Professional Boundaries with your Clients Adapted from: “In the Know” in-service tip sheets September, 2013 Education Department - Ambercare Corporation

Maintaining Professional Boundaries Recognize that our relationships with clients are professional, not personal Behave in a caring manner, always putting our client’s needs above our own Maintaining a professional boundaries does NOT require you to harden your heart or build walls between ourselves and those we serve

Personal vs. Professional Relationships Personal RelationshipsProfessional Relationships No one is paid to be part of a personal relationship Personal r/ships may last a lifetime Personal r/ships can take place anywhere, anytime People in a personal r/ship are equally responsible for keeping the r/ship going There is no special training required to be part of a personal r/ship People choose how much or how little they wish to spend in a personal r/ship Clients pay for the care they receive from health care workers Professional r/ships last only as long as a client needs help Professional r/ships take place within a health care setting Health care workers are responsible for developing and maintaining professional relationships with their clients Health care workers are trained to take part in professional r/ships with their clients The time spent in a professional r/ship is determined by each client’s plan of care

What does it mean to be “caring” Meet patient’s basic and complex needs Empower them to take control (of even the smallest detail) Call them by name – with respect and compassion Allow them privacy and show respect for their personal belongings Meeting them where they are at without judgment Getting to know them as an individual Providing a “listening ear” focusing on them and not on ourselves or our own needs

Basic Human Needs Physical ◦ Everyone has needs such as food, water, oxygen, sleep, elimination, hygiene and sex. These are the most basic human needs Safety and Security ◦ People need to feel safe in their homes and their communities. They need to feel protected from danger and free from fear. This includes religious beliefs Belonging ◦ Human beings need to communicate with each other and feel accepted and loved Esteem ◦ People need to feel good about themselves and need to gain respect, approval and recognition from others Self-Actualization  Satisfaction that comes when people follow their dreams and achieve important goals

Crossing the Line Thinking about client frequently when away from work Planning work day around the needs of one special client Spending free time with your client Sharing personal information or concerns about work with a client Feeling responsible if the client doesn’t seem to be getting better Giving extra care to one client while ignoring others Keeping secrets for a client…and sharing your own Trading assignments with coworkers so that you can work with a certain client Accepting gifts of money from client Giving a client your address and home phone number Complaining about your own aches and pains Dressing a certain way when you know your client will be seeing you Gossiping about your coworkers

Doing too much for our patients Don’t let yourself get stuck in the role of “rescuer” Your clients have lives beyond the few hours you spend with them Part of our job is to prepare them to manage without you (and allow family members to become useful, in a seemingly helpless situation such as a dying patient)

Help your clients do without you! Simplify things (divide complex tasks into small steps) Provide special equipment Be patient (allow client’s to do for themselves even if it takes up your time) Praise your clients Empower them to make their own decisions about the care they receive

Touching Clients We can still demonstrate professional boundaries by respecting each client’s privacy Touch can be done in a gentle, but professional manner If a client seems to misinterpret your touch, speak with your supervisor as soon as possible

Receiving Gifts from Clients We must follow workplace policy in this regard Money should NEVER exchange hands between health care workers and clients! Remember that “favors” can be seen as a type of gift

Professional Behavior If you feel as though you are becoming “too attached” to your client – speak to your supervisor Practice good communication skills, develop and maintain a professional relationship with your client Remember that romantic or sexual relationships are NEVER appropriate between a health care provider and client

Take care of yourself! You may feel: ◦ Tired ◦ Bored by the same old thing ◦ Impatient ◦ Angry ◦ Discouraged ◦ Become sick ◦ Depressed ◦ Burned out