The purpose of this paper is to examine and discuss the therapeutic nurse client relationships that a nurse fulfills in accordance with the professional standards guidelines published by the College of Nurses of Ontario. The criteria used to do this will include therapeutic communication, client centered care, boundaries and appropriate use of power. “Maintaining clear, caring boundaries with patients and families, while remaining the consummate professional, is the role of the nurse operating from a standard of therapeutic relationship” (Allenbach & Steinmiller, 2004 p 24). This is important because the therapeutic relationship is a professional relationship, and clearly differs from that as a social encounter. As nurses and nursing students this is a crucial relationship to manage.
