• Health care providers teach patients how to care for themselves at home preventing their need for admittance into a nursing facilityGary John Norman/Lifesize/Getty Images
  
  Some patients who are discharged from a health care facility require continued care at home. These individuals must learn how to care for themselves while at home. This includes performing tasks or procedures such as emptying a catheter or using a feeding tube. Health care providers must ensure that the patient is capable of performing the desired task prior to discharging them to home. Creating protocols, demonstrating techniques and testing the patient's ability to perform the task are all ways to teach patients how to care for themselves.
  
  

Create Protocols for Patients

• Create a protocol that provides detailed instructions how to perform the required task properly. Include systematic instructions that explain exactly what to do and when. Give the patient a copy of the protocol to take home and use as a reference when needed. Read over the protocol with the patient and answer any questions to assure she understands the information.
  
  

Demonstration

• Demonstrations such as how to check blood sugar using a glucometer can help patients learn the processDiabetic Tools image by painless from Fotolia.com
  
  Explain and demonstrate the proper way to perform the task. Show the patient step by step how to perform the task. Allow the patient to practice each step until perfected. Explain the importance of the task and the consequences that may result when the task is not performed. Warn patients of possible complications and teach them how to correct the problem. This prepares them for difficulties should they occur.
  
  

Test knowledge

• Make certain the patient is capable of performing the task on her own without assistance prior to discharge. This ensures the patient can care for herself once she is home. Ask the patients to demonstrate how they would perform the task. Offer tips and critiques as needed to help patients perfect their technique. Make sure the patient can troubleshoot and rectify problems that may occur while performing the task. Advise patients to seek immediate medical assistance should they have difficulties they are unable to correct.