Family_Health_Assessment

Family Health Assessment Grand Canyon University NRS 429V Family Health Assessment A family is a group of individuals who are related by blood, marriage, cohabitation or adoption (Edelman & Mandle, 2010). In order for a nurse to fully assess a family the family health assessment tool should be utilized. The framework for a family health assessment is Gordon’s 11 functional health patterns. Gordon’s functional health patterns “provides a mechanism for data collection that encompasses the entire person and all life processes” (Edelman &Mandle, 2010 p.147). Using Gordon’s functional health patterns the nurse can perform a comprehensive assessment of a family based on collection of subjective and objective information during family home visits and interviews. The analysis of data collected will help determine whether a family’s health status is functional, potentially dysfunctional or dysfunctional (Edelman & Mandle, 2010). The nurse can develop a care plan with actual or potential problems and interventions to help with the desired health outcomes for the family. Understanding the families’ perception of health will help promote awareness of health promotion in absence of actual health problem (Edelman & Mandle, 2010). Utilizing Gordon’s 11 functional health patterns I completed a family health assessment within my own family. Because of the large extensive blended family I have, I chose to focus this assessment on those of us who live under the same roof. We have one son age 23 who attends college full-time. My husband is 55 years old and works as a full time pediatrician, I am 48 years old and work as a full time nurse and am currently going to school full time. Within this paper the summary for each of the functional health patterns will be analyzed and a wellness plan will be recommended for the participants. Health Perception Within our family health includes the mind, body and spirit connection. The belief is that one cannot function optimally without a balance of all three. We all live active busy lives but try to take time to meditate, exercise and eat healthy. We all receive annual health and dental exams for preventative measures and we seek medical intervention when appropriate. Health care decisions in our family generally fall to my husband. Nutrition Breakfast and lunch are usually left to the individual person. Dinner is a family event where my husband will be the one who prepares the food. Grocery shopping is done by everyone in the family. Our diet consists of vegetables, fruits, chicken and fish we try to keep plenty of healthy snacks in the house but we do indulge in the occasional party food and our alcohol intake is occasional. Sleep-Rest Pattern My husband and I maintain a fairly regular bedtime as we both have to start our day early. Our sleep is usually restful with no interruptions except for on nights which my husband is on call. Adhering to a consistent bedtime is not important to my son, he often times stay up all night studying or playing online games and then take naps throughout the day. Elimination There are no issues with my husband’s excretory patterns. My son and I have irritable bowel syndrome with unpredictable flare ups. Activity-Exercise My husband exercises every day doing anywhere from thirty to sixty minutes of cardio. My son and I try to get to the gym three times a week but it is not a priority for either one of us. We all are very active during the day with our jobs and school. We often times will take long hikes or bike on our weekends off. Family vacations are focused on outdoor activities. Cognitive Within our family if there are household issues to discuss, we will all sit down and discuss them with respectful consideration. When there is conflict we will take a twenty-four hour break and revisit the situation when emotions are cooled. We all are supportive of the decisions we make to maintain our well-being even if it is not in line with what we believe to be best. Self Perception Everyone in the family works to maintain a healthy body. My husband and I recognize that maintaining a healthy weight with our aging is important. Our body image is positive and we know we need to work at maintaining a healthy body. Role Relationship Although there are only three of us that live in the family home we have a large extended family in which we have frequent interactions. Our family is the foundation of who we are and this is how we identify ourselves in the world. My husband and I take the lead to ensure that family traditions are established and maintained. Sexuality We have taught our boys to have a healthy respect for their bodies and to be respectful and responsible with those they choose to have relationships with. There has always been an ongoing dialogue with regards to safe sex. Everyone is aware of the need to do monthly breast and testicular exams. I and my husband are currently satisfied with our intimacy patterns with each other and expect that things will change with the aging process. Coping By practicing open, honest and respectful communication we are able to provide support to each other when we are trouble or stressed. When a situation arises in which we cannot cope we will seek outside help such as therapy. Values Within our family and community we see honesty, integrity and loyalty to be of the most importance. We are respectful and open to learning about others belief systems. We have integrated my husband’s Jewish traditions with my spiritual beliefs, recognizing the value in both. With the information collected from the family health assessment tool the two nursing wellness diagnosis identified are 1) readiness for enhanced bowel elimination and 2) readiness for enhanced activity exercise pattern. Enlisting the help of a wellness coach and personal trainer will assist in setting goals, recognizing barriers to goals and ways in which to eliminate or reduce barriers. These interventions will help with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and activity pattern. According to Science Daily, physical activity helps to improve the symptoms of IBS. With the assistance of a wellness coach and personal trainer, days when there is a flare up of IBS can be recognized and modifications can be put into place to help with adherence to exercise regimen. Using Gordon’s assessment tool a family health assessment will enable a family to recognize their perceptions of health, barriers to being healthy, and changes that may be need to achieve optimal health. The systems theory suggests that the family is greater than the individual. In interviewing each family member and assessing the data collected we came up with a health plan to optimize our health as a whole family. References Edelman, C., & Mandle, C. L. (2010). Health promotion throughout the life span (7thed ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby. University of Gothenburg (2011, January 25). Exercise improve symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 28