title: When the patient is illiterate: how nurses can help.
abstract: Nurses have a unique opportunity to provide help to illiterate patients. With good listening, observation, and teaching skills, nurses can contribute significantly to the quality of care illiterate patients receive. They can influence long term recovery and patient compliance. It is important to teach when a "teachable" moment has arrived. For instance, when patients ask questions, they are usually ready to learn and an environment conducive to learning can be created. "Teachable" moments can occur at any time during hospitalization. The discharge interview is not the point at which to begin instructions. Discharge teaching should be a review of all the teaching that has been going on during hospitalization.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D009737:Nursing Records / Q000592:standards; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*