Family Health Assessment Essay

Introduction Family is considered the natural and fundamental unit of the society. The family members make up the family as a structure. Family includes members of different age group from newborns to elders. The family’s activities and reactions influence the patterns of the family as a whole (Edelman, Kudzma, & Mandle 2014, p.2014). The ultimate goal of the nursing is to expedite the health of the family. Family health assessment defines the assessment of actual and potential problem of individual (Gordan 1994). The goal of nursing is giving direct and indirect care to the person and community in terms of assessment, diagnosis, nursing interventions, implementation and evaluation. Historically conceptual models are using to assess the family in nursing practice. Health assessment included with subjective and objective data. Here Gordan’s 11 functional health assessment patterns are using to assess this family. The Gordon’s functional assessment patterns are a valuable tool for assessing and evaluating the family’s traditional health patterns, and permitting the health care provider to look at the inside of the overall health of the particular family. Family Background The family I selected belongs to an African ethnic group. This essay discuss the health pattern and functions of Nyennoh’s family. This is a nuclear family with mother of age 32 father 34 and three children of age groups eleven years old boy, nine years old girl and five years old boy. Both of the parents are working, and splitting their days to taking care of the children. Mother is working as a nurse at the hospital for three days and father working as a respiratory therapist at the neighborhood hospital for  three days. They all going to neighborhood school. Among their three children nine year old girl is diagnosed with sickle cell anemia since her birth. They are Christians and true believers in God. â€Å"Values and Health perception means the level of the individual’s level of commitment to maintain health’’ (Gordon 1994). Read more:  Essays About Assess Individual in Health Care This particular family is very efficient to manage their day today living effectively regardless of the health issues. They both in health field, they know how to manage the condition and their perception of sickle cell anemia is excellent. Assessment of nutritional status is the intake of healthy eating and drinking pattern and adequate amount of healthy food. Types of food including the growth and development of the family and restrictions and concerns about their perception of health. They maintain healthy eating habits through having restrictions. Their main food items include vegetables, rice, fish and fruits. They are very attentive to balance their diet to prevent anemia as a family. Parents always encourage kids to eat healthy food and drink plenty of water to keep them healthy especially the girl with sickle cell anemia. Adequate rest and sleep is essential to maintain good health. Inadequate sleep may lead to physiological problem and psychological problems. A person should sleep average 6-8 hours at night. Nyennoh’s family has no sleep deprivation. They go to bed at 9 o’clock and get up 6 o’clock in the morning. They have a good sleeping pattern so they never use any medication to induce sleep. The elimination pattern is varies in individual. This family is not experiencing any bladder or bowel problems. There is no evidence of diarrhea or constipation in the family. Bowel movements and regularly in every day. Parents always take special attention to the children to avoid constipation especially girl with sickle cell anemia to prevent any cuts and bruises. To maintain the concept of health activity and exercise pattern are the effective indicator of individual’s life. This family is very active. They are very particular about activity and exercise. They go for walks everyday as a family 30 minutes in the neighborhood or park. The girl with sickle cell has some restrictions to away from vigorous activities to prevent any dehydration or joint pain or cuts or bruises. She is a very knowledgeable girl about her illness.