Inpatient nursing care of patients with borderline personality disorder: a review of the literature.

Abstract

The present paper reviews the literature on inpatient nursing care of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). An overview of the background, major features, recent conceptualizations and predicted outcomes for sufferers of BPD is provided. Literature related to treatment and inpatient nursing care is also discussed. It is argued that nurses are in a position of having to provide care that is less than optimal and that may recreate the victimization and traumatization of the patient's childhood. In addition, without adequate education, support and supervision, nurses may experience significant occupational stress arising from their work with this group of patients.