Professional Boundaries: When Does the Nurse-Patient Relationship End?

A home health nurse established a nurse-patient relationship while providing care through a home health agency. After the nurse stopped working for the agency, she continued to visit the patient and accepted gifts from him. A complaint was filed with the board of nursing, and an investigation found that the nurse violated provisions of the Nursing Practice Act of 2011, including those regarding professional behavior and boundary violations. The nurse contested the finding, and the case went to an administrative law judge, who found that the nurse had violated professional boundaries. This article reviews this case in depth along with the legal and ethical implications for the practicing nurse.