Patient & Caregiver Education Flashcards

Which technique best confirms that a patient understands how to care for their PICC at home?

Answer: The teach-back method, where the patient explains or demonstrates the care in their own words

Teach-back checks understanding directly: the patient restates or demonstrates what they learned, which shows the clinician any gaps to clarify. A yes/no question or a signed form does not show comprehension.

A patient going home with a PICC should be taught to report which finding right away?

Answer: Swelling of the arm, neck or face on the PICC side

Swelling of the arm, neck or face on the catheter side can mean catheter-related deep vein thrombosis or SVC obstruction. It needs prompt evaluation.

Which instruction is appropriate for a patient who has a PICC in their arm?

Answer: Avoid blood pressure measurements and heavy lifting with the PICC arm

Taking blood pressure on the PICC arm, or lifting heavy weights with it, can damage the catheter or vein and raise the risk of thrombosis or dislodgement. Patients should cover the dressing to shower and should not submerge the site.

Before teaching a patient to manage their own home infusion, what should the nurse assess first?

Answer: The patient's health literacy, readiness to learn and physical or cognitive ability

Assessing health literacy, readiness to learn, language needs, dexterity and cognition lets the nurse tailor the teaching and decide whether a caregiver should be included.

What should a patient with chronic kidney disease be taught about vein preservation?

Answer: Arm veins should be protected from unnecessary venipuncture and PICCs avoided, to preserve future dialysis access

Arm veins in CKD patients may be needed for a future arteriovenous fistula. Patients should learn to speak up for vein preservation: avoid PICCs and unnecessary sticks, and ask that the nephrology team be consulted before any device placement.

Which instruction about infection prevention is most important to teach a patient or caregiver who will access an implanted port or CVAD at home?

Answer: Perform hand hygiene and scrub the needleless connector with an antiseptic, letting it dry, before every access

Hand hygiene plus a vigorous antiseptic scrub of the needleless connector, followed by full drying, before every access is a key way to prevent intraluminal contamination and CLABSI at home.