Promoting health literacy: a nursing imperative.

It is imperative that nursing responds to the call of creating a health literate society by taking an active role in health literacy research, education, and promotion. Nurses have a professional and ethical obligation to communicate in a clear, purposeful way that addresses the unique information needs of each patient. Evidence-based strategies that promote health literacy must be incorporated in every patient's plan of care and become part of the routine practice of nursing. The goal of all patient interactions should be to empower the patient to obtain, understand, and act on information that is needed for optimal health. This article explores the concept of health literacy and its relationship to patient education and communication. Practical strategies that the nurse can use to assess, communicate with, and evaluate comprehension in patients with low literacy skills are provided.