People often go into nursing because they have a desire to help others. This path can lead to meeting lots of interesting people, and it is not uncommon for those interactions to lead to something more. This can leave a nurse wondering if it is possible to pursue a relationship with a patient or if romance could threaten their professional licensure. It is important to understand that such relationships can jeopardize your career and violate professional boundaries.
Understanding the Texas Board of Nursing’s position
The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) takes boundary violations seriously. According to the Texas Nursing Practice Act and BON rules, engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with patients qualifies as professional misconduct. Those behind the rule point to the inherent power imbalance in the nurse-patient relationship, where patients are vulnerable and depend on nurses for care as a primary reason for the ban.
Consequences for a violation are serious. If the Board determines a violation has occurred disciplinary action can range from a warning to loss of licensure.
When does a patient stop being a patient?
Many nurses wonder if there is a safe waiting period after the nurse-patient relationship ends. Unfortunately, Texas law does not specify an exact timeframe. The BON evaluates each case individually, considering the circumstances of the professional relationship and how it ended.
Even after formal care has ended, the BON may still consider the relationship inappropriate if the patient remains vulnerable or if the nurse leveraged information or trust gained during the professional relationship.
Protecting your license
The safest approach is to avoid romantic or sexual relationships with current or former patients entirely. If you find yourself attracted to someone under your care, the ethical course of action is to transfer that patient’s care to another provider.
Your nursing license represents years of education, training and dedication. Do not risk it for a relationship that could result in allegations of a boundary violation. When in doubt, always err on the side of professionalism and seek guidance from the Texas Board of Nursing.
Attorney John Rivas is responsible for this communication.