Patient Education & Support Strategies Flashcards
7 cards from real CARN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Education & Support Strategies flashcards as text
When educating a patient with low health literacy about opioid tapering, which communication strategy is most effective?
Answer: Use the teach-back method with simple, plain language
The teach-back method with plain language confirms patient understanding and is the gold standard for low-literacy populations.
A patient in early recovery asks why they should avoid over-the-counter cough medicines containing dextromethorphan (DXM). What is the best explanation?
Answer: DXM has dissociative properties and abuse potential that can trigger relapse
DXM is a dissociative agent with significant abuse potential and can trigger relapse or cross-addiction in recovering individuals.
Which approach best supports a patient's self-efficacy during addiction education sessions?
Answer: Setting small, achievable goals and celebrating incremental successes
Building self-efficacy through achievable goals and positive reinforcement strengthens a patient's belief in their ability to maintain recovery.
A nurse is educating a patient about naloxone use. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
Answer: Naloxone will prevent withdrawal symptoms if I take it daily
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse overdose, not to prevent withdrawal symptoms; using it as a daily preventative is incorrect.
When providing education to a patient beginning buprenorphine therapy, the nurse should emphasize that sublingual films should be:
Answer: Held under the tongue until fully dissolved
Buprenorphine sublingual films must be held under the tongue until fully dissolved to ensure proper absorption through the sublingual mucosa.
A patient's family member asks how they can best support their loved one in recovery. Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
Answer: Attend Al-Anon or similar family support groups and maintain healthy boundaries
Family support groups like Al-Anon help family members develop healthy boundaries while providing peer support for their own wellbeing.
When educating a pregnant patient about substance use disorder, which resource referral is most essential?
Answer: A specialized perinatal addiction treatment program
Perinatal addiction treatment programs provide coordinated care that addresses both substance use and obstetric needs simultaneously.