Explaining bit difficult

mama_d, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2011

This is something you'll get better at with practice.

When I first started tele, it would have taken me fifteen minutes to explain a-fib...what it was, possible causes, treatments, testing, etc. Now I can do it in less than ten, and in a way that my 12 year old could understand.

Try using printouts...leave them for the pt to review (and chart that you did), and tell them that any further questions or explanations either you or the doctor will be glad to answer. It helps narrow it down from having to give generalized explanations to a few specific ones. Several of the nurses I work with, especially when English is not their primary language or if they aren't comfortable with what is basically making a presentation on the fly, use this technique with great success.

Darkpk55 · Jun 5, 2011

This is something you'll get better at with practice.
When I first started tele, it would have taken me fifteen minutes to explain a-fib...what it was, possible causes, treatments, testing, etc. Now I can do it in less than ten, and in a way that my 12 year old could understand.
Try using printouts...leave them for the pt to review (and chart that you did), and tell them that any further questions or explanations either you or the doctor will be glad to answer. It helps narrow it down from having to give generalized explanations to a few specific ones. Several of the nurses I work with, especially when English is not their primary language or if they aren't comfortable with what is basically making a presentation on the fly, use this technique with great success.

My dentist does this! Thanks!! You saved my life!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2011

This takes time.....listen to your co-workers. It will follow with experience. If you get lost while explaining to the family or patient and you don't know the answer tell them you aren't sure but you will find someone who does. Being a good nurse doesn't mean knowing it all........it means knowing where to get the answer. :smokin: Avoid using the million dollar technical medical terms and when you use them simplify them. Ask the family to repeat to you what they heard or understood.

The first time I had to explain counter pulsation therapy (intra-aortic balloon pump) to a family....I planned for days what I would say before I took my first pump. I had that poor family so confused and after talking with them for an extended peroid...... :uhoh3: time I asked.....any questions? The family sat there and looked at me with these blank stares and said......he's going to have an artificial heart????? :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Needless to say, I've simplified i over the years and have it down to a few sentances......be patient it will come.

brownbook · Jun 5, 2011

Great, great, post.

Mama D I would love a quick Readers Digest version of your a-fib teaching for my own knowledge (at the level of a 12 year old is fine, ha ha! (Well!!! I've been away from cardiac nursing for a long time)!

And I would have a real hard time with acquired immunity!!! That is a tough concept. I've been out of nursing school way to long to tackle that one, and in my line of work it doesn't come up!!!!

I know you will get comfortable explaining topics you deal with frequently depending on what floor you work on. The more you know about a subject the easier it is to teach it. Like other posters said saying, "I don't know but I will find out." Is perfectly acceptable. Do a quick Internet search and give them something to read. Or ask them to talk to their doctor.

I have always found it hard to think of an example of what cannulating a vein with an IV catheter is like. In my mind I keep thinking of telling them something about pushing a flexible plastic wire through a wet spaghetti noodle, but that just doesn't seem to be right???

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2011

Great, great, post.
Mama D I would love a quick Readers Digest version of your a-fib teaching for my own knowledge (at the level of a 12 year old is fine, ha ha! (Well!!! I've been away from cardiac nursing for a long time)!
And I would have a real hard time with acquired immunity!!! That is a tough concept. I've been out of nursing school way to long to tackle that one, and in my line of work it doesn't come up!!!!
I know you will get comfortable explaining topics you deal with frequently depending on what floor you work on. The more you know about a subject the easier it is to teach it. Like other posters said saying, "I don't know but I will find out." Is perfectly acceptable. Do a quick Internet search and give them something to read. Or ask them to talk to their doctor.
I have always found it hard to think of an example of what cannulating a vein with an IV catheter is like. In my mind I keep thinking of telling them something about pushing a flexible plastic wire through a wet spaghetti noodle, but that just doesn't seem to be right???

I always tell patients it's a tiny plastic straw to give them a drink through their veins. Usually use a very small guage like a 22 to show them the cannula. I show them the IV angio cath......I tell them....This will sting/hurt like a bee sting but will quickly go away but it's real important that you hold real still because I don't want to have to stick you again.....that you can scream and yell but just don't move. I then show them the angio cath and I remove the needle and retract the needle and I say....see....then all I leave is this little soft palstic straw in your arm to give your veins a drink, I tape it down and I'm done.......OK? I hope that helps..

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2011

Cant explain stuff simply. Like if a patient asked me what aquired immunity was, it would take me awhile to explain. I try very hard but sometimes Im just not good at explaining. Do you think this will effect me? I understand but with. Visualization, so its hard to explain verbally

Acquired immunity is not something you are born with....you get it as a baby from your mother in the breast milk that gives your body the antibodies to fight certain diseases so you don't get sick and if you do get sick it's not as bad as it would have been if you didnot build up your own antibodies or disease fighting cells. Or you get the flu and it goes through the whole family but you never catch it again....you built up an immunity. That's natural immunity. Now when you get older and get shots they give you small, usually dead, strains of the disease they want your body to know how to fight....like measles so.... that if you come in comtact with someone who has measles your body recognizes it....knows what it is and how to fight it or nor let it in at all......you have an acquired immunity and will not get sick...............simple but effective.:redpinkhe

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2011

I try to keep things as simple as possible. The amount of information coming at patients and family members daily can be overwhelming, so just a little simple information here and there can stick better than a lot of information all at once.

Also, if the rooms have greaseboards to write on, you can draw little diagrams. If your facility has access to a library of patient handouts, you can print these out and give them to people. There are a lot of ways to do patient teaching, and you'll find out what works best for you as you go along!

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2011

"i know you will get comfortable explaining topics you deal with frequently depending on what floor you work on. the more you know about a subject the easier it is to teach it. like other posters said saying, "i don't know but i will find out." is perfectly acceptable. do a quick internet search and give them something to read. or ask them to talk to their doctor."

oh, no, don't ever do that. for anyone reading this who hasn't taken nclex, that's a huge no-no-- they want to know what you know as a nurse, and you never choose the answer that says, in effect, turf off your responsibility to another discipline (like md, social worker, dietary...). the answer in that case is often a variant on, "(you, the nurse) seek more information."

besides, physicians are rarely around to ask when families are visiting, and they are worse at explaining things to lay people than almost anyone.

so what should you do? say, "i don't know how to explain it well, but i will get someone who does," and then sit in while that person explains and answers questions. ask some of your own if you have them. it makes you all look more collegial and you will learn something.

ladytraviler · Jun 6, 2011

It is perfectly acceptable to say "I don't know but I will find out for You." Then follow through with hand outs, coworkers, or another specialty who knows. The patient will have more faith than if you try to blow smoke up their derier. I know spelling is off. just got off.