"I read once that most newspapers are written at a 5th grade level so that most people can understand the message. I think that today we are inundated with verbal messages and written messages, so what we choose to say should be prime real estate. That means no filler or fluff words for me, and to speak in a way that the patient or family can understand. Nurses are so used to throwing big words and acronyms around, and personally I am mindful not to do that. I break the information down into bite sized pieces and frequently check in with the person to see if they are understanding. I ask them to repeat back what I explained to them. I also watch them closely for non-verbal signs of confusion. I always feel so good when the patient is able to understand my instructions right away!"

"Because we can't know always know a patient's health literacy level, it's important to try to explain concepts about a patient's care in a way that anyone can understand. When I have to explain a complex task, such as how to check your own blood glucose, verbally only, I make sure to use simple terms and avoid healthcare jargon. I 'chunk' the main points so that I'm not explaining too many concepts at once. I speak slowly. And I ask the patient to repeat back the instructions to me, so I can check for understanding."