Download Patient teaching is one of the most important tasks that a nurse

Patient teaching is one of the most important tasks that a nurse performs. The information below offers effective ways to
help your patients and their families to cope with a variety of health problems.
Tips for reducing incisional pain
Teach the postoperative patient the following techniques to reduce pain when he moves, coughs, or breathes deeply.
Proper Movement
Instruct the patient to use the bed’s side rails for support when he moves and turns. He should move slowly and smoothly,
without sudden jerks. Advise him to wait to move until after his pain medication has taken effect, whenever possible. The
patient should frequently move parts of his body not affected by surgery to prevent them from becoming stiff and sore. Make
sure the patient is medicated so that he can move comfortably. If moving alone proves difficult for the patient, urge him to
ask a staff member to help.
Splinting the incision
Following chest or abdominal surgery, splinting the incision may help the patient reduce pain when he coughs or moves.
Splinting with the hands
Have the patient place one hand above and the other hand below his incision; then press gently and breathe normally when
he moves.
Helping the patient with Alzheimer’s disease
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Teach the patient and his family about Alzheimer’s disease — what’s known, what’s suspected, and the
degenerative nature of the disorder. Listen to their concerns and answer all questions honestly and with
compassion.
Refer the family to local and national support groups for additional information and coping strategies. Family
members commonly find a degree of solace in knowing that other families are going through the same devastating
experience. To locate support groups in your area, contact the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders
Association.
Encourage the family to allow the patient as much independence as possible while keeping him safe.
Explain how proper diet, regular daily routines, and normal sleep patterns can help.
Bell’s palsy teaching tips
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Advise the patient to protect the eye on the affected side by covering it with an eye patch, especially when
outdoors. The eyelid must be taped shut at night using a small piece of hypoallergenic tape. Tell him to keep warm
and to avoid exposure to dust and wind. If exposure is unavoidable, instruct him to cover his face.
To prevent excessive weight loss, teach the patient how to cope with eating and drinking difficulties. Tell him to
chew on the unaffected side of his mouth. Provide a nutritionally balanced diet of soft foods. Eliminate hot foods
and fluids (soups, sauces, and purees, for example). Arrange for privacy at mealtimes to minimize embarrassment.
When the patient is ready, teach him to exercise facial muscles by grimacing in front of a mirror.
Multiple sclerosis teaching tips
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Teach the patient and family about the chronic course of the disease. Explain that exacerbations are unpredictable
and will require physical and emotional adjustments.
Emphasize the need to avoid stress, infections, and fatigue and to maintain independence by finding new ways to
perform daily activities.
Explain the value of a well-balanced, nutritious diet that contains sufficient fiber.
Evaluate the need for bowel and bladder training and provide instruction, as needed.
Encourage adequate fluid intake and regular urination.
Teach the patient the correct use of suppositories to help establish a regular bowel schedule.
Refer the patient and family to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for more information.
Instilling eye ointment and eyedrops
To teach about instilling eye ointment, instruct the patient to:
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Hold the tube for several minutes to warm the ointment.
Squeeze a small amount of ointment 1/4" to 1/2" (0.5 to 1.5 cm) inside the lower lid.
Gently close the eye and roll the eyeball in all directions with the eye closed.
Wait 10 minutes before instilling other ointments.
To teach about instilling eyedrops, instruct the patient to:
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Tilt his head back and pull down on his lower lid.
Drop the medication into the conjunctival sac.
Apply pressure to the inner canthus for 1 minute after administration.
Wait 5 minutes before instilling a second drop or other eye solutions.
Teaching the patient with arterial occlusive disease
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Teach proper foot care or other appropriate measures, depending on the affected area.
Instruct the patient about signs of recurrence (pain, pallor, numbness, paralysis, absence of pulse) that can result
from a graft occlusion or occlusion at another site.
Caution the patient against wearing constrictive clothing or crossing his legs while sitting.
Advise the patient to stop smoking and refer him to a smoking-cessation program, if appropriate.
Encourage the patient to closely follow his prescribed medication regimen.
Advise the patient to avoid temperature extremes.
Help the patient adjust to lifestyle constraints.
Teaching the patient with hypertension
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Teach the patient to use a self-monitoring blood pressure cuff and to record readings at the same time of the day
at least twice weekly to review with his primary health care provider.
Warn the patient that uncontrolled hypertension may cause a stroke or myocardial infarction.
To encourage compliance with antihypertensive therapy, suggest that the patient establish a daily routine for taking
medication. Tell him to report drug adverse effects and to keep a record of the effectiveness of drugs. Advise him
to avoid high-sodium antacids and over-the-counter cold and sinus medications, which contain harmful
vasoconstrictors.
