Giving Patient Instructions Flashcards

A patient with low health literacy needs discharge instructions. Which approach is most effective?

Answer: Use plain language and teach-back method

Plain language combined with the teach-back method ensures comprehension regardless of literacy level.

When instructing a patient on wound care at home, what is the FIRST step a nurse should take?

Answer: Assess what the patient already knows

Assessing baseline knowledge prevents repetition and allows instructions to be tailored to the patient's needs.

A patient says, 'I understand' after medication instructions but cannot demonstrate the correct technique. What should the nurse do?

Answer: Re-teach using a different method and reassess

Verbal confirmation alone is insufficient; the nurse must re-teach and use return demonstration to verify understanding.

Which phrase best confirms a patient understands insulin injection instructions?

Answer: 'Can you tell me in your own words how you will give yourself insulin?'

Open-ended teach-back questions require the patient to actively recall and demonstrate understanding.

A nurse is giving post-operative instructions to a patient who speaks limited English. What is the priority action?

Answer: Use a professional medical interpreter

Professional medical interpreters ensure accurate, confidential, and legally appropriate communication.

When providing instructions for a new colostomy, how should the nurse sequence the teaching?

Answer: Begin with simple concepts and build toward complex skills

Teaching from simple to complex builds patient confidence and promotes progressive skill development.

A patient is being discharged on warfarin. Which instruction is most critical to include?

Answer: Report unusual bruising or bleeding immediately

Unusual bleeding is a serious sign of over-anticoagulation and must be reported immediately to prevent harm.