In nursing, how is countertransference defined?

• A. The nurse unconsciously displaces feelings from the past onto the client.
• B. The client displaces feelings onto the nurse.
• C. The client misinterprets nurse's actions.
• D. The nurse intentionally ignores emotional cues.

Answer: (A)

Countertransference occurs when the nurse unconsciously projects feelings from past relationships onto the patient. This can color the nurse’s judgments, reactions, and interactions with the patient, potentially impacting care if not recognized. The nurse’s own unresolved emotions can surface in responses to the patient, making self-awareness and reflection essential. The other options describe different phenomena: when the client projects feelings onto the nurse (transference), when the client misreads the nurse’s actions (a misperception), or when the nurse deliberately ignores emotional cues (a boundary violation).