Context for Practice: Nurses maintain appropriate professional boundaries in both face-to-face and virtual interactions during the professional relationship and after it has ended. Nurses making public statements, including on social media platforms, base their claims on high quality evidence and trusted sources. Nurses do not take advantage of any professional relationship or exploit others to advance their personal or professional interests. Nurses are aware of potential conflicts of interest and avoid situations where their personal interests may interfere with their professional obligations. Nurses follow regulatory standards and practice guidelines related to maintaining professional boundaries and professional conduct.
| Ethical Responsibilities: Nurses maintain professional boundaries with clients and the public by |
| 3.2.1 |
setting clear expectations to ensure that relationships with clients are always in the client’s best interest; |
| 3.2.2 |
prioritizing clients’ best interests, avoiding exploiting their trust and dependency, and maintaining a therapeutic focus; |
| 3.2.3 |
refraining from engaging in relationships with clients that result in personal or financial gain; |
| 3.2.4 |
intervening and reporting any observed or suspected instances of abuse toward a client, including lying, assaulting, or any inhumane or degrading treatment; |
| 3.2.5 |
maintaining professionalism on social media by posting content that is respectful, relying on the highest level of evidence available that is free of misinformation or disinformation, following public health guidance and ethical standards, and contributing positively to the health-care community; and |
| 3.2.6 |
addressing potential or actual conflicts of interest with clients and taking all necessary measures to safeguard their interests, which may include ending the professional relationship and referring them to another professional when necessary. |
In addition, nurses engaged in independent practice (or self-employed) maintain professional boundaries by
| 3.2.7 |
acting with integrity in all business practices (securing liability insurance, establishing policies, procedures, practice and all other relevant elements of the business relationship); and |
| 3.2.8 |
ensuring that practice advertised using their title (e.g., on websites and social media, and in telecommunications and telehealth web-based platforms) is in accordance with professional standards, is accurate, current, and does not elicit testimonials or endorsements. |