Needing Ideas

[Rusti22]

I work in an assisted living facility for mental health clients. I have a new position teaching nursing topics for clients discharging from the facility. I'm running out of ideas and would appreciate any ideas or suggestions! I've taught topics such as medication education, their medical diagnosis, personal hygiene, and daily living routines. What other topics could anyone suggest? I don't want to bore clients and to teach them things they need to know once they no longer have nursing staff to direct / guide them with daily living, administering their medications.

[Davey Do]

Back in the '90's, when Medicare began benefitting mental health skilled nursing visits, I started and supervised a program as an NS for a HH agency. It was found that 80% of recidivistic patients return to inpatient services due to medication noncompliance.

Before and since that time, I have worked with mental health clients in a variety of settings- in hospitals, clinics, and in the community. I have given groups and lectures that sometimes lasted as long as hours and can whole-heartedly relay this: Everybody likes to learn about themselves, their body, and be entertained.

In order for a speaker to find a topic of interest, that topic needs to be interesting to the speaker. For example, I chose topics on how medicines work in the brain, with cartoons of synaptic clefts and neurotransmitters. I talked about dopamine antagonists and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors repeating the words over and over, using audience participation:

"All together now! SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS!"

Getting the audience involved always sparked interest and if a topic was completed and there was still time left, I asked them questions like, "So what's important to you?"

Everybody likes to talk about themselves and this was a good time to give feedback and support. For example...

"My kitty is important to me." After enquiring on its name, characteristics, etc, I would talk about the importance of companionship, avoiding isolation, checking in with mental health professions, and the like.

In essence, if all else fails, allow the audience to choose the topic, give verbal listening, feedback and support and let them do the work!

Good luck, Rusti!

 

[Rusti22]

Thank you so much for some great ideas!

[Davey Do]

On 5/27/2022 at 1:39 PM, Rusti22 said:

Thank you so much for some great ideas!

 

[vintagegal, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I would say nutrition and exercise, adequate fluid intake, coping mechanisms. 
hand washing.

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Warning signs of a relapse, such as difficulty sleeping, and when to call provider.

[Rusti22]

Thank you!!

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

It would maybe require some collaboration with the social workers but a good, possibly vital topic to patients discharging to home is an easy to access list of community resources.  I

Under the assumption that the majority of discharging patient's are going to fall in a low income bracket community options for food resources, walk in medical care if needed, public transportation options, emergency phone numbers for available resources and organizations, etc.

A social worker I used to work with had some magnets printed up with a list of community resources that would be included in the discharge packet so discharging patients could keep the list on their fridge and accessible at all times. 

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

Navigating the health care system