by Alex A. KecskesAside from their many duties and responsibilities, today's nurses are charged with educating patients. This may involve everything from how and when to take medications to wound care after patients leave the hospital. Instructions are often given informally in a Q&A session, or in a more detailed manner as required when explaining various postoperative care procedures.
Regrettably, as many insurance plans try to cut costs and limit hospital stays, more patients are going home sicker. This has necessitated the need for more instructions and information to ensure patients recover properly and reduce the risk of readmission. Some guidelines for educating patients include:
Consider the Environment--Educate patients at a time of day when hospital distractions are at a minimum--for example, after mid-morning breakfast, morning hygiene, or after assessments and rounds.
Consider the Patient--When instructing a pediatric patient, ideally both parents should be present as well as any potential caregivers to the child. On the other hand, a teenage mother who has just given birth may not be as receptive in the post-partum period, especially if her father or other non-family members are present.
Enroll the Patient--Ask them what they feel they need to know to go home safely. Allowing them to guide their learning will increase their willingness to participate and retain information.
Respect Cultural & Religious Beliefs--It's always best to be aware of any procedures that would interfere with a patient's cultural or religious dictates. In male dominant cultures, for example, information pertaining to an important medical decision is normally conveyed directly to the head of the house.
For more information on nurses educating patients, check out Patient Education: The Nurse as Source of Actionable Information.
After my minor operation, the nurses that helped me were my primary source of postoperative information. They also helped with the avalanche of forms that often accompany even minor procedures.
For more information on health careers, visit www.healthcarejobsiteblog.com
Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.
Regrettably, as many insurance plans try to cut costs and limit hospital stays, more patients are going home sicker. This has necessitated the need for more instructions and information to ensure patients recover properly and reduce the risk of readmission. Some guidelines for educating patients include:
Consider the Environment--Educate patients at a time of day when hospital distractions are at a minimum--for example, after mid-morning breakfast, morning hygiene, or after assessments and rounds.
Consider the Patient--When instructing a pediatric patient, ideally both parents should be present as well as any potential caregivers to the child. On the other hand, a teenage mother who has just given birth may not be as receptive in the post-partum period, especially if her father or other non-family members are present.
Enroll the Patient--Ask them what they feel they need to know to go home safely. Allowing them to guide their learning will increase their willingness to participate and retain information.
Respect Cultural & Religious Beliefs--It's always best to be aware of any procedures that would interfere with a patient's cultural or religious dictates. In male dominant cultures, for example, information pertaining to an important medical decision is normally conveyed directly to the head of the house.
For more information on nurses educating patients, check out Patient Education: The Nurse as Source of Actionable Information.
After my minor operation, the nurses that helped me were my primary source of postoperative information. They also helped with the avalanche of forms that often accompany even minor procedures.
For more information on health careers, visit www.healthcarejobsiteblog.com
Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.
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