Module 03 Written Assignment - Health History Conduct

Module 03 Written Assignment - Health History Conduct a health history on a family member or friend

Conduct a health history on a family member or friend. Be sure they give you permission. Using the interviewing techniques learned in Module 2, gather the following information. Use your textbook as your guide. Present health, past health, family history. While this is only a partial health history, summarize in 3-5 pages the information you gathered. Also, answer the following questions: Was the person willing to share the information? If they were not, what did you do to encourage them? Was there any part of the interview that was more challenging? If so, what part and how did you deal with it? How comfortable were you taking a health history? What interviewing techniques did you use? Were there any that were difficult and if so, how did you overcome the difficulty? Now that you have taken a health history, discuss how this information can assist the nurse in determining the health status of a client. Your assignment must have accurate spelling and grammar. Submit your completed assignment by following the directions linked below. Please check the Course Calendar for specific due dates. Save your assignment as a Microsoft Word document. (Mac users, please remember to append the ".docx" extension to the filename.) The name of the file should be your first initial and last name, followed by an underscore and the name of the assignment, and an underscore and the date. An example is shown below.

Paper For Above instruction

Conducting a health history on a family member or friend is an essential skill in nursing practice, serving as a foundation for understanding a patient's overall health status. This process involves gathering comprehensive information about the individual's health, including current health conditions, past medical history, and family health history, using effective interviewing techniques learned in prior modules. The purpose is to collect relevant data while establishing a trusting relationship that encourages openness and honesty.

The process begins with obtaining permission from the individual before commencing the interview, ensuring respect for privacy and autonomy. Establishing rapport is critical; employing open-ended questions, active listening, and empathetic communication facilitates comfort and encourages detailed sharing. In this assignment, I interviewed a close family member, a 45-year-old sibling, to gather health information. Throughout the interview, I focused on creating a comfortable environment and used techniques such as reflective listening and clarifying questions to elicit detailed responses.

The information gathered included current health concerns, such as hypertension and occasional migraines, past medical history like childhood allergies and previous surgeries, and family health history highlighting instances of cardiovascular disease and diabetes among relatives. The individual was generally willing to share information, though some sensitive topics such as mental health were approached with additional reassurance and tact. Encouraging disclosure on sensitive subjects was achieved through maintaining non-judgmental attitudes and emphasizing confidentiality.

The interview presented some challenges, particularly when discussing potentially distressing topics like mental health or genetic predispositions. These areas required patience and reassurance to foster trust. Initially, I found it somewhat uncomfortable to navigate sensitive topics, but this improved with practice and by maintaining a professional, empathetic demeanor. Using techniques such as active listening and open-ended questions helped to overcome difficulties, promote dialogue, and gather comprehensive information.

This experience enhanced my confidence in conducting health histories, highlighting the importance of a non-threatening environment, effective communication skills, and cultural sensitivity. The collected information is valuable to nurses, as it provides insights into a patient's health risks, lifestyle factors, and familial tendencies, informing screening, prevention, and treatment planning. A thorough health history is essential in holistic patient care, enabling targeted interventions and fostering a patient-centered approach.

References

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