When is it Okay to Accept Gifts from Patients So you go to work one day at the hospital and a patient you have cared for presents you with a gift. Do you accept it? Below are lists of things to consider before accepting a gift from one of your patients. The Infatuated Patient As a nurse, you know it's not that uncommon to have a patient develop an attachment you. If the attachment has a romantic feel in any way at all, it is essential that you put a stop to it. In a case such as this, the answer is pretty much “no”, it's not OK to accept a gift from this patient. You are conscious of an unhealthy attachment, and accepting a gift is similar to validating your patient's feelings. The best way to handle a situation such as a gift from a patient that has an inappropriate attachment to you is to very casually say something like, "thank you for thinking of me, but I am not permitted to accept gifts from patients." Related: 5 Ways Nurse Duties Have Evolved A Debt of Gratitude Patient Its fine for a patient to be pleased with your care, however, sometimes it goes overboard and some patients may feel like they “owe” you for their care. Suppose you know that this patient has a very limited income, and they have mentioned they don’t have much in the area of support. Yet, they have one of their visitors stop to buy you a box of candy. It may not be totally inappropriate to accept the gift, depending on hospital policy, however, it is not a great idea to accept it either. Again, explain you appreciate the thought, but you are encouraged not to accept gifts from patients. Suggest they keep it for themselves, share it with their visitors, or maybe even take one piece to lighten the feel of the acceptance. Make sure the patient understands that you are just doing your job when you care for them, and you do not expect compensation directly from them in return. A Small Token of Appreciation Suppose you have a patient that knits or crochets as a hobby. When you walk into his or her room one day, he or she presents you with a small crocheted scarf that was made for you. First and foremost, make sure you know hospital policy on accepting a patient's gift. Your facility may have a strict policy against this, in which case you cannot accept a gift under any circumstances. If there is no such policy in place, this would be a case that it's probably OK to accept one small gift, as a token of appreciation. A homemade gift is generally inexpensive, and provides the patient with something to do as they make it. Thank the patient for their kindness, but don’t elaborate on their generosity for a prolonged period of time, as you don’t want them feeling pressured to do it again. Related: Certified Registered Nurses Anesthetists (CRNA)
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