Educator or counselor? Navigating uncertain boundaries in the clinical environment

Background: Nurse educators in the clinical environment experience great rewards and challenges in their work with undergraduate students. However, closely working with students can lead to the challenge of intervening with those who are emotionally distressed. How do nurse educators navigate the precarious and subtle territory between educating and counseling? Method: This article briefl y reviews how boundaries are explored in nursing. Two case studies are presented to demonstrate how nurse educators can determine when their support and education begins to move into the counseling role. Finally, future directions for nurse educators are suggested. Results: Little research exists that examines how nurse educators navigate the boundaries between educator and counselor roles with students in clinical settings. Conclusion: Navigating between the educator and counselor roles with students experiencing emotional distress in clinical settings can be challenging for nurse educators.