History And Interviewing Scenarios

The history and interviewing process is a component of the initial meeting between the patient and the nurse. In the history and interviewing process, the nurse and patient is able to build a relationship while establishing trust. “A primary objective is to discover the details about a patient’s concern, explore expectations for the encounter, and display genuine interest, curiosity, and partnership” (Ball et al., 2015). For this discussion, the 76-year-old Black/African-American male with disabilities living in an urban setting was selected. Initially, I noted that this individual have several factors such as age, gender, race, and environment that could possibly influence his health history. Fawcett & Rhynas (2012) “History taking is a key
Desks and clocks would be avoided due to distraction risks. Potential barriers and stressors would be eliminated during the interview such as anxiety, anger, and depression. Showing patience, concern, and allowing the patient to express themselves fully will help to eliminate potential barriers. “Be courteous, ensure comfort, both physically and emotional; be sure that that you have connected with the patient with trust and candor; and confirm all that has happened during the interaction is clearly understood and your patient is able to articulate the agreed upon plan. That is communication” (Ball et al., 2015). However, effective communication is the key to establishing a successful relationship between the nurse and patient. It also guides the interview in a positive direction. In the interviewing process eye contact will be maintained and nonverbal and verbal cues will coincide to avoid mixed signals. Lastly, to ensure that the information collected is accurate, there would be follow-up questions and a summarized version of the data collected given by the patient. Muhrer (2014) states, “The clinical history and physical exam are critical to the diagnostic process and often provide more information than can be gained by broad testing strategies. An old adage claims that if you listen to patients, they will eventually tell you what is
This approach shows respect to the patients and allows them to make choices concerning their care. The patient-centered technique leads to an increase in patient satisfaction and compliance with the treatment plan provided. The collection data regarding the patient’s history will consist of a chronological and sequential framework. First identifiers such as age, name, gender, and race would be collected. Next, any chief concerns that the patient might have would be addressed. After that, the patient’s present illnesses or problems would be addressed. Lastly, the patient’s past medical history would be discussed. The patient would also be instructed to fill out questionnaires such as CAGE questionnaire to assess the use of alcohol. Since the patient that was selected is 76 years old, the brief screening tool for violence would also be included. Elderly individuals are at risk for suffering from violence from their caregivers. In addition, the patient’s competency to make medical decisions would be assess related to the patient’s age. With that said, a functional assessment would be conducted as well. “Functional assessment is an attempt to understand a patient’s ability to achieve the basic activities of daily living” (Ball et al., 2015). The patient selected had disabilities, however, in the interview process the nurse must accommodate the