Family Health Assessment



Family Health Assessment

Introduction

Functional health patterns are proposed by Marjorie Gordon (1987) as a template for setting up an all-inclusive nursing data base. A systematic and standardized approach is made possible through these 11 categories to collect data, and facilitate the nurse to find out features of wellbeing and human function. The guide proposed by Gordon is very essential to assist nurses in implementing the nursing process, while organizing and evaluating care for their patients.

Discussion & Analysis

To guide the nurses in collection of data, several models of nurses may be employed. However, Marjory Gordon's Functional Health Pattern assessment framework is in particular helpful to formulate nursing diagnosis by collecting health data. For nursing assessment, these 11 functional health patterns can be employed in any domain of practice for patients of any age group and in the families and communities' assessment. Nurses are assisted by utilizing a framework of functional health pattern in collection of data indispensable to key out and corroborate nursing diagnosis. Repetition of medical data, which is previously acquired by general practitioners and other health care staff, is eliminated by this approach. (Weber J. R., 2009)

Family Background

Family is a four member family comprising husband and wife, and their two high school going kids. Husband is working as a sales executive in a leading organization while wife does not do any job and remains at home. The family belongs to India and has been living in the United States since the last 15 years.

Health Perception and Health Management

Collection of data is based on the perceived level of wellbeing and fitness of person, and on practices for preserving his health. Evaluations of such habits also carries on may be harmful to health, encompassing smoking and use of alcohol or drug. Tangible issues or problems that may likely occur in future, relevant to safety and health management may be recognized in addition to needs for adjustments in the home or for continual care in the home.

While interviewing the Family members of Asian background, I found that the family is trying to follow healthy life styles, by in taking healthy foods, readiness for enhanced immunization, and preventing stress, therefore overall, their perception of health can be illustrated as adequate enough. Interest and awareness towards their health is shown by family as every six months, family get their regular health checkups. Family is prevented to illnesses getting vaccinations in time and none of the family member is on prescription medication. If any health issues arise then it is in generally address at the moment. One thing is that when I asked the female member of the family about breast screening test so as to avoid any chances of severe breast cancer in the future, she replied that she felt embarrassment or odd to put her through this test as she thought it against her family values.

Nutrition and Metabolism

Assessment is concentrated on the consumption pattern of food and fluid in relation to metabolic need. Evaluation of the satisfactoriness of local ...