Family Focused Assessment Assignment

Develop an interview questionnaire to be used in a family-focused functional assessment. The questionnaire must include three open-ended, family-focused questions to assess functional health patterns for each of the following:

Values/Health Perception

Nutrition

Sleep/Rest

Elimination

Activity/Exercise

Cognitive

Sensory-Perception

Self-Perception

Role Relationship

Sexuality

Coping

Select a family, other than your own, and seek permission from the family to conduct an interview. Utilize the interview questions complied in your interview questionnaire to conduct a family-focused functional assessment. Document the responses as you conduct the interview.

Upon completion of the interview, write a 1000- 1250 word paper. Analyze your assessment findings. Submit your questionnaire as an appendix with your assignment.

Include the following in your paper:

Describe the family structure. Include individuals and any relevant attributes defining the family composition, race/ethnicity, social class, spirituality, and environment.

Summarize the overall health behaviors of the family. Describe the current health of the family.

Based on your findings, describe at least two of the functional health pattern strengths noted in the findings. Discuss three areas in which health problems or barriers to health were identified.

Describe how family systems theory can be applied to solicit changes in family members that, in turn, initiate positive changes to the overall family functions over time.

Cite at least three peer-reviewed or scholarly sources to complete this assignment. Sources should be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria.

Prepare this assignment according to the APA , NO PLAGIARISM PLEASE

Family Focused Assessment Assignment

A family health assessment is an integral part of a holistic view of the family and can help the nurse determine where to focus. Health organizations, government and public health mainly focuses on health issues, the prevention of illness and the strategies to help people promote health and wellness. Healthy People 2020 progresses toward the goal of achieving healthy and long lives for each individual. Doctor Marjory Gordon, a nurse theorist, developed the Gordon’s functional health patterns. The functional health pattern consists of eleven functions to assess families or individuals. The assessment is a systematic approach to retrieve data and analyze the family or group. To meet the goal of Healthy People 2020 the use of the functional health patterns determines how to treat a family or individual, what questions to ask, and where to educate the family or individual. Using the Gordon’s functional health pattern theory, the author assessed a family of four that live in Cheyenne Wyoming by asking open ended questions in the eleven categories and then developing wellness diagnosis.

Values/Health Perception

Health perception and values focus on the individual’s perception of their health and their beliefs and values (Edelman, 2010). The family interviewed is a German family who are strong Christians. The husband is 56 and the wife is 52. They have two daughters one that is 16 and one that is 9. The husband and wife feel that they started their family a little late in life. The Breitkopf’s describe their values rich in German tradition celebrating their heritage whenever possible. They read the Bible and follow they said, “the rules”.   The wife is a diabetic and takes her medication as directed by her physician. She follows up yearly with her primary physician, as well as, her endocrinologist. She believes in preventive health care and has changed her ways since being diagnosed with diabetes. The husband is overweight and knows that he is unhealthy. He stated, “I will live the way I want.” The husband takes prescription medication for his high blood pressure. He follows all directions for his medication that was given to him by his pharmacist. The children are healthy and have been immunized. They go to the physician routinely for checkups and sports physicals. They both dance and feel healthy. The family attends church every Sunday. The daughters love church and participate in the choir.

Nutrition

The Breitkopf’s define nutrition as a means to get the vitamins and minerals you need and to be healthy, They eat a diet rich in sausages, meat, cheese, fruits and vegetables.  They love to use sauces and try different foods. They cook interesting meals and use cookbooks to find different ideas. They reap a garden and harvest every year. They enjoy canning as a family. The family works in the garden at home and the community garden together. The husband and wife usually have coffee for breakfast. The daughters get three meals a day with usually two snacks a day. The husband’s weakness is chips so Mrs. Breitkopf does not buy them. She thinks he sneaks chips at work. They have dinner together and family meals on the weekend. Mr and Mrs Breitkopf drink cocktails, beer, or wine when they get home from work. The daughters drink, milk, juice and water.

Sleep/Rest

            The Breitkopf’s feel that the family receives 8 to 10 hours of sleep at night. Mrs. Breitkopf comes home from work at 2:30 and takes a “power nap” approximately 15 to 30 minutes to freshen up. Bedtime is 9:00 every night and 10:00 on weekends. Curfew for the 16 year old is 10:00 as well, unless traveling with the high school team. They do not feel like they have a problem sleeping. They enjoy going to bed on time and waking up refreshed. Mr. Breitkopf sometimes but rarely has to get up to use the restroom.

Elimination

Mrs. Breitkopf struggles with constipation. She has increased her intake of fiber and fiber rich food.  She feels like she has always struggled with constipation since she was little. Mr Breitkopf sometimes but rarely has to get up to use the restroom in the middle of the night. He stated, “when I have to get up in the middle of the night it is because I drank too much beer.” He laughs after that statement. None of the Breitkopf’s feel they have a problem with urination.

