NEEDS ASSESSMENT & TEACHING PROJECT SUMMARY

NURS 402 Career Pathway Development

Needs Assessment & Teaching Project Summary Papers
Purpose of the Assignment
The purpose of the assignment is to provide the student the opportunity to discuss the
process and resulting outcomes when assessing a population of learners needs related to
an actual nursing problem, for the purpose of a planning a teaching intervention.
Approach to the Assignment
I was beginning my nursing education when I wrote this assignment, so I was then
working in a veterinary hospital as a Licensed Veterinary Technician. A recurrent
problem I encountered throughout my veterinary technician was elderly clients bringing
their pets back due to a misunderstanding in the administration of medication, necessity for
follow-up care with their regular veterinarian, severity of disease and not fully
comprehending their pets aftercare. The problem I came to realize was that staff was
ineffectively communicating discharge instructions to the elderly clients.
Reason for Inclusion
This assignment allowed for me to assess two populations, my coworkers and a
population of elderly clients, in order to best determine how and what to teach my
coworkers about communicating with elderly clients. The needs assessment provided the
framework for my teaching endeavors and helped to ensure my success.
Critical Thinking
Revises action plans and goals based on evidence rather than conjecture
The needs assessment allowed me to discover the different types of learning that most
connected with my coworkers and whether they were visual, auditory or tactile learners. I
used the What Type of Learner Are You tool to evaluate my staff target audience. I had
assumed that my audience would be all visual learners, but it was necessary to adapt my
teaching style to accommodate all types of learners.

Nursing Practice
Implements traditional nursing care practices as appropriate to provide holistic health

care to diverse populations across the lifespan

The needs assessment was vital to evaluate the various ages of the learners (20-45 year
olds). It was also necessary to research how to effectively communicate with an elderly
population to discern the best way to teach the elderly clients how to care for their pets.
Demonstrates an awareness of complementary modalities and their usefulness in
promoting health
The needs assessment and teaching project development and implementation required me
to use different modalities (handouts, demonstration, lectures) to be able to effectively
teach my coworkers. The modalities my coworkers learned then translated to effective
communication with elderly clients. The coworkers also learned the difference between
therapeutic communication and non-therapeutic communication and this further enhanced
their ability to communicate with our elderly clients about their pets health and care.

Communication
Expresses oneself and communicates effectively with diverse groups and disciplines
using a variety of media in a variety of contexts.
The needs assessment and discerning the types of learners of the target audience enabled
effective training of staff in teaching strategies that could be applied to all client
education opportunities, and most especially with the elderly. That way when a staff
member discharges a patient, the verbal telling of instructions, demo of any treatments
needed for aftercare and written handouts should appeal to all types of older client learning
types.
Uses therapeutic communication within the nurse-patient relationship
This assignment enhanced my own ability to therapeutically communicate with staff and
evaluate ways to improve my communication/teaching. The coworkers also learned the
difference between therapeutic communication and non-therapeutic communication and
this further enhanced their ability to communicate with our elderly clients about their
pets health and care.
Adapts communication methods to patients with special needs
I used the What Type of Learner Are You tool to evaluate my staff target audience. I
then educated staff about the way to effectively communicate with elderly clients. An
elderly client may require slower speech or less environmental noise/distractions when

having a conversation because of an age related hearing loss. Elderly clients may rely
more on how you appear or nonverbal communication rather than the words a person
may speak because of a hearing deficit.

Teaching
Provides teaching to patients and/or professionals about healthcare procedures and
technologies in preparation for and following nursing or medical interventions
This assignment specifically measured the staffs ability to communicate and
demonstrate the administration of sub-cutaneous fluids to an elderly populations pets
that was an important part of the aftercare of the pets hospitalization
Evaluates the efficacy of health promotion and education modalities for use in a variety
of settings with diverse populations
The needs assessment survey allowed for accommodation of individual learning types to
best construct a successful program to improve communication and instruction to the
elderly for proper care of their pets. The need assessment survey stressed the use of
common language to ensure understanding of all learners (staff and clients).
Research
Shares research findings with colleagues
Staff was educated with evidence- based practice use of modalities to best teach and
communicate necessary information with an elderly population.
Leadership
Assumes a leadership role within ones scope of practice as a designer, manager, and
coordinator of health care to meet the special needs of vulnerable populations in a
variety of practice settings
I approached the hospital manager about designing, teaching and implementing a
program to enable staff to more effectively communicate with an elderly population. My
teaching program in the short term decreased confusion in post hospital care n this
population.