The importance of good communication in effective patient-family teaching

Nurses working in ambulatory surgery units have experienced numerous changes in the past several years. We see more complex procedures requiring more skilled nursing care for patients with higher acuity levels and more complicated medical histories. We see more variable age, education, socio-economic, and ethnic backgrounds among our patients. We see third-party payers determining where procedures should be done and the postoperative length of stay. With all these changes, communication and patient-family teaching have become integral components of our practice. A review of basic communication principles, the adult learning process, and some general teaching principles will enhance communication, simplify teaching in a limited time frame, and result in multiple benefits to all involved.