Patient and Family Teaching

A patient must have motivation (having the desire or seeing the need) to learn. Motivation depends on the patient s perception of the need to learn. Education concerning the disease process may be necessary for the patient to become motivated to learn. Encouraging patient participation in planning realistic and attainable goals also promotes motivation. If the patient has no motivation, he or she is likely to be noncompliant. 

Creating an accepting and positive atmosphere also enhances learning. Physical discomfort negatively 

Learning occurs in three domains cognitive, affective, and psychomotor. When developing a teaching plan for the patient, the nurse must consider each domain. 

The affective domain includes the patient/caregiver s attitudes, feelings, beliefs, and opinions. Health care providers often ignore these aspects of patient teaching. 

The psychomotor domain involves learning physical skills (such as injection of insulin) or tasks (such as performing a dressing change). The nurse teaches a task or skill using a step-by-step method. The patient is allowed hands-on practice under die supervision of the nurse. The nurse assesses die patient mastery of the skill by having the patient or caregiver perform a return demonstration under the watchful eye of the nurse  

It is easy to pull a preprinted teacliing outline off of tlie computer or obtain preprinted material. This type of material is often used as a checklist to teach tlie patient about a diaig and the therapeutic r men. Such checklists are useful in helping the nurse remember important aspects of the dmg tliat should be covered when teaching tlie patients about the drug and to give to tlie patient for future i fei nca However, tlie use of such checklists fails to take into account the affective domain. 

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The charge nurse asks you to discuss the drug metronidazole (Flagyl) at a team conference. Determine what specific points regarding administration and patient and family teaching you would discuss at the conference. 

The nurse should include the following points in a patient and family teaching plan. 

Promoting an Optima/ Response to Therapy Effecfive management of the paHent with parkinsonism requires that the nurse carefully monitor the drug therapy, provide psychological support, and place a strong emphasis on patient and family teaching. 

Educating the Patient and Family The nurse explains the medical regimen thoroughly to the patient and family and emphasizes the importance of following the prescribed treatment regimen. The nurse includes tiie following points in a patient and family teaching plan ... 

Educating the Patient and Family To ensure compliance witli the treatment regimen, tlie patient must understand tlie importance of complying with the prescribed treatment r men and taking tlie drug exactly as directed to obtain the best results from therapy. To meet this goal, the nurse develops an effective plan of patient and family teaching. 

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