🧭 The NICE Way to Set Boundaries: A 4-Step Framework for Nurses

As a nurse, you've likely mastered the art of putting others first.

You've gone the extra mile, skipped lunch, stayed late, and said "yes" even when your body and soul whispered "no."

You’re not alone.

This level of compassion and responsibility is what makes nurses extraordinary. But without boundaries, it’s also what makes nurses exhausted, resentful, and invisible.

So how do you keep your heart in the work without losing yourself in the process?

Let me introduce you to the NICE Framework—a 4-step process I teach to nurses who are ready to speak up, protect their energy, and create space for their own wellbeing.
Yes, you can be kind and set boundaries. And this is how:

🪞 1. Notice what’s no longer working

The first step is awareness.

• Notice when something feels off.
• That tightness in your chest when you agree to cover another shift.
• The silent frustration that builds when no one asks how you’re doing.
• The chronic exhaustion that coffee can’t fix.

These are your internal signals saying, “This isn’t sustainable.”

👂 Ask yourself:

• What am I tolerating right now?

• Where do I feel depleted, overlooked, or overwhelmed?

🕵🏽‍♀️ 2. Identify what you need instead

Once you've tuned in, the next step is clarity.

What do you need more of? Time, rest, respect, collaboration?

And what do you need less of? Guilt, overcommitment, interruptions during your break?

Identifying your true need is powerful. It shifts you from “reactive and resentful” to “grounded and intentional.”

🧭 Tip: If you’re not sure what you need, start with how you want to feel. Do you want to feel calm? Appreciated? Heard? Let that guide your next steps.

🛠 3. Craft & Communicate your boundary clearly

This is where most people get stuck—but nurses especially.

You’re used to taking care of everyone. Speaking up for yourself can feel selfish or even unsafe.

But setting boundaries isn’t about confrontation. It’s about communication—with respect for others and for yourself.

✅ Try this format:

• “I’d love to help, but I’m not available right now. Let’s find another way.”
• “I need time to rest before my next shift, so I won’t be staying late today.”
• “I’d prefer to be spoken to with respect. If that’s not possible, I’ll need to step away.”

Boundaries don’t have to be dramatic to be powerful. Keep it simple and kind—and stand firm.

🧍🏾‍♀️ 4. Enforce it with consistency

Here’s the truth:
People might not love your boundary at first—especially if they benefited from your lack of one.

That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means you’re doing it right.

The final step is honoring the boundary you set. Follow through. Remind others if needed. And remind yourself that protecting your wellbeing is not optional—it’s essential.

🌱 Repetition builds trust. And with each boundary you enforce, you reclaim your time, energy, and confidence.

Final Thoughts

You became a nurse to help people. That calling doesn’t require self-sacrifice.
It requires sustainability.

Boundaries are not barriers to connection—they’re bridges to mutual respect. And with the NICE Framework, you can begin creating the space you need to thrive.

Because you matter, too.

✋🏽 Ready to practice setting guilt-free boundaries?
Take my FREE : Set NICE Boundaries Mini-Course – Where you'll learn how to set boundaries without guilt, fear, or burning bridges—using the proven NICE Process..

You don’t have to be everything for everyone.
You just have to be honest—with yourself first.