Coumadin teaching protocol?

We have coumadin teaching at our hospital for anyone that is new to starting coumadin, or just for anyone that needs additional teaching. However, nursing doesn't do the education; our ICU pharmacist does the coumadin teaching, which I thinks makes a lot of sense and is very helpful.

We have a Coumadin video for pt's to watch as well as info on paper and then usually one of the dieticians will come talk to them about diet concerns with Coumadin. I don't know if it's our protocol per se, but it is a requirement that the pt get the teaching sheet, follow up from the nurse with any questions and be offered the video to watch even if they have been on Coumadin before. If the pt refuses, then that has to be docomented. We just recently have a pharmacist assigned on to our unit during the weekdays, and they too will participate in teaching if you ask them. The pharmacist on the unit is a real new thing for us, and I am not sure of all their job details, still learning.

Hi all,

Do any of you use a teaching checklist or coumadin education teaching protocol at your hospital? I am looking for effective and streamline ways of teaching the coumadin therapy information to patients upon initiation and throughout their hospitalizaiton and even outpatient and after discharge followup. Any info of what works and what does not would be helpful! Thank you in advance!!

I like to use the booklet the pharmacy has for coumadin. It's small and can fit in a purse orpocket. It has pictures and diet tips and a place for the patient to chart their does and lab work.

Our pharmacy used to years ago now it's up to the nurses to educate before discharge.