You observe a licensed practical nurse (LPN) asking a patient for a cigarette as she escorts the patient to the exam room. Is this ethical behavior? What is appropriate or inappropriate about this patient interaction?

You observe a licensed practical nurse (LPN) asking a patient for a cigarette as she escorts the patient to the exam room. Is this ethical behavior? What is appropriate or inappropriate about this patient interaction? Is the LPN violating the patient’s social, personal, or intimate space? How would you, as a healthcare administrator, handle the situation?

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Tara:

No this is not ethical behavior at all, even if the LPN was friends with the patients this is still not acceptable behavior for an employee. This incident is very unprofessional and as far as I am concerned the patients social, personal and intimate space as been violated. Some smokers do not want everyone to know they smoke and this would definitely violate there intimate because patient may think the LPN as went through their personal belongings.  This is inappropriate for many reasons, one being the patient is ill if in the hospital and  if they smoke nurses should be tempting them to smoke by asking for a cigarette, two if you smoke you should support your own habit. This is bad for entire health care facility and staff by not supporting the medical facts “smoking is bad for you”. It also under minds patients confidants. This is wrong in so many aspects.