A nurse is caring for a client who has difficulty understanding follow- up instructions related to the diagnosed disease process. During the teach- back session, the client tells the nurse that the client finished second grade. What does the nurse recognize as the most likely to be an outcome of this circumstance?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse understands that the client is experiencing a low health literacy level. Health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services need to make appropriate health-related decision. The ability to read and understand health information is key to managing health problems. Low health literacy has been documented in certain racial and ethnic groups, non-English speaking populations, and person over 65 years of age. Low health literacy is directly associated with poorer health outcomes, higher use of emergency service, more frequent hospitalizations, and increased risk of death.

A Nurse Is Caring for a Client Who Has Difficulty