What is the best response for a nurse to maintain therapeutic boundaries when asked personal questions by a client?

Maintaining therapeutic boundaries is essential in the nurse-client relationship, as it promotes a safe and effective environment for care. The preferred response focuses on redirecting the conversation back to the client's feelings rather than providing personal information. By expressing curiosity about the client's question and steering the dialogue toward how the client is feeling, the nurse honors the client's needs while maintaining professional boundaries.

This approach affirms the client’s interest and potentially opens up dialogue about underlying issues the client may be experiencing, while also clearly establishing that the nurse’s personal life is not the focus of the interaction. This redirection reinforces the therapeutic framework, allowing the nurse to support the client without breaching professional guidelines or sharing personal details that could blur boundaries.