home visit teaching plan help please

[elizabetta]

Hi everyone,

I am required to have two home visits with one patient this semester. My patient is a 56 year old women with three previous incidences of CSF leak through her sphenoid sinus and subsequently out her nose. She has had three surgeries. The cause possibly structurally but nor definitive cause. She is over weight and has diabates.

On our first visit we assessed her nutritional intake medication knowledge, did a functional health history, helped her develop a list of questions for her doctors,and encouraged her to start a walking program with her neighbors. She is ready to move on with her life and isn't thrilled at the idea of students coming over again. I feel like she is trying to move forward with her life and my coming over is a reminder of what she has been through.

With that said I am completely at a loss over what we could possibly teach her. I was thinking of reviewing her meds with her but she says she has been on them for years and dosn't need any information on them. I have to go over her house on tuesday and could use some ideas on what I could possibly help her with. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Elizabeth

[morte, LPN, LVN]

if she is actually going to start a walking program, perhaps reviewing diabetic foot care would be an option...

[catlover314]

How about some health maintenance information? If she is a computer oriented person, show her how to navigate her insurance site(s), how to access reliable health care information, etc.

If she is not into computers, perhaps take a list of community resources for health care, health maintenance, or even elder care resources if she faces any issues with elderly parents.

[TazziRN, RN]

If you're only required to make two visits, how about making the second one a "Just making sure there's nothing else I can do for you" visit? That's what I do when I'm ready to discharge a home pt. I will tell the pt "I think that you're doing well enough for me to discharge you from our services. I would like to come back one more time just to make sure, and I will plan on that being my last visit."

This gives the pt a chance to come up with any last questions for you, and gives you a chance to make sure there's nothing you're missing before you leave the home for good.