As a nurse, its fine to say hello to former patient you see on the street but that is it. Do not establish a relationship or friendship with that person. Once the nurse-patient relationship ends, it is okay to befriend a patient but be careful of what happened in the above situations.

Can you be friends with an ex patient?

The professional organizations of psychology (the American Psychological Association) and psychiatry (the American Psychiatric Association) offer no explicit rules about friendships with former patients.

Can you be friends with your patients?

Some boundaries are clear. Professional medical organizations have strict rules against sex and romance with patients. Doctors are also advised not to treat family or close friends, situations that could compromise objectivity and judgment. Under HIPAA, it is a no-no to name-drop other patients.