Family Health Assessment Essay

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The family is the fundamental building block of society. A family is a group of people linked to each other by blood, marriage, cohabitation, or adoption. They depend on one another to carry out essential responsibilities by playing their roles. The actions carried out by people or families as a unit to protect and enhance their family health assessment are referred to as health practices.

How members of a family relate to one another has an impact on how behavior is understood. This impact can be seen in families’ structural, functional, communicational, and developmental patterns. Children and adults are fostered and taught about health values inside families, both verbally and via modeling, and it is within families that individuals first learn how to make decisions that are beneficial to their health.

Definition of family health assessment

The family health assessment refers to gathering information from family members regarding ways to improve health and reduce disease risk. The nurse’s impressions of the family’s make-up, norms and standards, theoretical knowledge, and capacity for communication are all part of the family assessment. Marjorie Gordon suggested eleven functional health patterns as a guiding framework to facilitate the formation of a complete nursing database.

These functional health patterns assist in organizing essential information regarding family assessments.

The following are the eleven functions of health:

1. Patterns of health perception and health management,
2. Nutritious pattern,
3. Elimination pattern,
4. The design of activity and exercise,
5. Cognitive/perceptual pattern,
6. Sleep/rest schedule,
7. A pattern of one’s self-perception and self-concept,
8. Structure of roles and relationships,
9. Sexuality and patterns of reproduction,
10. Coping/stress tolerance pattern
11. Value/belief

A family health assessment is essential to acquire information regarding the individual’s family and way of life. As a nurse, I need to comprehensively understand the numerous facets of an individual’s behavior and values, as well as his family’s history, to devise an improved treatment strategy for the family and ensure their continued good health.

Caregivers receive a comprehensive image of an individual’s measures for the well-being of his family after conducting a family health evaluation.

Gordon’s health pattern assessment is the instrument that was used to carry out the family health assessment. Marjory Gordon came up with the idea for the health patterns assessment in 1987, which has since been implemented to give a comprehensive nursing database.

Family assessment tools in community health nursing

When evaluating a family, one can choose from various agencies. Each gathers unique data regarding families’ structures, dynamics, practices, and experiences. Regardless of the tool used, the following are some of the most important factors to think about when choosing a family health assessment tool;

• Time
• Methodology
• The gathered information
• Developmental Framework
• Reporting
• Requirements for organizations that provide early intervention or care for young children)
• Suitable for relaxing with the family

A family evaluation can capture a family’s life in a way that contributes directly to the delivery of services since it involves active listening, feedback, and the exchange of knowledge with one another. It should get family members talking to each other or the professional about the past, the present, the potential for the future, and the accomplishments and difficulties encountered.

Why is family health assessment important?

• It makes it easier for families to participate
• It aids in the understanding of the family’s capabilities, aspirations, and top priorities among providers
• It assists in determining the family structure and available resources
• It assists in reflecting the opinions and preferences of the family members.
• It takes into account the requirements of the families so that the intervention can be adapted to meet those prerequisites

After the interview, the nurse who is doing the assessment needs to be able to respond to the following family health assessment questions:

1. Is it necessary to address any concerns about protecting people and property?
2. Where does the family stand, both in terms of its strengths and weaknesses?
3. What are the requirements of the household?
4. Are the child’s requirements going to be met by the family
5. What kinds of resources does the family have access
6. Does this family have a structure that is as hierarchical and functional?
7. Is there a lot of drama in the family, or does everyone get along?
8. Is there a history of significant issues relating to mental health in the family?
9. Are there any issues related to substance usage that exists in the household?
10. Is there any indication that the parents or carers suffer from a personality illness (or disorders)?
11. Is the family capable of meeting their most fundamental requirements?
12. Do the parents or other caregivers have the skills to manage challenging behaviors in ways that are acceptable for the child’s age and don’t pose any safety concerns?
13. Is there any indication of multigenerational patterns of abuse or neglect, substance misuse, or anything else along those lines?
14. The capacity for empathy possessed by parents and other caregivers
15. Parental/caregiver ability to nurture
16. In the past, what kinds of resources have shown to be beneficial to this family unit?
17. How does this family system deal with stressful situations and difficult circumstances?

Family health assessment paper example

The Yamir family is an African American family, and they have been chosen to participate in the interview. There are five people in the Yamir family: MR. And Mrs. Yamir, along with their three sons. Mr. Yamir has reached the age of 60 and has been diagnosed with hypertension; Mrs. Yamir is 52years old and has been diagnosed with diabetes. Their sons are 24 years old, 19 years old, and 17 years old, respectively, and they do not have any health problems. The family was questioned to understand the influence of each health pattern on their approach to living a healthy life. Below is the discussion of the family health assessment paper

Family history health assessment

The Yamir family believes that only a physically fit body can protect itself from small and significant health problems. Since of this, their perspective on health is centered on eating healthily. Mr. And Mrs. Yamir are very conscientious about their health and take their prescribed medications consistently. They adopt traditional methods, such as herbal medicine and home remedies, to treat even the most minor illnesses, adhering to the conventions of their health history.

They prefer going to the doctor for routine checks and in the event of any significant emergency. Still, every family member uses herbal medicine for common ailments such as the flu, headaches, stomach gastrointestinal difficulties, etc. In the presence of others, their older son frequently partakes in alcoholic beverages and cigarettes. They fulfill the obligations placed upon them by their religion with total devotion.

