COMPLICATI

ON
PREVENTION

DP ERA

POLTEKKES
KEMENKES KALTIM
Preface
• Patient education was once a job for physicians, but today's nurses
assume most of the responsibility for educating patients and helping
them to become responsible for their own health status. For patients to
take a proactive role in their own care, they need to understand their
condition and work to prevent or minimize complications from any
chronic illnesses.
• Patient education needs to be comprehensive and easily understood.
Nurse health educators must recognize that many patients are lacking
in their ability to understand health care information and what they
need to do with that information.
Why we need to prevent complication?
• costly penalties that are levied for early readmissions
How to do that
• Delegate more responsibilities to support staff and be more focused on patient education.
• Begin educating patients with every encounter from admission.
• Find out what the patient already knows. Correct any misinformation. and plan for the next
lesson.
• Utilize visual aids as often as possible.
• Use return demonstration when administering care. Involve the patient from the very first
treatment.
• Ask the patient to repeat what you taught them
• Make sure the patient understands the medications as you administer them. Make sure they
understand how and when to refill medications.
• Provide patients with information about signs and symptoms of their condition that will
require immediate attention
5 strategies
1. Take advantage of technology. Technology has made patient education materials
more accessible. Educational resources can be customized and printed out for
patients with the touch of a button. Make sure the patient’s individualized needs
are addressed. Don't simply hand the patient a stack of papers to read. Review
them with patients to ensure they understand the instructions. Answer questions
that arise. Some resources are available in several languages.
2. Determine the patient’s learning style. Similar information may be provided by a
range of techniques. In fact, providing education using different modalities
reinforces teaching. Patients have different learning styles. Find out if your patient
learns best by watching a DVD or by reading. A hands on approach where the
patient gets to perform a procedure with your guidance is often the best method.
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3. Stimulate the patient’s interest. It's essential that patients understand why this is
important. Establish rapport, ask and answer questions, and consider specific patient
concerns. For example, some patients may want detailed information about every
aspect of their health condition. Others may want just the facts, and do better with a
simple checklist.
4. Consider the patient’s limitations and strengths. Does the patient have physical,
mental, or emotional impairments that impact the ability to learn? For example, they
may need large print materials. If the patient is hearing impaired, use visual materials
and hands on methods instead of simply providing verbal instruction. Always have
patients explain what you taught them. Often people will nod “yes” or say that they
comprehend what is taught even if they have not really heard or understood. Consider
factors such as fatigue and the shock of learning a critical diagnosis when educating
patients.
(5/5)
• Include family members. Involving family
members in patient teaching improves the
chances that your instructions will be
followed. In many cases, you will be
providing most of the instruction to family
members. Families play a critical role in
health care management.