Patient Teaching Topics

There are many instances where teaching a patient how to properly care for their conditions is warranted. In order to regain some of their health or learn how to cope with their disease process they must learn how to manage the condition that they are suffering from. This teaching is usually done by a nurse or other health care professional.

Nutrition

• Learning the aspects of good nutrition is mandatory to ensure good health in a person. The patient who suffers from a nutritional deficit needs to learn how to eat properly to either regain their good health or maintain their present good health. Good nutrition subjects to teach the patient involve learning how to eat adequately from the basic food groups, referring to the food pyramid, learning their daily caloric intake needs, adequate hydration and more. A dietician or nutritionist will generally be the teacher in this instance. The dietician will also teach the patient the best diet for them and their condition, healthy food recipes to cook and how to manage their weight.

Diabetes

• Diabetic teaching to a patient is extremely important for them, as this disease can be very difficult to balance. The diabetic needs to learn how to test their blood sugars, learn how to administer insulin to themselves, if necessary, learn about biohazardous waste disposal, safety, infectious control and learn how to eat properly for their condition. Since diabetes is a very sensitive disease, food, medication and exercise all have to be weighed into their daily lifestyle. Without these considerations the diabetic may develop some serious health risks. These health risks can lead to hospitalizations, visual disturbances and other medical complications. A nurse and dietician will generally be the instructors in the case of diabetic patient teaching.

Oxygen Therapy

• A person who suffers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, chronic bronchitis, asthma and other serious health issues that involve the lungs may discover that they will be using oxygen to alleviate some of the discomfort of their condition. The use of oxygen involves quite a bit of patient teaching. The person who instructs the patient on oxygen therapy is likely a nurse or a respiratory therapist. They will teach the patient the safety hazards of oxygen, how to turn the oxygen tank and off, how to regulate your oxygen meter, when to use your oxygen and putting on your nasal cannula or face mask. The person on oxygen also needs to learn that oxygen has a drying effect and hydrating yourself is important.