.
You know that saying, “There are plenty of fish in the sea?” Use it the next time you catch yourself (or a patient) blurring the lines between a personal and professional relationship.