Certified Hospice and Palliative Assistant (CHPNA) Practice Test

Which action can constitute a crossing of professional boundaries?

1. Providing emotional support during visits

2. Providing a personal cell phone number to the family

3. Giving patients a community resource list

4. Offering a social media connection for updates

The correct answer is: Providing a personal cell phone number to the family

Providing a personal cell phone number to the family can constitute a crossing of professional boundaries. Professional boundaries are essential in healthcare settings to maintain appropriate relationships and ensure that care remains focused solely on the patient's needs. By offering a personal phone number, the healthcare worker might inadvertently invite personal interactions outside of professional encounters, which could blur the lines of the patient-caregiver relationship. Maintaining these boundaries helps to establish a secure environment for both the caregiver and the patient. It ensures that the caregiver's role is clear and that the patient receives standardized and professional care without the complications that personal relationships can introduce. In contrast, providing emotional support during visits, giving patients a community resource list, and offering a social media connection for updates can generally be seen as appropriate actions that aim to support the patient in a professional manner when done within established guidelines.