Discussion: Building a Health History
Effective communication is vital to constructing an accurate and detailed patient history. A patient’s health or illness is influenced by many factors, including age, gender, ethnicity, and environmental setting. As an advanced practice nurse, you must be aware of these factors and tailor your communication techniques accordingly. Doing so will not only help you establish rapport with your patients, but it will also enable you to more effectively gather the information needed to assess your patients’ health risks.
For this Discussion, you will take on the role of a clinician who is building a health history for a particular new patient assigned by your Instructor.
To prepare:
By Day 1 of this week, you will be assigned a new patient profile by your Instructor for this Discussion. (new patient profile): 14-year-old biracial male living with his grandmother in a high-density public housing complex
How would your communication and interview techniques for building a health history differ with each patient?
How might you target your questions for building a health history based on the patient’s social determinants of health?
What risk assessment instruments would be appropriate to use with each patient, or what questions would you ask each patient to assess his or her health risks?
Identify any potential health-related risks based upon the patient’s age, gender, ethnicity, or environmental setting that should be taken into consideration.
Select one of the risk assessment instruments presented in Chapter 1 or Chapter 5 of the Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination text, or another tool with which you are familiar, related to your selected patient.
Develop at least five targeted questions you would ask your selected patient to assess his or her health risks and begin building a health history.
Post a summary of the interview and a description of the communication techniques you would use with your assigned patient. Explain why you would use these techniques. Identify the risk assessment instrument you selected, and justify why it would be applicable to the selected patient. Provide at least five targeted questions you would ask the patient.
NOTE: THIS IS THE LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE BOOK YOU NEED TO COMPLETE THE DISCUSSION QUESTION
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Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As an advanced practice nurse, it is important to tailor communication techniques to each patient when building a health history. Age, gender, ethnicity, and environmental setting are just a few factors to consider when conducting an interview. Additionally, utilizing appropriate risk assessment instruments can help identify any potential health-related risks that should be taken into consideration. In this essay, I will discuss communication and interview techniques, targeting questions based on social determinants of health, risk assessment instruments, and potential health-related risks for a 14-year-old biracial male living with his grandmother in a high-density public housing complex. Lastly, I will provide five targeted questions to begin building a health history.
Communication and Interview Techniques:
When communicating with a 14-year-old biracial male living in a public housing complex, it is important to establish rapport from the start. Using open-ended questions and active listening techniques will allow the patient to feel heard and understood. Additionally, using age-appropriate language and avoiding medical jargon will help the patient to better understand the interview process. Nonverbal cues such as maintaining eye contact and nodding can also aid in establishing trust between the patient and clinician.
Targeting Questions Based on Social Determinants of Health:
Given the patient’s living situation, it would be important to discuss any environmental exposures or concerns that could be impacting his health. For example, exposure to lead paint or mold could be posing health risks to the patient. Additionally, understanding his social support systems and access to healthcare resources will be important for planning his care.
Risk Assessment Instruments:
The CRAFFT screening tool (Chapter 5, Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination) would be applicable to this patient. It is a tool used to assess substance abuse in adolescents and can help identify any potential risk factors related to alcohol or drug use.
Potential Health-Related Risks:
Given the patient’s age and living situation in a high-density public housing complex, there may be increased risk for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis or influenza. Additionally, there may be increased exposure to pollution, which could potentially impact pulmonary health.
Targeted Questions:
1. Have you ever used alcohol or drugs?
2. How often do you exercise, and what types of physical activities do you enjoy?
3. Do you have any concerns about your living situation that could be impacting your health?
4. Have you ever been diagnosed with an infectious disease?
5. Do you have access to a primary care provider, and have you received routine vaccinations?
Conclusion:
In conclusion, when building a health history, it is important to tailor communication and interview techniques to each patient’s individual needs. Considering social determinants of health, potential health-related risks, and utilizing appropriate risk assessment instruments can aid in the interview process. By asking targeted questions, clinicians can gather information needed to assess patients’ health risks and plan their care accordingly.
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