Professional Boundaries with your Clients

Adapted from: “In the Know” in-service tip sheets

September, 2013Education Department - Ambercare Corporation

Maintaining Professional BoundariesRecognize 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 Relationships Professional 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 needsEmpower them to take control (of even the

smallest detail)Call them by name – with respect and

compassionAllow them privacy and show respect for

their personal belongingsMeeting them where they are at without

judgmentGetting to know them as an individualProviding 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 patientsDon’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 clientsEmpower them to make their

own decisions about the care they receive

Touching ClientsWe 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 ClientsWe must follow workplace policy

in this regardMoney should NEVER exchange

hands between health care workers and clients!

Remember that “favors” can be seen as a type of gift

Professional BehaviorIf 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