Teaching Adult Learners

Nurses are taught clinical skills, but often are not taught how to teach, despite being responsible for teaching patients and families, as well as other members of the health care team. This article delineates considerations for teaching adults, both other health care staff and patients. Topics include characteristics of adult learners, experiential learning, the biology of learning, adult learning principles, and using nursing standards and patient education guidelines. Exemplars of preceptee and patient education are provided.