Keeping a Professional Distance

It’s easy to blur the line in your relationships with clients because you spend a great deal of time with them and their families. You may learn personal or intimate information and you may be tempted to share personal information about yourself. But remember, the goal in professional relationships is to maintain a professional distance!

YOU MAY HAVE CROSSED THE LINE IF YOU:

Think about a client frequently when you are away from work.
Plan your work day around the needs of one special client.
Spend your free time with a client.
Share personal information or concerns about work with a client.
Keep secrets for a client . . . and share secrets of your own.
Accept gifts or money from a client.
Give a client your address and home telephone number.
Dress a certain way when you know you will be seeing that client.
Gossip about your coworkers with a client.
Visit clients in their homes, as a friend, not as a professional.

ASK YOURSELF:

Am I acting in my client’s best interest?
Would I feel comfortable telling a coworker about what I am doing?
Would the client’s family approve of what I am doing?
Am I following the client’s care plan?

HOW TO MAINTAIN A PROFESSIONAL DISTANCE

Encourage your client to participate in his or her own care within the limits of the care plan.
Help your client understand when requests are beyond the limits of a professional relationship.
Avoid accepting gifts unless the refusal could harm the relationship. For example, if your client bakes you cookies to express her appreciation for your hard work. Refusing the cookies could insult the client and cause her to withdrawal.
Just say “no” to performing personal services such as giving rides to family members or picking up dry cleaning unless it is outlined in your contract.
Don’t disclose personal information about your life. This includes your personal or intimate relationships, family troubles, legal problems, and financial problems.
Avoid discussing your feelings about your employer, co-workers or other clients in the presence of the client or their family members.