What it means
The nurse holds more power in the relationship than the client, who is often sick, worried and dependent. Professional boundaries protect the client from being used for the nurse's personal, money, social or sexual needs. NCSBN describes a "zone of helpfulness" between being too distant (under-involved) and too close (over-involved). Small, one-time crossings may be fine if they help the client; violations harm the client.
For the nurse
Warning signs include keeping secrets with a client, giving or taking gifts or money, sharing personal problems, seeing a client outside of work, and contact on social media. The nurse, not the client, is always responsible for keeping the boundary. Report a coworker's boundary violation.
At a glance
| Also written | professional boundary |
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