Introduction
Nurses play a central role in health promotion, including teaching patients about kidney problems and disease processes, including dialysis, for better health outcomes. Dialysis is performed when the kidney fails to clean and remove extra fluid in the blood. Symptoms include fatigue, vomiting, nausea, and swelling. Peritoneal or hemodialysis falls under the two types of dialysis (Kalantar et al., 2022). Hemodialysis particularly controls blood pressure and balances the amount of minerals in the blood, including phosphorous (NIDDK, 2018). Given the varying needs of different populations, nurse educators should develop teaching materials that can be used to educate patients about hemodialysis.
Teaching Methods Across Population
The Elderly and Adolescents
Among the greatest challenges in health promotion is dispelling health-related misconceptions across the lifespan. Foremost, teaching adolescents about controlling phosphorus levels can be fulfilling and exciting due to their inquisitive nature. Therefore, being proactive while teaching adolescents can help them anticipate potential problems and solutions (Booth et al., 2021). Additionally, adolescents have a short attention span, hence, critical to plan milestones and smooth transitions during the teaching phase. Conversely, the elderly may fail to follow a treatment plan for kidney disease for several reasons such as lack of support system and physical challenges. Rönnberg et al. (2019) asserted that some older adults find it challenging to understand complex sentences and draw inferences. Therefore, it is important to teach them new information about hemodialysis at a slower rate to give them enough time to integrate and assimilate information. For instance, some elders would prefer short and simple interactions. A nurse educator can then link teaching programs with interventions such as medication, nutrition, and activity planning. Some older people are highly educated and would prefer that the nurse educator use and explain terminologies related to kidney disease and hemodialysis.
People with Disabilities
Advancements in age correspond with a decline in vision, hearing, and other sensory functions. For people with vision impairment, the use of diffused and adequate light is important. If an individual has prescription glasses, the nurse educator should ensure they are being worn and use large prints for instructions. Making use of available technology like interactive whiteboards and sound amplification systems can keep teaching interactive, especially for patients with visual and hearing impairments (Cho et al., 2019; Engler et al., 2022). Furthermore, compensating for hearing impairment necessitates speaking slowly, clearly, and in a low-pitched voice. For people with intellectual disabilities, it is critical to provide an outline of key concepts, tailor the teaching list, and provide a safe space for them to practice the learned skills and concepts. Asking the particular audience whether they understand the importance of controlling their phosphorous level guides the need for written information to back up oral presentations. Most importantly, nurse educators must pay attention to the type of language they use. The use of simple terminologies on an individual level guides better synthesis.
Conclusion
Nurses play a central role in helping patients follow medical recommendations by building awareness and considering patients’ individual needs. However, while health promotion is imperative across the lifespan, populations have different needs. Therefore, it is crucial to employ teaching strategies unique to every population. During the teaching phases, from assessment to evaluation, a nurse educator must focus attention on the existing medical problem plus the psychosocial and functional changes unique to every patient. Adopting teaching strategies that accommodate unique patient needs can help them see hemodialysis as pertinent to their well-being. Effective patient teaching requires a careful selection of teaching materials or methods that target specific populations.
References
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NIDDK| National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (2018). Hemodialysis. NIH. Web.
Rönnberg, J., Holmer, E., & Rudner, M. (2019). Cognitive hearing science and ease of language understanding. International Journal of Audiology, 58(5), 247-261. Web.