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Discussion

Question about boundaries

Hi, recently we had a discussion in class about which actions constitute boundary crossing or violations. The class was divided on a few scenarios, and I'm wondering whether anyone here can shed some light...

Is it boundary crossing or violation if you provide your work phone number to a client so they can contact you if they need something during your shift, even though you are not normally assigned to the client?

Is it boundary crossing or violation if you join a social club (example, a book club) that a client recommended to you?

Thanks!

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    Hi, recently we had a discussion in class about which actions constitute boundary crossing or violations. The class was divided on a few scenarios, and I'm wondering whether anyone here can shed some light...

    Is it boundary crossing or violation if you provide your work phone number to a client so they can contact you if they need something during your shift, even though you are not normally assigned to the client?

    Is it boundary crossing or violation if you join a social club (example, a book club) that a client recommended to you?

    Thanks!

    Yes and Yes - It is generally a good idea to have no contact with patient's or their families for a minimum of two years after discharge. Others here may disagree but that's actually the rule at the facility where I work.

    Hppy

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    If you are not assigned the client/patient then you shouldn't really have to contact them during your shift and visa versa

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    I don't like it when my patients know my last Name, much less my phone number. As a rule, my phone is on silence at work because I feel it looks unprofessional if it rings when I'm with a patient. Also, you have to think about your safety. We have had patients stalk nurses when they leave the hospital and threaten to kill them... Much easier to harass a nurse if they have your phone number. Furthermore, it violates terms of your nursing board of terminating a patient- nurse relationship to continue a relationship in a non therapeutic setting.

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    I don't like it when my patients know my last Name, much less my phone number. As a rule, my phone is on silence at work because I feel it looks unprofessional if it rings when I'm with a patient. Also, you have to think about your safety. We have had patients stalk nurses when they leave the hospital and threaten to kill them... Much easier to harass a nurse if they have your phone number. Furthermore, it violates terms of your nursing board of terminating a patient- nurse relationship to continue a relationship in a non therapeutic setting.

    OP said work phone number. So, I imagine they are using those pager phones.

    I truly hope that no qualified nurse would ever give out her personal phone number to a patient.

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    A good, if not foolproof, rule about what constitutes boundary-crossing is this: If you won't or wouldn't do it for each of your patients or family members, don't do it for one.

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