A guide to patient education

Effective patient education can help patients feel less anxious, more in control of their lives, and better able to play an active role in the perioperative state of the surgical process. As patient educators, nurses fulfill a vital role in teaching patients how to manage the challenges they may face. Many learning theories can be used alone or combined with various teaching techniques (see Table 2). Ultimately, however, the key to effective patient education is the concern and commitment of the nurse educator.