In contemporary healthcare management, medical fraternity is using effective techniques of diagnosing and treating patients. One of such effective technique used in patient management is Functional Health Patterns Assessment sheet. This sheet aims at obtaining detailed and relevant information from patients themselves. In practice, assessment is carried out by focusing on specific aspects like patient’s metabolism, nutrition and psychological well being. Such specific aspects enable nurses to develop a comprehensive understanding of a patient in relationship to both the internal and external environment. With respect to nursing ethics, it is worth acknowledging the fact that information obtained from assessment of patients is restricted and confidential. Merva (2005) states that upon completion of these exercises, nurses will use information gathered in ascertaining both the short term and long term health problems faced by a given patient. Consequently, nurses will develop customized intervention measures aimed at remedying the patient from an underlying clinical condition.
In this paper, we will create a simulated functional health pattern assessment sheet in order to illustrate its purpose in analyzing patients. Based on the sheet’s technical outlook, we will explore both the actual and potential health problems associated with children during their development. The exercise will be a combination of the assessment sheet and Erikson’s concepts of human developmental stages. According to Moyet and Juall (2008), integration of the two aspects of health will facilitate development of a more comprehensive essay concerned with children’s general health patterns. Upon its completion, one can relate between age and potential health issues related to human development. In case there is a conspicuous pattern, we can consider proposing any potential remedies that will save children from health complications as a result of problems identified. In addition, thorough analysis of children in aspects of psychology and physiology will enhance further understanding of nutrition and exercise in individual health.
Children’s Functional Health Pattern Assessment
Short Answer Questions
Similarities and Difference in Assessment Outcomes
With respect to early stages of development, all children experience varied clinical problems resulting from fungal, bacterial or viral infections. Findings from the pattern of health perception and health management indicate that both pre-school aged and school aged children experience respiratory complications. In this context, the developing immune system in children below 12 years of age cannot fully defend minors from respiratory infections in cold weather. However, assessment on other aspects like cognitive development and self-perception yielded different outcomes. Erikson (2013) says that while toddlers are learning to develop self-esteem through pride, school-aged children are achieving their goals through already developed confidence. In this regard, assessment across the different stages of childhood development indicates certain similarities and differences in health issues. Differences in assessment outcomes signify that a child’s age acts as a pre-disposing factor to certain health problems. On the contrary, similarities show that the young immune system in minors suffers constant disturbances from disease causing microorganisms.
Children versus Adults in Medical Examinations
Pediatric nursing is totally distinct from adult nursing because of ethics related to cultural considerations. Rivera (2012) acknowledges that in most cases, children cannot make informed consent in medical examinations and education. Therefore, a nurse will have to approach medical communication with a child from a parental perspective. However, adults can be made to understand information that would be otherwise offensive to children, especially those of explicit nature. In this case, a nurse will strive to acquire a lot of information from an adult, as compared to that sourced from a child. This difference in quantity of information is attributed to the fact that adults can objectively speak for themselves, whereas children cannot fully represent themselves in medical procedures.
References
Erikson, E. (2013). Stages of social-emotional development-Erik Erikson. Childevelopmentinfo.com. Retrieved from http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-development/erickson
Merva, K. (2005). The clinical and medical assessment. New York: Cengage Learning Publishers
Moyet, C. & Juall, L. (2008). Nursing Diagnosis: Application to clinical practice. Berlin: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishing.
Rivera, T. W. (2012). Child and adolescent health and healthcare quality: Measuring what matters. Washington DC. National Academic Press.
