Managing Professional and Nurse-Patient Relationship Boundaries in Mental Health.

doi:10.3928/02793695-20170119-09

Paper

Managing Professional and Nurse-Patient Relationship Boundaries in Mental Health.

Published Jan 31, 2017 · S. Valente

Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services

Q3 SJR score

24

Citations

1

Influential Citations

Full text Semantic Scholar

Abstract

Caring nurse-patient relationships in mental health settings are key components in helping patients recover. These professional relationships provide a safe, trustworthy, reliable, and secure foundation for therapeutic interactions; however, nurses face challenges in setting and maintaining relationship boundaries. Although patients ask for special privileges, romantic interactions, and social media befriending, or offer expensive gifts, nurses must recognize that these boundary violations may erode trust and harm patients. These violations may also trigger discipline for nurses. Professional relationship guidelines must be applied with thoughtful consideration, and nurses must monitor their emotions and reactions in these relationships. The current article is a sharing of personal experiences about boundaries augmented by evidence in the literature, and focuses on managing potential boundary violations (i.e., social media, sexuality, over-involvement, and gift giving) in mental health settings. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 55(1), 45-51.].

Study Snapshot

Key takeawayNurses in mental health settings must manage potential boundary violations, such as social media, sexuality, over-involvement, and gift giving, to maintain trust and promote patient recovery.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

Managing Professional and Nurse-Patient Relationship Boundaries in Mental Health.

References

Citations