A client is scheduled for discharge from the hospital and her primary care provider has prescribed subcutaneous injections of an anticoagulant for the next 10 days

Question

The nurse has to teach the client how to correctly self-administer the medication but the client speaks very little English. How should the nurse meet this client's learning needs? A) Write out the instructions in English and arrange for the pharmacy to have them translated
B) Arrange for a professional interpreter to be present when the nurse performs client education
C) Demonstrate the correct technique for injecting the medication while relying on nonverbal communication
D) Find a web site in the client's language that shows correct technique and provide the client with the address

Answer 1

B
Feedback:
Language barriers do not justify omitting health teaching. In most cases, if neither the nurse nor the client speaks a compatible language, a translator or acceptable alternative is needed. It would be inappropriate to limit teaching to nonverbal communication or a web site address. Client education should not be delegated to the pharmacist.