Professional Boundaries

1198 Words3 Pages

Nursing is one of the most trusted professions in the community. This means that nurses are trusted to enter into therapeutic relationships that adhere to the concept of patient care physically, mentally and ethically. The therapeutic relationship that is created is built on the professional knowledge and skills of the nurse and the patient trusting in the nurse’s ability to care for them. Professional boundaries are an intricate aspect of a nurse’s daily work. These boundaries are based on trust, respect and the appropriate use of power. Breaches can be classified as boundary crossings, boundary violations or sexual misconduct. Breaches of boundaries lead to violations of a nurse’s professional responsibility. Nurses must maintain these boundaries to ensure patient care can remain within the zone of helpfulness.

Every patient that is admitted to hospital, or seen by a health professional has a right to his or her own privacy, and by ensuring professional boundaries are upheld this basic right can be achieved. According to Levett-Jones and Bourgeois (2011, pp. 237) confidentiality is an obligation made by a professional to respect the information given by a patient to healthcare professional. In today’s society through technology and social networks a patient’s privacy is far more vulnerable than it was in the past. By posting on Facebook anything about a patient or in discussion via internet or email to others a patient’s privacy has been breached and the trust created in a therapeutic relationship is no longer there causing what is known as a boundary crossing. Thompson (2010, pp.26) understands that “At times, boundary crossing may be unintentional”, but emphasizes that this behavior can lead to consequences. Pat...

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Baca, M 2011, 'Professional Boundaries and Dual Relationships in Clinical Practice', Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 7, 3, pp. 195-200, viewed 16 May 2011.

Levett-jones, T, and Bourgeois, S, 2011, the clinical placement, 2nd Edn, Elsevier, Chatswood.

Professional boundaries: a guide to the importance of appropriate professional boundaries... reprinted from the Dakota Nurse Connection (Summer 2009, Volume 7, Number 3), with permission by the South Dakota and North Dakota Boards of Nursing' 2010, KBN Connection, 22, pp. 27-29, viewed 15 May 2011.

Thompson, C 2010, 'Facebook -- cautionary tales for nurses', Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, 16, 7, p. 26, CINAHL with Full Text, EBSCOhost, viewed 15 May 2011.

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