title: Professional boundaries: communication after patient discharge.
abstract: The blurring of professional boundaries commonly takes place when a nurse cares for a patient for an extended period of time. This article focuses on the aspects of professional boundaries in neonatal nursing, particularly in regard to communication after patient discharge. Modes of caring are investigated to understand the nature of the therapeutic relationship between nurse and patient and how this can present an ethical dilemma at the end of a patient's hospital stay. A discussion of how a patient reunion is organized is discussed at the end of this article as a possible solution to reconnecting patient-nurse ties in a professional manner.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Division of Graduate Studies, Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Indiana; and St Vincent Women's Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana.
authors.forename: Laura R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Petraits
mesh_terms: D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000941:ethics* / Q000592:standards; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000941:ethics* / Q000592:standards; D010351:Patient Discharge