Is taking a gift from a patient right or wrong for nurses?

is there a law that prohibits such act?

As someone who is in the healthcare field, I don't feel it is particularly ethical to accept gifts from patients. However, there are things to consider when refusing--how it will affect the patient, whether it will hurt their feelings. It is also equally important to ask what the motivation behind the gift is--are they attempting to buy better care for a family member or themselves? Do they think they can "win you over" and bribe you into spending more time with them? In some cases it is better to refuse. If a patient is insistent upon giving a gift, you could always advise him to donate flowers to sick patients.

This is what the American Association of Medicine has to say about accepting gifts from patients. It is in reference to doctors and patients, but can also be applied to nurses and patients:

Gifts that patients offer to physicians are often an expression of appreciation and gratitude or a reflection of cultural tradition, and can enhance the patient-physician relationship.

Some gifts signal psychological needs that require the physician鈥檚 attention. Some patients may attempt to influence care or to secure preferential treatment through the offering of gifts or cash. Acceptance of such gifts is likely to damage the integrity of the patient-physician relationship. Physicians should make clear that gifts given to secure preferential treatment compromise their obligation to provide services in a fair manner.

There are no definitive rules to determine when a physician should or should not accept a gift. No fixed value determines the appropriateness or inappropriateness of a gift from a patient; however, the gift鈥檚 value relative to the patient鈥檚 or the physician鈥檚 means should not be disproportionately or inappropriately large. One criterion is whether the physician would be comfortable if acceptance of the gift were known to colleagues or the public.

Physicians should be cautious if patients discuss gifts in the context of a will. Such discussions must not influence the patient鈥檚 medical care.

if the patient wants to give you something, i see nothing wrong with it

sounds fine....some people really want to thank someone for caring for them

I would think it depends on the gift.

It is not ilegal. The hospital may have a policy about it, but in general there is nothing wrong with the act itself.

It would be rude not to accept it.

It is very wrong. most hospitals etc. have rules against this.

It could also cause many legal problems if the patient were to die and you were taking gifts from them.

You may have to declare it to the tax authority as it may be considered a tip, and the rest fof the medical team may onder why they have to make do with just their pay.

Its wrong, and most hospitals and nursing homes have rules about accepting gifts.

I do not know of any law that prohibits such a gift. To me it is no different than someone tipping a bellman, valet or server in a restaurant for doing a job well. The patients sometimes do not get the opportunity to thank a caregiver as much as they would like to since many times the caregiver is the only one taking care of them to such an extent - so giving a gift is their way of just saying "Thank you." Accept it graciously and with the knowledge that you did something to change that person's life.

There is no federal law prohibiting it, however some employers dictate monetary limits as to what nursing staff can accept from their patients

If you are a nurse, then if someone wants to give you a gift of their own freewill, then that is your business. Nurses are never appreciated for what they do. I have met more Nurses than doctors and I get the best kind of care from them! They should get the Dr's pay and not their small wages for the actual saving of the lives! God bless you all!

I think there should be nothing wrong with it, unless it's money. Otherwise, it's just a nice gesture.

There are the patient's well being, as well as ethical standards to consider. It has been scientifically proven that giving to others is one of the most rehabilitating acts a person can do. It actually makes the patient feel good to give you a gift if you recieve it with gratitude. However, your employer should set ethical guidelines for you. If he has not, consider setting your own. At my place of employment no gift with a value over $5 is acceptable. If the person wants to give you a card or flower, or gift certificate to buy lunch that is fine, but if they want to give you a $100 bill or an expensive piece of jewelry you should gracefully decline.

As far as I know there is no law against it (at least in the UK), but in practise hospitals try to discourage it - I imagine because nurses and doctors are only the 'visible' part of a much larger professional team which includes lab scientists and technicians and auxiliary and clerical staff.

In my experience, one 'acceptable' way to show appreciation has been to make a donation to the staff's Christmas party fund.

nurses take care of patient .their attutide with patient is friendly.the patient know their language very well because they speak very soft and donnot hursh any one.its good if nurses give gift to patient.

in the Code of Ethics, it is not ethical to take gifts from patients. although many nurses allow it because patients persists, still it is highly unethical. unprofessional.

sometimes patients want their nurses to have alittle something special

I dont think there is anything wrong if the patients is giving a gift to a nurse.