NRNP 6552 Week 1 Assignment; Taking a Health History
- $15.00
Intro: Taking a Health History
Prior
to examining a patient and developing a plan of care it is important to obtain
a thorough health history. As a
nurse practitioner, it is important to establish a rapport with your patient
and respectfully ask your patient both common and difficult questions to build
their chart. Once a complete health
history is obtained guidelines can be followed for health maintenance and
routine screenings based on the patients’ history,
age and needs. For the gynecological patient, the information obtained
will help the practitioner in developing a diagnosis, differential diagnoses,
treatment plan and referral if needed (Schuiling & Likis, 2022). Some of
the common questions for the gynecological patient include menstrual history, pregnancy history, history of sexually transmitted diseases, intimate
partner violence, birth control use, cervical cancer screenings, past surgical history, and current symptoms (Schuiling
& Likis, 2022).
When
questioning any patient, it is important to do so in private unless the
individual specifically requests to have someone in the room. For members of
the LGBTQ+ population it is especially important to be mindful of the questions
being asked and to include special considerations. One of the biggest concerns
of those of the LGBTQ+ community is feeling as if they are being treated as a
whole person rather than their sexual orientation or gender identity (Schuiling
& Likis, 2022). Other things to be mindful of as well include social determinants,
history of violence, mental health, substance abuse, hormone therapy, education
and economic stability, sexually transmitted diseases and gynecological cancers
based on what organs remain present (Schuiling & Likis, 2022).
To begin the screening, I, the nurse practitioner, would begin by entering the patients’ room and introducing myself.
Introduction to
the patient: Hi, my name is Adrienne, and I will be taking care of you today.
How are you and what brings you in today?
Patient introduction: Hi Adrienne, I am Sally, I am 21 years-old and here for my routine well woman visit and to discuss birth control options........... Continue