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Nancy the nurse knows she will be caring for Frederick today. Frederick is a few years younger than Nancy and has a job that makes him a lot of money. Nancy decides to put on her favourite scrubs today and wear lipgloss. Is this crossing a boundary?

Yes
No

User Telmo Ivo
by
8.2k points

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

No, Nancy's decision to wear favorite scrubs is generally acceptable, but wearing lipgloss specifically because she will be seeing a wealthy patient suggests a personal motivation that could blur professional boundaries in healthcare.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario presented, Nancy the nurse is preparing for her day and chooses to wear her favorite scrubs and lipgloss in anticipation of caring for Frederick. The question asks if this is crossing a boundary. Professional boundaries in healthcare are designed to maintain the integrity of the nurse-patient relationship. These boundaries establish limits that protect the space between the nurse's power and the patient's vulnerability.

While wearing favorite scrubs can be seen as a personal choice for comfort and confidence, intentionally altering appearance to potentially gain favor or attention from a patient, especially based on the patient's social status or wealth indicated by 'has a job that makes him a lot of money,' can be interpreted as blurring professional boundaries. It suggests a personal motivation that may not align with the professional nature of the nurse-patient relationship. Thus, in the context of patient care and maintaining professional integrity, it can be seen as potentially crossing a professional boundary.

User Luca Petrini
by
7.6k points
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