76-year-old black male with disabilities living in an urban setting

76-year-old black male with disabilities living in an urban setting

Day 3 of Week 1

Summarize the interview and explain the communication techniques you’d use with this assigned patient. Describe why you’d employ these techniques. Also, state the chosen risk assessment instrument and its relevance to this patient. Lastly, provide at least five specific questions for the patient.

76-year-old black male with disabilities living in an urban setting

A robust patient-provider relationship enhances cooperation and understanding of a patient’s unique health needs. This, in turn, helps connect patients with appropriate treatments and resources to improve overall health.

How would your communication and interview strategies for gathering a health history differ with each patient? Before entering the room, I would politely knock and wait for a response. Upon entering, I’d greet the patient with a smile and introduce myself, addressing them by their name. I’d ask for permission to sit in front of them for eye contact. My questions would be tailored to the patient’s age, culture, and cognitive abilities. I’d seek clarity when needed to fully understand the patient’s statements.

How might you customize your questions for gathering a health history based on the patient’s social determinants of health? Social determinants of health encompass the conditions in which people live, work, and age, shaping their health. It’s crucial to explore the patient’s social determinants. This includes their habits related to nutrition, diet, eating and sleeping patterns, and substance use (coffee, tea, tobacco, alcohol). Additionally, their home conditions, economic situation, furnishings, and even religious and cultural preferences should be considered. Access to care, transportation, and available resources are important, as well as social needs like insurance coverage, food security, housing stability, and employment assistance. Addressing these determinants is vital for improving health and reducing disparities.

What risk assessment tools would be suitable for evaluating the patient’s health risks, or what questions would you pose to assess their health risks? One appropriate risk assessment tool is the Home Safety Self-Assessment Tool (HSSAT), designed to evaluate the living conditions of older adults, ensuring a safe environment to prevent falls and support independent living. A functional assessment would also be performed to maintain the patient’s self-care abilities. Assessing their ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) is essential.

Evaluating and Diagnosing Individuals With Schizophrenia, Other Psychotic Disorders, and Medication-Induced Movement Disorders

Identify potential health-related risks based on the patient’s age, gender, ethnicity, or environmental setting that need consideration. Health risk assessment is crucial for identifying and preventing complications associated with chronic diseases. Obtaining the patient’s health history serves as a baseline for assessing their current concerns. Consider major adult illnesses such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and respiratory conditions. Obtaining the health history is fundamental for improving healthcare.

To begin building a health history and assess health risks, I’d ask the following targeted questions:

1. Can you identify areas where you might need assistance?
2. Do you live alone?
3. Do you feel safe in your home?
4. Have you experienced any recent falls?
5. What medications are you currently taking, and how do you organize them?
6. Do you have family members who visit?

References:

Horowitz, B., Almonte, T., Kaur, S., & Vasil, A. (2016). Use of the Home Safety Self-Assessment Tool (HSSAT) within community health education to improve home safety.

Lushniak, B. D. (2015). Family health history: Using the past to improve future health.

Wu, R. A., & Orlando, L. A. (2015). Implementation of health risk assessments with family health history: Barriers and benefits.

Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., Flynn, J. A., Solomon, B. S., & Stewart, R. W. (2019). Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination: An Interprofessional Approach (9th ed.).

By Day 6 of Week 1

Engage with at least two of your peers on two different days who have chosen different patients than you have. You can approach your responses in the following ways:

Response

Nurse Practitioners must establish strong patient relationships, as you rightly emphasized. Creating a safe and non-judgmental environment, especially when dealing with elderly patients, is crucial (Ball et al., 2019). It’s essential to consider factors like age, gender, functional abilities, culture, and surroundings, as these can significantly impact a patient’s well-being (Ball et al., 2019).

Falls are a significant risk for the elderly, and conducting a comprehensive assessment is vital for tailoring a care plan. One valuable assessment tool is the Berge Balance Scale, which measures mobility, balance, transfer, and gait (Landers et al., 2016). As people age, various factors, such as cognitive decline, life stress, illness, and physical limitations, can affect their health (Ball et al., 2019). Therefore, healthcare providers need a solid understanding of health assessment and the ability to use different screening tools to inform diagnosis, treatment, and care plans (Wu & Orlando, 2015).

References:

Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., Flynn, J. A., Solomon, B. S., Stewart, R. W. (2019). Seidel’s guide to physical examination: An interprofessional approach (9th ed). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.

Landers, M. R., Oscar, S., Sasaoka, J., Vaughn, K. (2016, April). Balance confidence and fear of falling. Avoidance behavior is most predictive of falling in older adults: Prospective Analysis. Academic Journal, 433-442.

Wu, R., & Orlando, L. A. (2015). Implementation of health risk assessments with family health history: barriers and benefits. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 91(1079), 508-513. http://pmj.bmj.com/content/91/1079/508