Creative Teaching Methods for Educators: A Compendium of Critical-Care Concepts.

In order to gain expertise, intensive care unit nurses must have a good understanding of the pathophysiology and complicated disease processes seen in their units. Nurse educators and critical-care preceptors must be able to explain these complex concepts to a wide variety of audiences including nursing students, graduate nurses, and experienced critical-care nurses. Many times, demonstrations, analogies, visual aids, games, and creative teaching methods can help communicate these complicated ideas. The purpose of this article is to provide ideas for nurse educators and preceptors to use when explaining concepts that may be encountered with patients in a critical-care setting. In addition, general tips for using creative ideas when teaching are discussed.