The question of when might be the best time to educate a patient was entered as a Google search term recently. In checking the links Google returned there were no appropriate answers but at least one link encouraged the searcher to visit our site for the first time.
This question begs a response from an expert and we had an opportunity to ask Fran London, MS, RN and author of No
No Time to Teach by Fran London, MS, RN
Time to Teach this very question. Fran is an expert on patient education and her book is a practical guide to nurses on how to be better teachers.
Here’s Fran’s answer to “When is the best time to start educating our patients?”:
“When is the best time to start educating our patients? Immediately! Education starts with the first conversation, and continues with every conversation, no matter what the topic. Educating patients is not a task, but a process. First you have to assess who they are, where they’re at, what they need to learn, and how best to go about teaching. Then you provide essential information in the most appropriate ways at the most appropriate times. Then you evaluate understanding and the ability to apply this new information to life. You are always assessing, teaching, or evaluating understanding, because the circumstances are always evolving. There is no start point and no end point.”
We totally agree and see the opportunities for patient education expanding. As an example, as Fran says, the best time to educate patients is (1) every time you are with the patient from admit through discharge there is an opportunity to educate. This does not mean every patient interaction is filled with handouts and long discussions but does mean that each interaction is an opportunity to learn more about the patient and use that information as an assessment to “manage” their healthcare education while they are in the hospital. (2) There will be opportunities when the patient or their families are in a true learning mode and thus “ready and willing” to learn. This is also called the “teachable moment” when they are focused and ready for learning which is a good time for meaningful discussions, viewing a relevant video that can help their understanding or treatment. And, (3) social media is providing new opportunities in online communities such as Facebook, Twitter and other social networks for the hospital and medical staff to continue their out-reach and communicate with patients and the general population that previously never existed.
One of our employees was recently in the hospital for 4 days. She described it as “verging on jail time” because of the
How to get a VOD System Approved
boredom. She’s out and doing fine and recently commented on her experience. She received good care and was very happy to leave feeling better than when she was admitted but did not leave the hospital with any additional insight into her condition. At no time during her stay did any staff member assess her knowledge of her condition other than to collect vital signs or offer any information about her condition or where she might learn more. There were no educational videos available to her nor was there a patient education channel she could watch to learn on her own. Her discharge orders were to see her family doctor in 2 weeks.
Clearly the staff at this hospital did not value patient education as a way to make her more comfortable and from her experience she’s less likely to return to this hospital because she has other choices which demonstrates that patient education is also part of hospital marketing and out-reach that, in at least this case, got a failing grade with the patient. Does your hospital place enough value on patient education?
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