Activity/Exercise

Mr. Breitkopf loves to cook and that is his activity every now and then his wife will drag him out for a walk. Mr. Breitkopf also loves to fish and go camping something they all love to do as a family.  Mrs. Breitkopf walks four times a week since her diagnosis of diabetes. She was diagnosed with Diabetes 13 years ago. She likes to go cross country skiing and loves to go for hikes. Exercise is very important for Mrs. Breitkopf, she want to remain healthy, fit, and keep her disease under control. Mr Breitkopf believes being outside is healthy enough. The two daughters are both in dance and soccer. They love to exercise and find it fun.

Cognitive

The family was asked if they have trouble remembering, they all laughed and said “who doesn’t!” They started talking about where they forgot their keys, or where they parked, or where they left their homework. The Breitkopf’s did not have a problem with reading, writing, or hearing. Three out of the four Breitkopf’s wear prescription glasses but did not perceive that as a problem but a correction to resolve the problem. The family did not feel that they had any neuro deficiencies and are all coordinated. The husband laughed and surmised the only cognitive problem he had in movement was his weight.

Sensory/Perception

The Breitkopf”s feel that their sensory perception was intact. Mr. Breitkopf and Mrs. Breitkopf feel that Mrs. Breitkopf’s taste buds are amazing.  She can tell the slightest nuance in wine, she can pick out tastes that no one else can.  She loves to smell and taste the wine with a blindfold it is a game they play together as husband and wife.

Self Perception

Mr. Breitkopf feels he does not have a problem with his self-esteem. He stated,” I am fat but I still love myself. Well maybe I could lose a few pounds.” Mrs. Breitkopf feels her self-image changed when she started eating healthier and exercising before she felt fat and worried now she feels fit and happy. She thinks maybe being diagnosed with diabetes was a good thing. She has changed her attitude. She stated with a smile, “I always enjoyed my life but I am enjoying it better now.” The 16 year old daughter struggles with poor self-image because of her teen acne. She wishes for a new face. The 9 year old thinks her sister is beautiful and is being stupid. The 9 year old loves that she can dance all night and loves her hair, she would not change a thing.

Role Relationship

Mr. and Mrs. Breitkopf both work and make similar money. Mr. Breitkopf is a speech therapist and Mrs. Breitkopf is a nurse. They feel they are both the bread winners. Mr. Breitkopf is in charge of making decisions on discipline, vacation, and setting the rules of the house.  He is also known as the house chef. Mrs. Breitkopf takes care of everyone, cleans and does laundry. The roles played by the two is workable and desirable. Mrs. Breitkopf prefers a man who is in charge, she did not want a wimp for a husband.  The Breitkopf’s are very social. They love to entertain and have several themed parties a year, one being Oktoberfest.  They appreciate and cherish their church and participate in activities at church. The children did not feel like they played a role that they are just children that is their role.

Sexuality

            The Breitkopf’s are open about sexuality and think it is a healthy part of life. It was refreshing to meet people with such an open mind. ‘Sex revives the soul and rekindles the relationship. Sex brings us together as one, when we share with each other between the sheets we share our hearts.” Mrs. Breitkopf stated. They are not shy and hold hands in public. They will share a kiss in front of anyone there is no shame. They are worried that their daughters will not be virgins when they get married. The daughters sat and stared at them in silence. No comment was made from the daughters. They looked rather shocked.

Coping

The Breitkopf’s deal with stressors as a family. They have family discussions and maintain open communication. The family believes in prayer as a coping mechanism. They meet illnesses head on with prayer and regular visits with the family physician. They feel the church, friends, and family are all involved in helping the family cope with whatever mountain is put in their way.

Wellness/Family Diagnosis

Wellness nursing diagnosis can be defined as a clinical judgment of an individual, family, group or community from a specific wellness level to achieve a higher level of wellness. There has to be a desire to change and reach for high wellness.  Based on the data that was collected there was three wellness diagnosis that are established. 1) Readiness for enhance self-perception 2) Readiness for enhanced exercise patterns 3) Readiness for management and education to prevent risk related to the disease process.  The Breitkopf’s were willing to learn and enhance their knowledge of health and well-being. Mr. Breitkopf’s statement about being fat open the door to talk about exercise and eating right. The 16 year old and Mr. Breitkopf’s answers to self-perception opened the door to discuss ways of improving self-image. Education on diabetes and high blood pressure was discussed and they seemed to be encouraged to further their exercise program and educate themselves on their disease processes.

Conclusion

            Assessing the family using Gordon’s functional health patterns, opened up a variety of questions to retrieve the data needed to develop a wellness diagnosis. The 11 functions assessed delved deep into the family. The assessment brought out answers that a nurse would not retrieve from a physical assessment. Using Gordon’s theory can allow the nurse to view the family and or individual holistically.