Author Question: A nurse is assessing a patient before developing a teaching plan. What questions or statements will ... (Read 74 times)

sam.t96 · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

A nurse is assessing a patient before developing a teaching plan. What questions or statements will best obtain data on this patient related to health literacy? (Select all that apply.)

a. Have you missed appointments because you misunderstood the instructions?
b. How well are you able to read?
c. How would you look for information on your diagnosis?
d. Tell me how you compare two similar products.
e. What would make you go to the emergency department?

Question 2

A patient has been readmitted to the hospital, and the admitting nurse discovers that the patient did not follow through with previous discharge instructions.

The nurse also discovers that the patient understood the directions and had all the necessary supplies. The nurse would gain the most valuable information by asking the patient about (Select all that apply.) a. how important the patient thought the self-care was.
b. whether the patient felt capable of actually performing self-care.
c. whether the patient realizes the consequences of noncompliance.
d. whom the patient can call when he or she has questions about care.
e. why the patient was unwilling to perform self-care measures.

Chocorrol77 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

A, C, D, E
Health literacy is not just the ability to read; it also includes the ability to understand instructions on prescription drug bottles, appointment slips, medical education brochures, doctor's directions and consent forms, and the ability to negotiate complex health care systems. Asking questions related to missing appointments, looking for information, comparing products, and making decisions would yield good information on the state of this patient's health literacy. Reading level is important but is not the best indicator.

Answer to Question 2

A, B
To attain behavior changes, the person being taught must value the information and the behavior change.
The person must feel confident in his or her ability to perform the self-care measures; if the person does not believe that he or she has the ability to do the activity, the person may not even attempt it.
Using such threatening language as the consequences of noncompliance probably would make the patient feel defensive. Although this needs to be assessed (in a more gentle fashion), it is not the priority and can be addressed later.
It is important to know what resources, including other people, the patient has available, but this is not likely the most important area to assess.
Assuming the patient is unwilling is judgmental; in fact, the patient may have been very willing but felt unable to perform the activity. Other stresses may have interfered as well.