Module V. Principles of Good Teaching Practice

• The nurse educator is:

  1. The primary source of knowledge of learners in nursing.
  2. The primary catalyst for the learning process; and
  3. A role model for learners.
  4. An active facilitator, who demonstrates teacher patient care to nursing students in the classroom and clinical settings.
  5. A source of health care information and care to clients.
  6. Diligent; keeps abreast of developments in his or her field through continuing education, reading of nursing journals and online materials and active participation in workshops and seminars.
• A health educator is a practitioner who is professionally prepared in the field of health education, and who demonstrates competence in both theory and practice and accepts responsibility in advancing the aims of the health-education process
• Patient teaching, as defined by the American Academy of Family Physicians, is the process of influencing patient behavior and producing changes in knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary in maintaining or improving health.
• Patient teaching is a holistic process with the goal of changing or affirming patient’s behavior to benefit health status.
• The skilled patient educator assists the patient in interpreting, integrating, and applying the information given.
• Patient teaching ends with an evaluation of patient learning.
• Patient Teaching - It is a process that occurs overtime, requiring an ongoing assessment of patient’s knowledge, attitudes and skills.
• Patient readiness or motivation to change behaviors and the obstacles that the patient faces to make a behavioral change are important factors to consider
• Nurse Educators teach clients in order to:

  1. Increase clients’ awareness and knowledge of their health status
  2. Increase client satisfaction
  3. Improve quality of life
  4. Ensure continuity of care
  5. Decrease patient anxiety
  6. Increase self-reliant behavior
  7. Reduce effectively the incidence of complications of illness
  8. Promote adherence to health care treatment plans
  9. Maximize independence in the performance of activities of daily living
  10. Energize and empower consumers to become actively involved in the planning of their care
• The role of nurse as health educators in turn enhance their job satisfaction when they recognize that their teaching actions have the potential of forging therapeutic relationships with patients, allowing for greater patient-nurse autonomy, raise their accountability for practice and create change that truly makes a difference in the lives of others.
• Health teaching is an essential role of today’s nurses.
• Education is essential to promote health
• For teaching to be effective, it must incorporate the cultural and family values and clients’ health care beliefs.
• FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE CLIENT’S LEARNING

  • Stage of Development
  • Cultural values
  • Language used
  • Physical environment
  • Previous experiences
  • Knowledge and skill of the teacher
• When teaching clients, teaching must be adapted to the client’s developmental level rather than their chronological age.
• Developmental level determines the ability of the person to learn best, whether by reading printed materials, using computer-based applications, watching videos, participating in group discussions, play or other methods.
• Cultural values. The nurses can be most effective if norms, traditions and cultural beliefs are considered and incorporated into their teaching plan.
• Language used. The ability of the client to understand the language of teaching determines how much they learn.
• Use clients’ own language or get an interpreter to help reach out to their understanding.
• Physical environment. The nurse must consider privacy and confidentiality of information when discussing sensitive issues such as sexuality, drug addiction or domestic violence, among others.
• Previous experiences. Clients who had past experiences similar to the current health problem may need less education since they became familiar with the health care activities, they had been taught earlier.
• Knowledge and skill of the teacher. The teacher must determine the objectives of the subject matter to be taught.
• Complex procedures need to be taught well.