Professional boundary violations are any actions by a nurse that use the relationship with the client to meet a personal need of the nurse at the expense of the client. Therapeutic relationships are different from social relationships such as friendship or dating. Boundary violations are never acceptable. Abuse is the misuse of power or a betrayal of trust, respect or intimacy between the nurse and the client that the nurse knows may cause physical or emotional harm to the client. Neglect occurs when nurses fail to meet the basic needs of clients who are unable to meet these needs.
Professional boundaries are a complex issue.
Competent and caring nurses can make mistakes. To protect the client from harm, you must stop the behavior. You may need to ask a supervisor to remove you from the situation. Then, get advice on how to proceed from a trusted supervisor or colleague, or use the confidential services of the AARN's Nursing Practice Consultants to help you decide how to deal with the situation. If you are concerned about the relationship between a colleague and a client, your responsibility is still to protect the client .