When you are working in healthcare, it is important to develop a solid professional relationship with your patients. By establishing realistic self-boundaries, you can protect that relationship. It is important to keep the focus on the patient. When working with patients who are seen frequently, it is easy to start to think of them as friends. With a friend, you are likely to share personal information that is not appropriate with a patient. Patients may feel that they cannot share important health-related information because you are their friend, and it would be embarrassing to share that information. Self-boundaries can also be thought of as professional boundaries. You need to treat patients with respect and keep the relationship professional. Be friendly to patients and always keep the focus on the patient.