From growing patient-to-nurse ratios to increasingly complex procedures, the demands that emergency nurses face are greater than ever.
Kelsea K. Heiman, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, NPD-BC
“At times it can feel like nurses are carrying the weight of the health care system on their shoulders,” said Kelsea K. Heiman, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, NPD-BC.
The bad news is when this weight becomes too heavy, it can lead to burnout.
The good news is, with the right professional boundaries, one can lighten the load.
Unpacking Burnout
During the session “The Power of Boundaries: Preserving Your Energy and Protecting Your Peace in Nursing” at Emergency Nursing 2026, attendees will have a very real opportunity to unpack their metaphorical backpacks. “We’ll start by looking at some of the common signs of burnout — hopelessness, fatigue, boredom, frustration — as well as its causes,” said Ashley Barney, BSN, RN, CEN, who will co-present the session with Heiman.
Participants will then be asked to open their own backpacks and identify the responsibilities, stressors and emotional burdens they’re carrying. “We want to find all the things that could be contributing to burnout, whether that be high-acuity patients, staffing shortages or productivity expectations,” added Heiman, nursing professional development specialist at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
After recording these items on an interactive worksheet, attendees will then mark those that fall outside their control. “It’s important to differentiate the things we can control from those we cannot — and the way we do that is with boundaries,” said Barney, a staff nurse at the Intermountain Health Spanish Fork Hospital emergency department.
Setting Boundaries
Ashley Barney, BSN, RN, CEN
According to Heiman, boundaries are the internal limits people set to protect their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. “Think of them as invisible fences. They’re not meant to keep people out but to help you show up better for yourself and others,” she said.
Clear boundaries can also create mutual respect. “When others know what you need, they’re more likely to give it,” explained Barney.
Barney further notes nurses can use boundaries to prioritize time to rest and recharge, as well as to support their own personal goals. “Boundaries don’t make you care less. They help you carry what matters most,” she said.
The Art of Saying ‘No’
At the session nurses, will learn and practice a range of boundary-setting strategies, including saying ‘no’ to employer requests.
“Nurses who master the art of declining gracefully often gain more respect for their clarity and assertiveness,” said Heiman. “You build healthier workplace relationships by framing your ‘no’ with professionalism and intention.”
Heiman and Barney will also provide strategies for using professional boundaries as a means of delivering better patient care.
“Setting boundaries early and often and establishing real, actionable limits that protect your time, energy and mental health are important steps that nurses can take to survive their career and enjoy life at the same time,” concluded Barney.