Family Health Assessment
Three open-ended questions
- Values, health perception
What is the description of your family’s current health?
How do you work out to improve or maintain the health of your family?
Which health goal does your family strive to attain?
- Nutrition
Do you think this family is well nourished?
Which kinds of foods are usually consumed in this family?
Has the family ever been affected by any mulnutritional disease?
- Sleep/ Rest
Do all members of the family have enough sleep?
At what time do family members go to bed and when do they wake up?
Do you have some techniques to relax yourselves before sleeping?
- Elimination
After how long do you urinate?
After how long do you have bowel movement?
Does the process excretion occur normally?
- Activity/exercise
How often do you have your physical exercise?
Do you find your body physically fit?
Is there anything inhibiting any member of the family to have physical exercises?
- Cognitive
What is the education level of the members in the family?
Does the family face any mental problems?
Does the family suffer from any kind of discomfort?
- Sensory perception
Are all members of the family able to express themselves clearly?
Is there any sensory problem within the family?
Are all family members in position to attend school?
- Self perception
Are all family members comfortable with what and how they are?
Which personal problems do the members face in life?
What do you do to ensure that every family member is comfortable with life?
- Role relationship
Is the family well managed?
What are the roles played by each member in the family?
Are there some inadequacies within the family?
- Sexuality
How many children are there in the family?
Do you think of having more children in future?
Is there any problem affecting the reproductive system?
- Coping
Are there any challenges that family faces?
How does the family react to cope with such challenges?
Do you seek help from friends?
Summary of the findings for each functional health pattern
The family is in a good current state as far as health is concerned. This is because the family works hard to ensure that all members practice all possible ways towards attaining good health. The family ensures good feeding habits by eating what is recommended for a healthy diet hence reducing the risks of mulnutritional diseases. There is a practice of proper hygiene and sanitation for example keeping one clean hence keeping bacteria, germs and viruses at bay (Bomar, 2004). The family always gets medical advice on how to live a healthy life free from illnesses and this is the reason it has a few cases of medication. The family is striving hard to maintain good health standards in order to get rid of all diseases caused by having poor health (Francis, 2000). By doing so the family is assured of increasing its saving since less is spent on medication.
Basing on the feeding culture in the selected family, it is evident that the family practices a proper feeding habit following MyPlate guideline for proper diet. MyPlate guideline provides the quantity recommended for a health feeding hence obtaining the recommended calories needed in the body. This can give a conclusion that the family is well nourished. The family ensures healthy eating habits by eating a diet balanced in proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and by exercising that, the family is free from all diseases caused by improper balanced diet (Bomar, 2004).
The family schedule does not give all members time to rest though it is important to every individual to have time to rest. However, they have a good time to sleep comfortably with a minimum of seven hours. Time to rest is limited by a fixed working schedule that may not let some members to rest while at work. Additionally, the school curriculum does not give ample time for some members to rest during day time but only have time at night.
The family confirmed a normal removal of bowels just as it is stated by medical advisors for instance at least once in every three days and without any difficulty in doing so. Similarly, urinating is done normally by all members for instance a minimum of five times in twenty four hours time. This is an indication of perfect excretory system function.
The selected family agreed that physical body exercise is being undertaken by every family member at respective levels for example those at school do it regularly according to the school curriculum and schedule. However those at work have limited time to do the exercise regularly due to the fixed schedule. Therefore, they tend to have exercises at their free time. Some of the exercises being done include jogging, stretching, walking, and swimming. However, exercise should not be limited by anything because it is something that can be done at any time. One should not have a reason for not having exercise in the course of the day. Exercise is to be practiced regularly and frequently for body general fitness and overall, therefore there is no specific time and place for one to have physical exercise.
The family is generally characterized with a normal functionality of the basic sensory organs which has also enabled the members to attain education and other members are still going on with education. This implies that they are able to reason properly and have a proper mental capacity. Dysfunction of any of the sensory organs can limit one’s capacity to do particular things (Polifko, 2010).
The family selected is comprised of father, mother and two children. Father is the overall head and manager of the family executing his duties as the controller of the family. Generally, the family is well managed with the father providing all the necessities for the family as the mother keeps and maintains the health conditions in the family. The family basic necessities are being provided appropriately enabling the family to operate smoothly. The family is in strong affection with the two children hoping to raise them with a lot of care and love. They two parents have a normal and a functioning reproductive system without any difficulty. The family is under contraceptives in order to prevent the risk of getting pregnant so as to raise their two children.
Like any other family, the selected family faces challenges that are always solved at family level and sometimes get help and solutions from friends. There are no challenges that lack a solution thus the family strives as much as possible to find a solution for such challenges and in case of a difficulty; it seeks for advice from the responsible persons (Francis, 2000).
More wellness and family nursing diagnoses
The selected family observes good health practice for example proper sanitation and hygiene, balanced diet feeding, physical exercises, enough sleep enabling it to have good health generally. Despite the fact that the use of contraceptives help in birth control, they have side effects (Weber, 2009).
References
Bomar, P. J. (2004). Promoting health in families: Applying family research and theory to nursing practice. Philadelphia, Penns: Saunders.
Francis, M. Q. (2000). The principles and practice of nurse education. Cheltenham: Stanley Thomes.
Polifko, K. A. (2010). The practice environment of nursing: Issues & trends. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.
Weber, J. (2009). Nurses' handbook of health assessment. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkin.
