Correctional nursing is demanding. High stress, patient complexity, and systemic barriers can erode professionalism over time. Sustaining professionalism requires intentional effort — maintaining boundaries, practicing self-care, and reinforcing resilience.

Maintaining therapeutic boundaries protects both patients and nurses. Professionalism means:

• • Avoiding favoritism, personal relationships, or dual roles.
  • Balancing compassion with consistency.
  • Communicating respectfully but firmly, even when challenged.

Self-care is not indulgence — it is an ethical responsibility. A nurse who is burned out, cynical, or exhausted cannot consistently practice with professionalism. Professional nurses:

• • Monitor their own signs of stress, compassion fatigue, or moral distress.
  • Engage in restorative activities (sleep, exercise, healthy routines).
  • Seek support through debriefing, counseling, or peer connection.

A nurse begins rolling her eyes during sick call when patients present with minor complaints. Over time, this cynicism leads to rushed assessments and missed findings. Recognizing the slip, she recommits to professionalism by seeking supervision, taking a short break from overtime, and re-engaging with her professional values.

What practices help you sustain professionalism under stress? Are there areas where your professionalism has slipped — and how might you reset?