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Health Assessment

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Submitted By halevale05
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Assessment is the first step in determining the health status of the patient. As a first year student and new in nursing field, I admit that I do not have much idea and have not experience doing it. At first, I thought health assessment is all about interviewing and taking vital signs only. But, after reading about the nursing process, I could say that, I was enlightened and gained understanding about the health assessment process. This essay will reflect on insights gained in two health assessment framework. The Gordon’s functional health pattern and the body systems approach. And the strength and weakness of these frameworks offered in collecting and organising clients’ comprehensive health assessment.

The Gordon's system of functional health patterns provides an excellent, relevant format for nursing data collection to determine an individual's or group's health status and functioning (Carpenito-Moyet, 2006, p. 29). The patterns, which focus on behaviours that occur with time, present a total picture of the client, rather just a small part of his or her life (Craven & Hirnle, 2009, p 55). This framework is usually collected through interview process or history taking. It is where the client provides full picture of his well-being his ability to perform task of daily living.
Moreover, the body systems approach is a framework that physicians and advanced nurse practitioners commonly use. It focuses on the pathophysiology involved within the specific body systems in e.g., cardiovascular, genitourinary (Craven & Hirnle, 2009, p 378). It is usually taken through physical assessment and helps to identify and detect the clients’ health problem.
Through further reading and understanding, suddenly I realised that these two frameworks are both essential in collecting and organising the clients’ data. And in addition to this, I could say that these two frameworks are correlated to each other. As the GFHP is part of health history taking, I learned that health history is one of the most important components of a physical assessment (Peacock, 2004). Like for example if a client complains of insomnia, I can use the GFHP in asking him about his sleep pattern, cognition and perception and roles and relationship. By using these part of functional health pattern, I can identify his worries why he is awake at night. And can combine it with the body systems approach like endocrine system to know if his thyroids are functioning well which might be the cause of his insomnia.
However, taking an in-depth nursing assessment is time consuming and in some cases it takes days to complete (Castledine, 2004). And how about in emergency situation, how can I use the GFHP if the client is unconscious? Yes, it is possible to interview the family or friend but I still believed that only the client know his own health status (Castledine, 2004). It is because the information gathered during the health history will allow the nurse to decide which body systems to examine, as well as the extent of the investigation (Price et al, 2000).
To sum up, while doing this assignment, I realised that I need to learn more about the nursing assessment to prepare myself in the future. Yet I am happy in what I have learned that nursing assessment is not just interviewing and vital signs, it is really broad and crucial part of the nursing process.

References
Baid, H. (2006). The process of conducting a physical assessment: A nursing perspective. British Journal of Nursing, 15(13), 710-4. Retrieved from: http://www.internurse.com.ezproxy2.acu.edu.au/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/article.cgi?uid=21482;article=BJN_15_13_710_714
Carpenito-Moyet, L. J. (2008). Handbook of nursing diagnosis (12th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Retrieved from: http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com.ezproxy2.acu.edu.au/sp-3.4.1b/ovidweb.cgi?QS2=434f4e1a73d37e8cbf42da4979706fd70f98cbf771fd019b7abcfd6f084fbb3d09dde30eb1c041904a158a31f3108a7128abfa12db73b1e932a23cd213bbc99f456b41fc
Castledine, G. (2004). Patient assessment: A key requirement of nursing care. British Journal of Nursing, 13 (20), 1233. Retrieved from: http://www.internurse.com.ezproxy2.acu.edu.au/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/article.cgi?uid=17015;article=BJN_13_20_1233
Craven, R. F. & Hirnle, C. J. (2009). Fundamentals of nursing: Human health and function (6th). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Assessment Task 1b Reflective Writing Marking Criteria
Student Name : Student Number: Presentation | Criteria | HD | DI | CR | PA | NN | | • All components of the assessment are submitted. Reflections comply with assignment presentation requirements• Word processed, double spaced, using 12 pointFont, marking criteria attached | | | | | | Self Evaluation | Criteria | HD | DI | CR | PA | NN | | • Critical, insightful self evaluation is made• Evaluation is appropriate in relation to the specificassessment implemented | | | | | | Reflections | Criteria | HD | DI | CR | PA | NN | | • Strengths and weaknesses in relation to healthassessment skills are identified • Learning from self evaluation and feedback from a variety of sources is explored• Link to literature is made. | | | | | | Academic Rigor | Criteria | HD | DI | CR | PA | NN | | • Correct spelling and use of grammar• Appropriate referencing throughout (as necessary)and reference list accurate | | | | | |

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