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With love in the air this Valentine’s Day, we couldn’t help but tackle the heartwarming topic of making a love connection in the exam room. Of course, you know as a nurse how important it is to set boundaries between your personal and professional life. But, for many patients, being cared for by an attentive nurse feels like the closest thing in their life to real love. And, in a few newsworthy instances, that care has sparked a heartfelt connection beyond the exam room.
Check out these “sweet” cases where patients have proposed to their nurse:
1. Krista & Mason
It was love at first sight when Mason woke up from surgery to see his recovery nurse Krista. Accustomed to patients being high on anesthesia, Krista brushed off Mason’s interest. But, Mason was determined and vowed to ask Krista out on a proper date once he recovered. He made good on that promise two weeks later, and they were married a year after that. You can read more about their whirlwind romance here.
2. Abby & Matt
For an entire week, 4-year-old cancer patient Abby had been telling her mom that she wanted to marry Matt, her favorite nurse at Melodies Center at Albany Medical Center in New York. Matt made Abby’s dream come true in a full ceremony complete with a rose-petaled aisle, wedding gown, tuxedo scrubs, and ring pop wedding rings. See the beautiful pics of their “wedding” here.
3. Sarah & Gideon
Taking a hint from Abby, 5-year-old leukemia patient Gideon was moved to get down on one knee and propose to “Tall Sarah”, one of the nurses who cared for him while he was undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Sarah, of course, said yes telling Gideon he could be her “hospital husband”. People magazine covered their fun love story here.
Of course, as in the case with Krista & Mason, it’s important for nurses to be careful about having personal relationships with patients, especially those who might continue to need nursing services (like patients with mental health issues or oncology patients). The National Council of State Boards of Nursing publishes a helpful pamphlet called A Nurses Guide to Professional Boundaries that is an excellent resource if you have questions about whether or not a relationship with your patient is crossing an ethical line.
It’s also a good idea to reference your health care organization’s policies and guidelines regarding relationships with patients.