Teaching the Nonprofessional Worker

Abstract

The principles and methods of clinical instruction discussed thus far are basically those used in teaching all nursing personnel, regardless of how they are categorized. Nevertheless, these methods must be adapted to the work-role and to the educational background of the nonprofessional group—the practical nurse, the nurses’ aide, the nursing assistant and the orderly. In this chapter we will consider some methods of adapting techniques of clinical instruction to nonprofessional workers, some of the dilemmas which arise when nonprofessionals are assigned to give nursing care, and some measures which can help the clinical instructor and team leader to work effectively with this group of nursing personnel.