Therapeutic communication hindered. . . .

[ArtsyCraftsy]

I'm a new nurse, working on a Palliative Care unit where generally the patients don't have long to live.

I enjoy my job and especially enjoy therapeutic communication whenever the opportunity presents itself. Oftentimes the patients have a lot on their minds and it's wonderful if you can just be there to listen and understand.

Here's the problem:

I'm a female nurse, and I try to be very polite, respectful, and caring. The trouble is, sometimes the male patients become interested in me in a personal way, and it just spoils the therapeutic communication. I think these particular patients would try to bond in a romantic way with any nurse who took the time and effort to listen, make eye contact, and spend time with them, so it's nothing about me, personally.

When this behavior happens, it's uncomfortable because I feel they took my caring and concern the wrong way. I deal with it by being polite and tell them I'm married and have a family. But once I know they are interested in me in that way, I can no longer behave as caring and compassionate as before because I know they will take it the wrong way. So I make my future visits to their room short, and I don't linger there for an opportunity for therapeutic communication. I feel bad because I do care about them as a patient, and I feel bad for the lost opportunity, especially because the days they can actually engage in conversation are limited since they're so sick.

I appreciate any thoughts you may have on this, thanks.