As a digital microlearning platform, how-to resources are the bread and butter of Elemeno resource types. This guide will help you understand the information needed to build a how-to resource.
How-to resources provide the information needed to perform a clinical procedure, use an electronic health record system, administer medication, or operate equipment.
How-to resources support clinical procedures are performed and/or charted on a one-time, recurring, or conditional basis.
How-to resources support clinical procedures performed as continuous tasks starting and finishing within a defined period.
How-to resources include necessary elements to help a practitioner deliver to the standard of care.
A single procedure may be built out as several separate How-To resources, each for a specific point in time. This, of course, depends on the duration of time in which a procedure is performed. As a micro-learning platform, we want to ensure that your staff gets the exact information they need when searching for information, so we break these up based on the procedure phases.
Your Solution Design team will advise you on the ideal resource configuration.
Recommended Sections
Each how-to resource comprises a standardized set of recommended sections that provide a usable structure for just-in-time training. Maintaining consistent headers and section order provides consistency and predictability for your staff as they read resources in your library.
It is not a requirement to use all sections. If a resource does not contain content for a given section, that is just fine; it can be omitted. (Unless it is Steps! Steps are required for all How-to resources.)
Preface
This section should be short and answer the reader's question “is this the information I need now?” The preface should not contain lengthy background information.
Personnel
This section should be included for procedures that require multiple participants. Omit it if a single RN or practitioner performs the procedure.
Indications
Prerequisites or formal reasons for performing a procedure.
Contraindications
Specific reasons not to perform a procedure.
PPE
List any required personal protection equipment (PPE) that goes beyond standard precautions.
Equipment and Supplies
List the equipment that is needed at any point during the procedure. This will help staff ensure they will not need to stop or leave the room mid-procedure.
Images of equipment and supplies' locations are very helpful. Please submit these along with your content so we can include them!
Steps
This is the most essential part of a How-To. This is an ordered list of what to do in sequence. All How-To’s should have steps. If a single procedure includes more than a dozen steps, we may consider subdividing groups of steps by phase.
Including visuals and words is ideal to support the steps. A picture is worth a thousand words, after all. This can include photos, diagrams, or short video snippets of the action being performed.
Documentation
Use this section to include the what, when, and where of charting for this procedure. This information is often augmented with images of the system where the documentation and charting will take place.
Troubleshooting
Use this section to list known problems and remedies for unexpected equipment behavior. We often break this out into a stand-alone resource so that the information is easier to find.
Potential Complications
This section should be used to list potential warning signs, adverse events, or reportable conditions that may arise with the patient.
Where potential complications are explicitly associated with a step or particular section above, we can call them out next to the relevant copy with unique styling referred to as a Notice. Using this special formatting creates high visibility for critical information.
Template
Ready to author a How-To? Use this Microsoft Word template to get started. You can submit this document to the Elemeno team with your production request.