Exploring boundaries in the nurse-client relationship: professional roles and responsibilities.
OBJECTIVE
The creation and maintenance of boundaries as they pertain to the nurse-client relationship.


OBJECTIVE
To challenge readers to reflect on their fiduciary responsibilities by identifying boundary crossings and violations.


METHODS
Review of the literature and the authors' clinical and teaching experiences.


CONCLUSIONS
Although self-awareness and monitoring, debriefing, and availing oneself of supervision and education are important tools in creating and maintaining boundaries, in the final analysis, the nursing profession needs nurses who have the ability to make decisions about boundaries based on the best interests of the clients in their care.
Peternelj-Taylor
Cindy A
CA
College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. peternel@duke.usask.ca
Yonge
Olive
O
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D037921:Gift Giving / Q000941:ethics; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000193:education / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D035502:Trust / Q000523:psychology