Help the patient examine and modify his lifestyle and encourage necessary diet changes.
If the patient smokes, encourage quitting and refer him to a smoking-cessation program.
Teaching the patient with atelectasis
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Provide reassurance and emotional support because the patient may be frightened by his limited breathing
capacity.
Teach the patient how to use an incentive spirometer. Encourage him to use it for 10 to 20 breaths every hour
while he’s awake.
Teach him about respiratory care, including postural drainage, coughing, and deep breathing.
Encourage the patient to stop smoking and lose weight as needed. Refer him to appropriate support groups for
help.
Teaching the patient with tuberculosis
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Teach the isolated patient to cough and sneeze into tissues and to dispose of secretions properly.
Instruct the patient to wear a mask when he leaves his room. Visitors and personnel should wear high-efficiency
particulate air respirator masks when in his room.
Remind the patient to get plenty of rest.
Stress the importance of eating balanced meals. Record weight weekly.
Teach him the signs of adverse medication effects; warn him to report them immediately.
Emphasize the importance of regular follow-up examinations to detect recurring tuberculosis.
Advise persons who have been exposed to infected patients to receive appropriate tests.
Teaching the patient with diverticular disease
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Explain what diverticula are as well as how they form.
Make sure the patient understands the importance of dietary fiber and the harmful effects of constipation and
straining at stool. Encourage increased intake of foods high in digestible fiber. Advise the patient to relieve
constipation with stool softeners or bulk-forming laxatives, but caution against taking bulk-forming laxatives without
plenty of water.
As needed, teach colostomy care, and arrange for a visit by an enterostomal therapist.
Diabetes mellitus teaching tips
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Review the prescribed meal plan, and teach the patient how to adjust his diet when engaged in extra activity.
Teach him how to select restaurant meals and how to obtain nutrient composition lists from fast-food restaurants.
Advise the patient about aerobic exercise programs. Explain how exercise affects blood glucose levels, and
provide safety guidelines.
Instruct the patient on insulin administration, if prescribed, including type, peak times, dosage, drawing up the
insulin, mixing (if applicable), administration technique, and site rotation.
Instruct the patient on oral antidiabetic therapy, if prescribed.
Tell the patient about the Internet as a source of information and about the American Diabetes Association Web
site, www.diabetes.org.
Chronic renal failure teaching tips
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Instruct the outpatient to avoid foods high in sodium, potassium, and phosphate.
Encourage adherence to fluid and protein restrictions.
To prevent constipation, stress the need for exercise and sufficient dietary bulk.
Encourage deep breathing and coughing to prevent pulmonary congestion.
Refer the patient and his family for appropriate counseling and support.
STD teaching tips
If your patient has a sexually transmitted disease (STD), include these points in your teaching:
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Discuss disease transmission, signs and symptoms, the length of the infectious period, infection prevention, and
cure (if the STD can be cured).
Explain the health consequences of improper treatment, and emphasize that the patient’s partner is also at risk.
Clarify common misconceptions, and promote understanding of healthful sexual practices.
Tell the patient to seek immediate treatment if STD symptoms develop.
Discuss modifications of sexual activity to prevent recurrence: reducing the number of sexual partners, avoiding
partners who have multiple partners, and questioning partners about their STD history.
Herniated intervertebral disk teaching tips
Include these points in your patient teaching:
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Teach the patient who has undergone spinal fusion how to wear a brace if ordered.
Teach proper body mechanics when lifting: bending at the knees and hips (never at the waist) and standing
straight.
Advise the patient to lie down when tired. He should sleep on his side (never on his abdomen) or in a semiFowler’s position, using an extra-firm mattress or a bed board to reduce tension on his spine.
Advise the patient to maintain proper weight to avoid lordosis caused by obesity.
Warn the patient who must take a muscle relaxant of possible adverse effects. Advise him to avoid activities that
require alertness until he has built up a tolerance to the drug’s sedative effects.
Cellulitis teaching tips
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If your patient has cellulitis, emphasize the importance of complying with treatment to prevent relapse.
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Teach the patient how to apply compresses.
Advise him to elevate the affected limb to reduce swelling.
Tell him to limit activity until his condition improves.
Colorectal cancer teaching tips
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If your patient with colorectal cancer will have a colostomy, teach him and his family about the procedure. Consider
referring the patient to an enterostomal therapist before surgery.
Because a history of colorectal cancer increases the risk for other primary cancers, instruct the patient to have
close follow-up and screening and to increase his dietary fiber intake. Instruct his family about the familial risks of
colorectal cancer, and teach them about dietary modifications to reduce their risk. Also teach them how to
recognize early signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer.