A client has an order for a new medication. When preparing to administ

QUESTION

A client has an order for a new medication. When preparing to administer the medication to the client for the first time, the nurse gets ready to educate the client and the client’s daughter about the medication.

When educating the client and the daughter, the nurse should do all of the following except

a. observe the client before implementing teaching and gear teaching strategies to meet the individual needs of the client.
b. direct instructions to the client’s daughter.
c. draw on the client’s experiences and interests in planning teaching.
d. make the teaching session short enough to avoid tiring the client.

ANSWER:

ANS: B
Assuming that cognitive intact older adults lack the capacity to understand instructions is a common error. Health care providers often direct instruction to the older adult client’s younger companion, even when the client has no cognitive impairment. This action invalidates the client and diminishes self-worth. Simple modifications to reduce age-related barriers to learning when teaching older adults include:
¥ Explain why the information is important to the client.
¥ Use familiar words and examples in providing information.
¥ Draw on the client’s experiences and interests in planning teaching.
¥ Make teaching sessions short enough to avoid tiring the client, and frequent enough for continuous learning support.
¥ Speak slowly, naturally, and clearly.

Health teaching for the elderly is critical if they are to master the tasks of old age and maintain their health. Healthy older adult learning capabilities remain intact, although older adults may need more time to think about how they want to handle a situation. The sensitive nurse observes the client before implementing teaching and gears teaching strategies to meet the individual learning needs of each client. Four aspects of successful aging—fall prevention, adequate nutrition, socialization, and medication management—lend themselves to health teaching formats.