Things Health Practitioners Should Know When Offering Patient Education

By Steven Hill


Teaching people receiving treatment is a significant aspect of giving nursing care. It does not matter whether you are training a new mother on taking care of a newborn or teaching an adult to cope with a chronic condition. The achievement of the trainee will depend on the quality of instruction and support given by the nurse. It is, therefore, important for both parties to take patient education seriously for it to achieve best results.

Initially, training clients on treatment was very inconveniencing. Most of the training was focused on classroom like models where clients would have to take notes. Technology, on the other hand, has ensured that information is easily accessible. For the most part, nursing facilities have numerous training resources stored in computers. These materials can easily be modified to conform to the specific needs of clients. The information is then printed out for distribution.

There are many credible internet sources where caregivers can find accurate information to give to their clients. However, when giving this information, it is important to ensure the client understands what is entailed in the materials. Take time to review the printed information with your client. This will make the person have more interest in reading the information on his or her own. Ensure that the individual needs of the client are addressed.

You can use different techniques to offer the same information. As a matter of principle, providing training using different modalities helps to reinforce teaching. The first thing you need to do is determine whether your client learns best by reading or watching DVD. Most of the adults are intelligent and function effectively. They are however unable to read and comprehend instructions in printed form.

If for example you determine that your sick client may not absorb and use the instructions in a manual, you may choose to give them a DVD. For the most part, manuals come with accompanying videos to reinforce the message. There are some types of training that may also require hands-on training. Consider a mother who does not know how to bathe her newborn child. Videos and printed instructions may not be sufficient.

Health care providers should be keen to build a strong reputation. This will not only help your clients to recover, but also get you more clients. If clients develop a keen interest in the conditions afflicting them, they will follow your instructions to the latter in order to improve. Working with such patients can be very easy. You will not have to keep giving the same instructions to them.

Adult clients can be difficult to handle. They look for instant gratification. You must, therefore, develop skills that will help you determine the things that matter for each of your clients. Be keen to establish rapport with them. Ask them questions to get them talking. Encourage them to ask questions as well. This will help you understand their particular interests.

Consider involving family members in the teaching. It is one of the ways to ensure they adhere to the instructions you give. Family members can follow up on the client because you will not be with them all the time.




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