Why Is History Taking Important

9.3 RESEARCH RELATED TO CONCEPT
Research on the importance of history taking by Tonks Fawcett and Rhynas Sarah
Their studies revealed that history taking is a vital component of patient assessment, because it ensures delivery of high quality care. Understanding the processes and complexity involved in history taking allows nurses to have a better knowledge of patients’ problems. Care priorities can be identified and the most appropriate interventions commenced to optimise patient outcomes.
9.4 APPLICATION OF CONCEPT IN MY JOB
As an Occupational Health Nurse/Safety officer, the steps utilized in nursing process also apply to my job. Nursing process involves assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation. In my job the steps
are risk assessment, hazard identification, planning on reduction of risk or elimination of hazard, implementation and evaluation.
Risk assessment involves conducting a thorough assessment on an assigned area of job or before the start of a project to identify anything that may cause harm. The steps are as follows:
Step 1: Assessment/Hazard Identification
The safety department examines critically the area where work need to be done to identify potential source of hazards.
It is our duty to assess the health and safety risks faced by our employers. Therefore we systematically check for possible physical, mental, chemical and biological hazards.
Physical Risks: lifting, slips and trips, noise, awkward postures, dust, machinery, computer equipment etc.
Mental: excess workload, long hours, bullying, working with high-need clients etc. Normally, these are termed psychosocial hazards because they affect mental health and occurring within working relationships.
Chemical: e.g. cleaning fluids, aerosols, asbestos etc. Biological: hepatitis and other infectious diseases faced by healthcare workers, tuberculosis, home care staff and other healthcare professionals.
Step 2: Diagnosing the problem/ Deciding who may be harmed and how
The second step is to identify who is at risk starting with our organization’s workers both full and part time employees. We assess also risk faced by agency and contract staff, visitors, clients and other members of the public on their premises.
We frequently review work routines in all the different locations and situations where the staff are employed. For
example
Special duty towards the health & safety of young workers, disabled employees, shift workers, night workers, pregnant or breastfeeding women.
In call centres, workstation equipment which includes desk, chair, screen and keyboard must be arranged properly to suit each employee.
In a supermarket, hazards are found in lifting loads, and in slips and trips from spillage and obstacles in the shop and storerooms. Staffs face the risk of violence from customers and intruders especially in the evenings.
Home care health workers must take due account of their client’s personal safety in the home and ensure proper lifting arrangements and safe working for their own home care staff.
Step 3: Planning and Implementation/ Assess the risks and take action
Here we usually consider the likelihood that each hazard could cause harm. This will determine whether or not we should reduce the level of risk. Some risk usually remains even after all the precautions have been taken. We must decide whether the risk in the remaining hazard is high, medium or low.
Step 4: Documentation / Make a record of the findings
After assessing the risk and taking actions as needed, we make inputs of findings of the risk assessment. This record should involve the detailed hazards noted in risk assessment, the assessment and the action taken to reduce or eliminate risk. This record provides proof that the assessment was carried out, and is used as the basis for a later review in related practices. The risk assessment is a working document meant that should be read at all times and not to be locked in a cupboard.
Step 5: Evaluation/ Review the risk assessment
This is usually reviewed always to ensure that the safe working practices are continuously applied. For example- that management’s safety instructions are respected by supervisors and line managers and update safety measures to be carried in new working practices, new machinery or more demanding work targets.
9.5 USEFULNESS OF CONCEPT TO THE WORLD
The nursing process can be used to evaluate a problem or situation, establish solutions or goals.
It can be utilized in every career and by all professionals to carry out defined tasks or carry out problem-solving strategy from business to financial services.
The nursing process can be applied to everyday situations either at home or in the society e.g. creating a household budget, organizing school or community fundraisers etc.
It provides guidelines and ensures commitment and focus among professionals towards actualization of goals or objectives.