Which is an example of maintaining professional boundaries?

• A. Refusing personal friendship with a patient and avoiding gift exchanges that blur boundaries
• B. Developing a close personal friendship with a patient
• C. Accepting a personal gift from a patient
• D. Sharing personal contact information with a patient

Answer: (A)

Maintaining professional boundaries means keeping the nurse–patient relationship focused on care and avoiding personal involvement that could affect judgment, trust, or safety. Refusing personal friendship with a patient and avoiding gift exchanges that blur boundaries shows this distance while still delivering respectful, compassionate care. It preserves objectivity, reduces the risk of dual relationships, and protects both patient and nurse from expectations or obligations outside the clinical setting.

Developing a close personal friendship with a patient crosses that line by shifting the relationship from professional caregiver to personal confidant, which can bias care, create dependence, or complicate clinical decisions. Accepting a personal gift from a patient can also blur boundaries by introducing an obligation or favoritism. Sharing personal contact information with a patient further erodes boundaries and can lead to care happening outside appropriate professional channels.