A Reflection from the SWEET Psych NP Handbook

Boundaries are often misunderstood in psychiatric work. They are sometimes taught as rules to enforce, limits to defend, or lines drawn to protect the clinician. But in practice, boundaries are a form of care.

Clear boundaries create safety—for the patient and for the practitioner. They make the therapeutic relationship reliable, predictable, and sustainable.

When boundaries are unclear, care becomes inconsistent. Resentment grows quietly. Burnout follows not because we cared too much, but because we did not structure that care wisely.

Good boundaries are not rigid. They are thoughtful, humane, and responsive to context. They allow compassion to endure without collapsing into overextension.

This handbook treats boundaries not as restrictions, but as one of the most ethical tools a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner can develop.

More to come.