i've been a nurse for nine months now and my tunnel vision of only focusing on tasks is beginning to widen- i feel like i can actually try to teach my patients now, not just read from the discharge worksheet . :) so i'm hoping for some help with metaphors or analogies for teaching patients. as an example, i read on another thread how someone explained to patients that "blood clots are like an insect getting caught in a spider's web. you need both the insect (platelet) and the spider's web (clotting factors) for the clot to occur. " this was great for me to know and i thought it would also be great for patients.
does anyone have metaphors that they regularly use with their patients or students? i don't care if it's specific to a certain unit. anything would be great!!
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
It's kinda gross, but since you asked...
One hospital that I used to work for used maggot therapy for debridement. The docs were VERY good at explaining this unusual (yet very effective) treatment. The families of the patients were not so welcoming of having "Mama full of bugs in the danged hospital!". The patient understood, but the families were quite beside themselves.
I explained that maggots were raised in sterile conditions in the lab. Then I had to think really long and hard about how I would use a metaphor that they would understand. So I came up with "scrubbing bubbles" like the commercial. As soon as I used this metaphor, they all exclaimed, "Oooohh! I see!" And they were immediately on the phone with other family members telling them that "Mama has these sterile scrubbing bubbles in her wound that will clean up all the dead stuff. It really works! Y'all come on down and see this! It is so cool!"
One hospital that I used to work for used maggot therapy for debridement. The docs were VERY good at explaining this unusual (yet very effective) treatment. The families of the patients were not so welcoming of having "Mama full of bugs in the danged hospital!". The patient understood, but the families were quite beside themselves.
I explained that maggots were raised in sterile conditions in the lab. Then I had to think really long and hard about how I would use a metaphor that they would understand. So I came up with "scrubbing bubbles" like the commercial. As soon as I used this metaphor, they all exclaimed, "Oooohh! I see!" And they were immediately on the phone with other family members telling them that "Mama has these sterile scrubbing bubbles in her wound that will clean up all the dead stuff. It really works! Y'all come on down and see this! It is so cool!"
I compare hyperglycemia and why it's hard on the blood vessels as trying not push maple syrup through a tube meant for water.... simple, but gets the point across. :)
When my patients have trouble using the incentive spirometer, I tell them to take a deep drag on the cigarette. Think of the incentive spirometer as a bong and inhale. I live in one of those parts of the country where smoking is common, so this usually works.
He stopped his ranting and understood what I meant simply because I used a metaphor that he could relate to.
I love metaphors! What better way to break down jargon to more understandable words?
When I was a nursing student, I once explained atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease to a Navy veteran (mechanic) by comparing it to the coolant system used for a nuclear reactor on a submarine. :)
Just substitute "coolant" for "blood" and it's not all that far off the mark!
"Now, think of it this way. A nuclear reactor needs a coolant pump. The coolant runs around the reactor - supplies it with vital coolant and keeps it working right. But if the coolant system isn't inspected regularly, and the coolant being used isn't top grade - you're gonna see buildup. Residue. And this buildup is gonna keep on until one day, the buildup gets to the point where it blocks coolant flow. Now you have a hot reactor that needs coolant but ain't gettin' any because of the buildup. What do you think is gonna happen?"
"Core overload! SCRAM!"
"Yep. Exactly what will happen to your heart! Think of your heart as the coolant pump. The "coolant" in your body is your blood. Think of your arteries and veins as the pipes that run coolant. Now think about that 'residue' and 'buildup' we talked about - that's the same as "plaque" and "clots". Your coolant system is building up residue - and if you don't take care of that, at some point your heart is going to SCRAM. Shut down. What do you think is gonna happen to you if yourheart SCRAMs?"
*soberly* "Yeah, I hear ya... won't be good for me or the lil' lady, huh?"
cheers,
PS: Over the years, I've been able to modify the example to other folks who know about/are interested in "internal combustion engines". Works well!
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
When giving a prescription for antibiotics, I explain that it's birth control for germs. Once they start the antibiotics the germs can't reproduce, so they have to wait for all the germs to die of old age. That's why one dose of an antibiotic they have hanging around doesn't cure anything.
If they stop the antibiotics too soon, the germs that are left are the ones most resistant to the antibiotic. If the infection returns, the next antibiotic usually costs 10 times as much as the original.
I love this one!
I'm so old school I like those visual aid pamphlets depicting a cartoon version of your afflicted vital organ, who is very friendly and never gets frustrated. He wants you to know all about him!
canesdukegirl, BSN, RN
1 Article; 2,543 Posts
It's kinda gross, but since you asked...
One hospital that I used to work for used maggot therapy for debridement. The docs were VERY good at explaining this unusual (yet very effective) treatment. The families of the patients were not so welcoming of having "Mama full of bugs in the danged hospital!". The patient understood, but the families were quite beside themselves.
I explained that maggots were raised in sterile conditions in the lab. Then I had to think really long and hard about how I would use a metaphor that they would understand. So I came up with "scrubbing bubbles" like the commercial. As soon as I used this metaphor, they all exclaimed, "Oooohh! I see!" And they were immediately on the phone with other family members telling them that "Mama has these sterile scrubbing bubbles in her wound that will clean up all the dead stuff. It really works! Y'all come on down and see this! It is so cool!"