from 1999 to 2006,175 disciplinary cases were heard by the NSW nurse and midwives tribunal and pscs. a total of 29 of these were related to boundary violations. an analysis of these cases based on the grounds for complaint indicated a broad spectrum of boundary violations. the analysis also raised issues of possible gender stereotyping due to the preponderance of male respondents, particularly for more minor complaints relating to compliment and gifts, as well as the intersection of body work and gender. furthermore, the cases demonstrate the fact that body work is far from basic nursing care: instead, it requires skill and sensitivity, and a lack of supervision poses problems both for the development of these skills and the prevention and management of boundary violations. improved clinical supervision can thus help maintain professional-patient boundaries in nursing practice.