Why might a nurse choose not to engage in self-disclosure?

Choosing not to engage in self-disclosure is primarily rooted in the focus on the client’s therapeutic needs. When a nurse shares personal information, it can shift the attention away from the client’s concerns and challenges. The therapeutic relationship is designed to prioritize the client’s experiences and emotions, allowing them to explore their feelings openly without the influence of the nurse's personal experiences. Self-disclosure, unless carefully managed and relevant, can create a situation where the client feels the need to address the nurse’s experiences rather than their own, potentially undermining the purpose of therapy and the process of healing.

Additionally, maintaining boundaries through limited self-disclosure can encourage a more professional atmosphere, where the nurse remains a facilitator of the client's self-exploration. This approach ensures that the nurse's role is to guide and support the client rather than to share their own narrative, which can be more therapeutic in many cases. In this way, the integrity of the therapeutic relationship is preserved, allowing for the most effective care to be delivered.