Patient Education and Discharge Teaching Flashcards

Which discharge instruction is most important for a patient who received moderate sedation for colonoscopy?

Answer: Do not drive, operate machinery or sign legal documents for 24 hours, and go home with a responsible adult

Sedatives such as midazolam and fentanyl can impair judgment and reaction time for hours after the patient seems alert. Standard instructions are no driving, machinery, alcohol or important decisions for 24 hours, and discharge to a responsible adult.

For a morning colonoscopy using a split-dose prep, when should the second dose usually be taken?

Answer: About 4–6 hours before the procedure, finished at least 2 hours before

Split dosing gives better bowel cleansing. The second half is started about 4–6 hours before the procedure and finished at least 2 hours before, or as anesthesia guidelines require, to lower aspiration risk.

What is the best way to confirm that a patient understands their post-procedure instructions?

Answer: Have the patient explain the instructions back in their own words (teach-back)

Teach-back is an evidence-based health literacy technique. The patient restates the key points, so the nurse can spot misunderstandings and correct them. A yes/no question often gets a polite 'no questions' without any real understanding.

A patient had a large polyp removed by polypectomy. Which teaching about delayed bleeding is correct?

Answer: Delayed bleeding can happen up to about 2 weeks later; report large amounts of rectal blood or clots right away

Delayed post-polypectomy bleeding happens when the cautery scar (eschar) sloughs off, usually within 1–14 days. Patients should report significant bright red blood, clots, dizziness or fainting right away.

After esophageal dilation, which symptom should the patient be taught to report immediately?

Answer: Chest pain, fever, or crackling under the skin of the neck (subcutaneous emphysema)

Chest pain, fever, trouble swallowing, shortness of breath or subcutaneous emphysema after dilation can mean esophageal perforation, a surgical emergency. A mild sore throat is expected.

What reading level is generally recommended for written patient-education materials?

Answer: About 5th–6th grade level

Many adults have limited health literacy, so agencies such as the AMA and NIH recommend writing patient materials at or below a 6th-grade reading level. Plain language and pictures improve understanding.