Teaching Strategies
This section covers various teaching strategies that you can use to educate caregivers.
Simple Language
Using Simple language and avoiding medical jargon is another simple yet effective way to educate caregivers.
Nurse tip: Instead of saying:
Central venous catheter → Central line
Occlussion → Blockage
Edema → Swelling
Erythema → Redness
Sepsis → Blood infection
Purulent → Pus
Flush → Push liquid
The teach-back method is used to reinforce or confirm patient education (Peggy & Leasure, 2019). When using the teach-back method, nurses allow caregivers to explain or demonstrate a skill to display understanding. The teach-back method should be used throughout the entire admission, not just at discharge!
Steps to complete the teach-back method:
1) Explain in simple terms or show the caregiver how to complete the skill.
2) Ask the caregiver to repeat it back in their own words or demonstrate the skill.
3) Clarify any misunderstood information
Nurse tip: Use teach-back when evaluating
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Caregiver understanding of infection signs and symptoms
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Dressing assessment (when to bring the child in for a dressing change, what to do if the dressing lifts, etc.)
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Caregivers apply an Aquaguard or other protective covering.
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Caregivers flush/heparin lock their child's line
How the teach-back builds nurse confidence:
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Provides a structured approach to caregiver education.
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Standardizes patient education across the unit.
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Ensures caregiver understanding of the education.