A nurse has spent time teaching a patient and has provided several pamphlets along with written discharge orders in anticipation of discharge from the hospital in the morning. The patient appears bored and says, "I can't find my glasses
" The best action by the nurse is to a. ask the patient why he or she is bored.
b. come back later when the patient is ready.
c. inquire gently about reading ability.
d. stop teaching and find the patient's glasses.
C
A likely explanation for the patient's behavior is illiteracy. The nurse should gently ask the patient about his or her reading level. A statement such as "Many people find this information difficult to read and understand" can open the door to a discussion about reading ability. As an alternative, the nurse can simply read the information out loud to the patient.
Assuming the patient is actually bored might well cause defensiveness. In addition, "why" questions also often put patients on the defensive.
If the patient is truly not ready to listen, coming back later might be an option after assessing that this is the case. However, this is not the best answer in this case because it does not address the reason for the lack of readiness.
Finding the patient's glasses is not the best answer; the patient may continue looking bored and find other ways to stall the learning session.
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