opinions welcomed about out patient post op discharge teaching

[kmertzrn]

I work in an ambulatory setting is a large urban hospital. Do you think that most patients and their families comprehend the teaching that is done immediately post op and as the surgical patient is going home from the ambulatory setting?

[Traveler]

I think very little of the teaching gets through to the patients and their c/g's in this type of a setting. It would be wonderful if there were more referrals for these types of patients to have some home health. Potential complications can be addressed more quickly and the teaching has a better chance of being comprehended once the patient is in his own home and some of the meds have worn off. I'm a little biased since I work in home health.

[Nesher, BSN, RN]

No I don't think so. My own expereince from three surgeries on my wrist in the last 6 months convinces me of this. I was great at convincing the nurse that I was fine and was alert and oriented, but to be honest it was an act. I was totally zoned from the general each time and have limited memories of what was said to me.

What I found helpful was the follow-up phone call the next day, and I was given printed instructions - the combination worked for me an experienced nurse. I wonder however how someone with no medical background fares. Probably not well. It seems important to the patient and caregiver have access of some type for questions when they are thinking clearly.