Family Health Assessment
Grand Canyon University
NRS 429 V
August 15, 2012
Family Health Assessment “A family is a set of interacting individuals related by marriage, blood, and adoption or by cohabitation interdependently perform relevant functions to fulfill expected role” (Edelman & Mandle, 2010). Systems theory allows a nurse to view patient as a whole family unit, which the action of each member will influence one another. Family developmental theory is to assist the patients through every stage of life. Gordon’s functional health patterns are eleven principles incorporated with the nursing process to collect data, assess patients and families, and provide a diagnosis for the patient and family based on the norms. Gordon’s functional health patterns help nurses assess health patterns of their family as one unit that relates to their health needs, and modify nursing practice accordingly (Edelman & Mandle, 2010). Gordon’s 11 Functional Health Patterns: Values, Health Perception, Nutrition, Sleep/Rest, Elimination, Activity/Exercise, Cognitive, Sensory-Perception, Self-Perception, Role Relationship, Sexuality, and Coping. This author interviewed her family where the father is a 61year old African American male that married his long time girlfriend of ten years, two years ago. She is a 45year old Caucasian woman. He has five adult children by four different women, one being the author. She has no children. This couple is are very happy together with a good support system set in place with friends and family. The father is a multiple business owner and his wife owns multiple dance studios and is a Zumba fitness instructor. Their family income 250-275 thousand a year this family also provides medical coverage for the children in college. Gordon’s functional health patterns were used to assess this family.
Values, health perception The overall health of this family is good. They have no
References: Endelman, C.L., & Mandle, C.L. (2010). In Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span (7th ed). St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby Elsevier Kriegler, N