Professional Boundaries In Nursing

There are many boundaries we must face in life. Most of them are in our field of work, called professional boundaries. “Having professional boundaries, or limitations, means always treating a patient as a client and not becoming involved in issues of his or her private life that do not directly relate to healthcare” (Booth, Whicker, Terri p.33). “Throughout the course of their professional lives, nurses interact with a variety of people in a variety of contexts, and for a variety of reasons. During these social interactions they need to be able to effectively communicate with and relate to other people” (Jane Stein-Parbury p.3).

In the medical field, there is a “narrow scope of the nurse-patient relationship” (Griffith & Tengnah p. 43). “Relationship between community nurses and patients is a

4). One question that is constantly asked by healthcare professionals is “Who is harmed by boundary violations?” (Frequently Asked Questions) Professional Boundaries INC. responded to this question with “Ramifications are widespread.” and “Damage usually extends to marriages, families, other patients, communities, clinics, institutions, and the profession is general.” A perfect example of those who are harmed, in 2012 “a nurse was made subject to a conditions of practice order by the NMC after being found to have crossed professional boundaries by taking a former patient on camping trips, meeting her for coffee, and making social visits to her house (NMC 2012a)” (Griffith, Tengnah p. 43). Per Griffith and Tengnah, the nurse was suspended for one year for professional boundaries misconduct. So how does a professional know if they are being too polite or if they are crossing the boundary line? Griffith and Tengnah respond “These allegations include disclosure of personal information to patients, contact details to patients and accepting gifts from patients”