The nutrition and metabolism evaluation primarily focuses on ingesting nutrients following the body’s metabolic demands. The nutritional intake of the family members is exceptionally well balanced, and the drinking of sufficient fluids keeps the body hydrated. The whole family follows a daily ritual of drinking herbal tea. The family makes it a point to consume the correct number of calories and makes an effort to eat more of their traditional meals and fewer products from fast food restaurants.

The patterns of an individual’s sleep and rest are evaluated to gain insight into their relaxation habits. Since Mr. Yamir works the morning shift, he makes it a point to go to bed no later than 11:00 p.m. Mrs. Yamir gets sufficient sleep during the day because she is a certified nurse who works the night shift. However, she enjoys sleeping in on her days off from work and would instead do so. Their sons prefer to sleep quickly after returning home to avoid staying up beyond their bedtimes while at school. On the other hand, the older sibling likes to go to bed early because he has a full-time job that requires him to work morning shifts. According to their schedule, each family member gets around the same amount of sleep.

The pattern known as elimination is called the excretory pattern. None of the family members appear to have any issues with the pattern of their excretion. No family member has ever voiced concerns about how they urinate or move their bowels.

The terms “activity” and “exercise” are used interchangeably to refer to daily endeavors that need energy expenditure, drives connected to one’s maintenance and care, pastimes, and physical activity or workouts. Mr. Yamir was a soccer player and coach but hasn’t been active in sports for the past 20 years. These days, he enjoys watching soccer games on television in his spare time. Mrs. Yamir’s hectic schedule prevents her from participating in any activity or exercise, even though she is aware of how essential it is for her to do so to maintain her health. The daily routine for Mr. And Mrs. Yamir includes taking a stroll for thirty to forty-five minutes. Their sons like playing soccer, which they feel provides a beneficial workout and an enjoyable activity overall.

A cognitive and sensory assessment aims to evaluate an individual’s capacity to comprehend and react to any given piece of information and their ability to sense that information appropriately. This evaluation is carried out so that information regarding the individuals’ cognitive skills and capacities can be obtained. Mr. And Mrs. Yamir have achieved high levels of education. Mrs. Yamir has recently graduated with high marks from the master’s program she has been studying. She has no trouble evaluating or responding to any information. There was no evidence of cognitive impairment discovered in their family.

The assessment of a person’s self-perception focuses on their conduct and attitude toward themselves, including their level of self-assurance, identity, and physical appearance. The Yamir family does not struggle with any issues related to low self-esteem, nor do they experience these problems. They are joyful and content with their way of life. They have the mindset that god has blessed them and believe that everyone around them loves them. Mr. And Mrs. Yamir instill the same instruction in their children and pray that they grow up to be self-assured individuals who never struggle with questions regarding their sense of value.

The part and relationship pattern analyzes how individuals interact with the people around them and their role in the wider world. The Yamir family is known for their deep faith and closeness to one another. Mr. And Mrs. Yamir give their children the same love and attention they give each other. Both Mr. And Mrs. Yamir enjoy socializing, spending time with their loved ones and friends, and meeting new people.

An individual’s level of contentment or discontentment with their sexuality and reproduction patterns is the primary focus of sexuality pattern assessment. The sexual lives of Mr. And Mrs. Yamir are fulfilling enough for them. They believe that love has made their relationship bond so strong, and they enjoy sharing private times. They make it a priority to spend quality time with one another despite their hectic schedules.

An evaluation of an individual’s ability to cope with stress and the tactics they employ to overcome it is called a coping and stress tolerance assessment. This evaluation aims to determine an individual’s overall stress tolerance. Mr. And Mrs. Yamir are firm believers that life brings its share of joy and sadness, anxiety and tension, and that the only support and power an individual needs to triumph over these challenges comes directly from god. If a problem arises, they cooperate and exchange information with one another. They work toward resolving the issue by better understanding and working together. They pray to god both when things are going well and when things are going badly. Their support comes from several sources, including their family, their friends, and the prayers of others.

The nutritional-metabolic and coping-stress tolerance patterns are the two nursing wellness diagnoses determined due to the interview with the Yamir family. Mr. And Mrs. Yamir make sure to take their medications at the appropriate times; however, there are times when they forget to eat or do not consume nearly as much food as their bodies require due to their heavy workload and stress.

Due to the fact that Mrs. Yamir has diabetes and must monitor her blood sugar levels and the food and nutrition she consumes while at work, this can be challenging for her. since Mr. Yamir has hypertension, he must ensure that he does not subject himself to any form of stress; however, his workload or any uncertain event can frequently cause him stress, which in turn makes him feel down.

The fact that their children are still young and full of energy means that they do not have any health problems, but the fact that their children frequently become ignorant about their nutrition is a source of concern for their parents. Their parents do not want their children to deal with health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, or other related medical problems.

Gordon’s health pattern evaluation proved valuable in family health assessment nursing during the family health assessment example. Nurses will find this a beneficial tool for analyzing and evaluating patients and families. Nurses can learn about the family from various health perspectives, which provided me with valuable experience evaluating different health patterns and their influence on the health and functioning of a family.

Conclusion

Understanding the pertinent issues within a family and the family’s potential role in shaping a patient’s presenting problem requires a comprehensive assessment of the family. This understanding contributes to a complete biopsychosocial formulation, making writing your family health assessment papers easy.

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