Lessons Revisited, Part 2

As my father slowly recuperates, I have continued to learn and relearn many lessons in my role as a family and professional caregiver. 

Dad had limited opportunity to learn the tasks that would be needed to care for his new stomas in the days following his surgery; circumstances in the environment also contributed to his frustration.  Every time the appliances were to be changed a different nurse was assigned; the care was appropriately done but each had their own method of completing the task, manner of teaching and tidbits of advice.  Different supplies were used in the sessions which contributed to the lack of continuity.  Yet what was most upsetting for my father was that he was left lying flat on his back during the care; he listened carefully but he could not see what the nurse was doing and when he attempted to touch the involved areas was instructed not to do so.  Dad asked them for a mirror so that he could observe but they did not have one available; we brought one from home for the next session.

When an individual is being taught a new skill they need to be fully present in the moment yet there are many things that can interfere-- fatigue, stress, pain, sedation, anesthesia after-effects, debility and positioning-- making focus and retention very difficult.  Some solutions to these obstacles may be very easy to achieve.

The professional caregiver can control many of the distractions to learning.  The family caregiver can incorporate these same simple practices if they will need to instruct others at a later time. 

• Create a private, calm and conducive environment; ask visitors or those not involved to step out of the room, pull the curtain or close the door, turn off radios and televisions, turn lights up and clear clutter. 
• Prepare and organize needed supplies to avoid having to interrupt the session repeatedly to obtain more equipment; utilize the less-is-more philosophy to avoid confusion and frustration for other caregivers.
• Provide easy-to-understand written instructions with pictures or diagrams for review.     

In medicine and nursing there is an old adage; “watch one, do one, teach one” when learning new skills; this method of teaching and learning is not only stressful it can be harmful.  No one should be expected to master a new task without appropriate instruction and practice; observing and questioning contribute to success but the best teacher is most often hands-on training.