Health literacy question

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Hello, 

      I was wondering if anyone could take the time and share with me an experience where they encountered a client/patient that had a low health literacy and or cultural difference that needed to be addressed.  What was the topic they didn’t understand or what was the cultural difference you worked through.  I am amazed that I never really took a second to even think about this topic until taking a health literacy course.  I heard examples of people signing consent forms and waking up missing a part.  I also heard one about overdosing pills because they didn’t understand the label (as needed). 

Thanks again for reading.  Cannot wait to hear your stories. 
 

Specializes in retired LTC.

We've all done dumb things to ourselves.! I never read the OTC bottles, hey afterall, I know pills)! Well, I should have been taking 2 cherry extract pills (gout), and 2 mini women 55+ vitamins. DUMB!

It wasn't until I was going to dc the cherry pill b/c my gout was seriously achy. THEN I read the label - said 2 pills daily. Made the difference when I bumped up the # !

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Specializes in Student.

Thank y’all for these examples.  It’s been really eye opening to think how we really need to be careful with our words and make sure our patient/client understands the directions.  The orange one really made me laugh though.  Same with the one eating lady partsl cream.  
 

Stay safe!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

The above examples make it clear we need to be able to take time to have a patient return demonstrate or verbalize instructions back to us before we send them home.

IF they cannot paraphrase what we said accurately back to us,  or demonstrate the skill to do a task for self-care, they are not ready for discharge.

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Specializes in Student.
2 minutes ago, SmilingBluEyes said:

The above examples make it clear we need to be able to take time to have a patient return demonstrate or verbalize instructions back to us before we send them home.

IF they cannot paraphrase what we said accurately back to us,  or demonstrate the skill to do a task for self-care, they are not ready for discharge.

We think alike on this one!  I’ll definitely get in the habit of doing this. 

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Specializes in Community health.
On 9/21/2021 at 9:32 AM, prayingmantis said:

Learned of this one in nursing school and have never forgot it:

 

Pt came to ER for sprained ankle. Was discharged with instructions to "ice her foot." Pt actually soaked her foot in ice water for an extended length of time. Pt ended up losing her foot.

What?!?!  OMG 

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I work in a very large teaching hospital. recently had a pt with a traumatic BIL LE amputation. Zero health literacy. Really thought that their life was over. Young person (50s) that thought if one cannot work, one cannot contribute to society or care for others. 

It was very sad. 

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