Writing Assignment – Writing Instructions

The 3 healthcare-related tasks that I am familiar with and comfortable explaining are:

1.) Using a blood pressure monitor at home.

I would explain how to put the cuff on correctly, how to sit during the reading, what the numbers mean, and when to call a doctor.

2.) Giving an insulin injection

I could walk through the process of getting supplies ready, measuring the dose, choosing the right spot, and safely disposing of the needle.

3. Cleaning and dressing a minor wound.

This would include cleaning the wound, applying ointment, covering it properly, and knowing when it might be infected.

Two or three strategies I would use are:

Defining unfamiliar terms

This means explaining medical words in simple language. For example, for the term systolic, I would explain that it refers to the top number in a blood pressure reading. This helps readers understand the instructions better.

Providing examples and applications

Providing real-life examples makes the steps clearer. For example, I could describe what normal healing looks like compared to signs of infection.

Providing illustration

Adding pictures or diagrams would make the instructions easier to follow. For example, placing a blood pressure cuff or choosing an injection site.

Using these strategies would make the instructions clear, simple, and less overwhelming for a non-specialist reader.

References:

Arnett, J., Gibbs, M., Linimon, L., Logan, M., McMurrey, D., Miller, C., Miller, S., Monroe, J., Nguyen, J., Powell, T., Race, C., & Reardon, T. (2020). Open technical communication. McMurrey Associates.

Assignment Instructions

Writing clear and concise instructions is crucial in healthcare environments to ensure consistency and safety in task execution. For this assignment, you’ll create a set of instructions for a healthcare-related task targeting nonspecialists, such as new nurses or family caregivers.

Your task

Choose a healthcare-related task that you are highly familiar with, ensuring it is manageable yet requires multiple steps. Organize the task into a series of 5-7 steps. Create illustrations of your task by taking photographs or making simple drawings. Your instructions should be original, not copied from existing sources.

Your final instructions should:

• Be created as a document and submitted as a .docx file
• Be 250 – 500 words
• Include 5-7 individual steps in your own, original writing
• Include 5-7 accompanying images, created yourself (photos or drawings)
• Utilize simple language, avoiding jargon or technical terms
• Utilize clear document design that makes effective use of headings, bullets, lists, body text, and image placement
• Include a relevant title, an introduction, and a conclusion
• Be a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx) only. Submissions in any other format, such as PDF, will not be accepted. Please ensure you use the correct file type before submitting.