Professional boundaries and the nurse-client relationship

Boundary violation: actions or behaviours by a professional which use the relationship with the client to meet a personal need of the professional at the expense of the client. [...] In many instances, a client may perceive a breach of trust to be more harmful than the establishment of a personal relationship with a nurse and this may affect the client’s ability to trust others in the future (NCSBN, 2005). [...] The key is to view individual behaviours from within the context of the Standards and Code of Ethics, and to consider the potential impact on clients and the provision of nursing services. [...] In contrast, it would not be appropriate for a nurse to engage in a romantic relationship with a former client Factors to consider before establishing a social who has a chronic physical or mental health condition relationship with a former client: and will require ongoing treatment on the unit where the • amount of time since the professional nurse works and where the nurse has been the client’s [...] If declining the invitation could be hurtful to the client, and damaging to the therapeutic relationship, the nurse should have a discussion with the client, in person, to explain why this relationship could be inappropriate (Guseh et al., 2009).