Different clients, different attitude that we may encounter. We need to communicate, build relationships and have a long patience to avoid conflicts and make them understand what we are saying. In our everyday lives, we might hear a lot of questions about their health because some of them are curious about their own health. Someone will possibly ask why did he suddenly fainted? Why his blood pressure is so low than normal? Why is her 60-year-old mother being so sleepy even if it is daylight? There is a lot of questions that we, nurses, may be able to help them to get answers.
Health Education is appropriately relevant for everyone’s awareness. In my own perspective, it is significant for us to set a criterion on how we can teach anyone about their health. The first thing that we need to do is to observe and determine the learning style of the client. By doing this, it may be an advantage for us because we can think of a plan on how we will approach and how can we start to educate them. If the client seems like approachable, we can talk to them personally or a face-to-face consultation. But there are clients who prefer to read or watch, might be an introvert, or just do not want to talk, we can give them a book or searching sites about their health with the do’s and don’ts including a tip for a healthy lifestyle.
In this present life, technology have a big part in our existence. Then why not use this to share knowledge to our clients? It is a clever idea to posts on various social media concerning health topics. And it is a real for benefit us, nurses or healthcare professionals, as it is faster to spread our knowledge so that we may be able to assist and help our clients with such different aspects.
Another criterion that is on my mind is the interests of our clients. We need their response, we need to make them ask us a question about what we have been explaining to them as this serves as a feedback or a sign that they are interested on the subject that we are talking about. Apparently, if they did not ask questions, then we are the one who need to ask them questions with the purpose to ensure that they listen and understand the matter.
Furthermore, we may run into clients with disabilities and we must consider their limitations. For instance, the client is deaf consequently, we need to have an interpreter beside us or use some signs and gestures in such a way, he will figure out what we are demonstrating.
Most importantly, we need to include their family members resulting in more understanding and achieve a proper management about their health. It is essential that they have a guide, support or can be a prohibitor from their family regarding with their health as some clients are stubborn or having an adjustment with their new healthy lifestyle.
By following all these criteria, health educators will be an effective educator to an individual and communities. And according to the literature of Touro University Worldwide, it can help to empower all our clients to live healthier by improving their physical, mental, emotional and social health by increasing their knowledge and influencing their attitudes about caring for their well-being.
“Having a healthy lifestyle means you have self-care and self-love”
Feel free to ask me questions about your health, I might be able to help😁
