Effective ergonomic teaching for positive client outcomes. Implications for practice.

Teaching and intervention are integral aspects of professional nursing practice. Numerous publications encourage the use of specific teaching intervention techniques, but few are validated by studies conducted to assess actual teaching behaviors of nurses who administer successful teaching intervention programs. This is a case study of one occupational health nurse who administers a highly effective ergonomic program for employees in a large urban hospital. Themes identified during observation of nurse and client interactions include mindfulness on the part of the nurse, respect for client autonomy, nurse effort, nurse accessibility, and professional distance. A consistent teaching process identified during observation consists of six steps: inquiry, invitation, assessment, synthesis, validation, and progression. This six step process is embedded within identified themes. Teaching and intervention methods identified in the study are a synthesis of caring behaviors and nursing process. This integrated method is entitled "Effective Teaching Through Unified Process and Caring Interpersonal Behavior." It may represent a valid teaching and intervention method supporting compliance and positive client outcome when interacting with clients requiring ergonomic teaching and intervention.