Page 112 - Inovacije i izazovi u obrazovanju i sestrinskoj skrbi - KNJIGA SAŽETAKA

INOVACIJE I IZAZOVI U OBRAZOVANJU I SESTRINSKOJ SKRBI - KNJIGA SAŽETAKA

Oversharing: Personal Boundaries in the Context of

Nursing

Communication is a lifelong learning process for nurses. They strive to handle the entire
spectrum of human emotions: anger, depression, dementia, and psychosis, despair, and joy.
Nurses continuously interact with people under stress: patients, patients' families, and
colleagues. Naturally, this affects them, and they often find it difficult to cope.
Empathy is a crucial aspect of healthcare, but where exactly is the line between therapeutic
communication and crossing personal boundaries, which are often already permeable? A
personal boundary can be defined as a psychological „bubble“ that surrounds each person,
helping to separate individuals from one another. These boundaries define who we are at our
core; our capabilities, responsibilities, needs, and desires, and they are always with us. The
question arises: do nurses often find themselves in situations that require them to push their
boundaries? Are their boundaries too often permeable?
Patients may feel uncomfortable if they perceive a nurse as too open. The permeability of
personal boundaries and oversharing of personal information can cause ethical dilemmas and
open the door to potential manipulation. The danger of permeable personal boundaries and
oversharing personal information also occurs within the team and disrupts team balance. In a
demanding work environment, it is natural for people to seek support from one another, but
often close relationships can result in cliques, gossip, and bias. Patients always rely on the team,
and in such cases, the team risks losing focus. Connecting with colleagues can build a solid
foundation for work, but it can also break it down.

Key words: empathy, personal boundaries, nursing

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