Free «Family Health» Essay Paper

The role of family in one’s life can not be underestimated. Family is universally defined as a unit that consists of two or more persons living together. They are usually connected by marriage, blood or adoption (“Consumer Behavior: Chapter 9”). Since early childhood till late adulthood one’s views, values and habits are shaped by the household. First and foremost, one’s health behavior is formed in the family one was born to. Then, it establishes in the unit that human creates oneself. However, the family lifestyle may vary in accordance with the following stages: the married couple, childbearing, pre-school, school-aged, teenage children, launching the brood, middle-aged parents and aging members (DeFrain, 2012). The majority of people grow in domestic communities with their own attitudes, traditions and beliefs. Moreover, their way of life is constantly changing under a range of circumstances. Thus, it is important for the healthcare representative to be always aware of family peculiarities and transformations. Only a precise estimation will allow setting a correct diagnose and prescribing a suitable treatment.

 

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The process of nursing assessment primarily aims at collecting subjective (information given by family) and objective (evidence obtained by nurse) data (Klossner, 2006). Having analyzed the recorded facts, the nurse may define a diagnosis. Generally, nursing diagnoses can be of three types: wellness, risk and actual. Wellness nursing diagnosis is universally defined as readiness of a family to progress to a new level of enhancement (Stolte, 1996). Risk diagnoses determine dangerous or hazardous factors which can cause certain health problems in future. On the basis of clear signs and symptoms, the nurse will be able to identify an actual diagnosis – a disease that really exists (Klossner, 2006). J. R. Weber  (2005) offers a classification of nursing diagnoses arranged according to the following 12 functional health patterns: health perception, nutrition, elimination, activity, sexuality, sleep, sensory-perception, cognition, relationship, self-concept, coping, and value-belief.

To interview the family, this paper suggests three open-ended, family-focused questions for each of the health patterns mentioned above (Appendix). The interrogated group comprises two family members. It is a married couple that consists of an adult male aged 26 and his wife, who is two years younger. They have recently celebrated the first wedding anniversary. Previously, the young people lived together with husband’s parents. Currently, they moved into a separate apartment. The spouses do not have children, however, they are gradually preparing for pregnancy. The obtained data was organized according to functional health patters. Let us consider the findings.

Values, Health Perception

Both spouses described their states of health as satisfactory. They are convinced they have a fit lifestyle, because they are in a good physical shape. Since the couple is planning pregnancy, the partners do not smoke and refuse from consuming alcohol.

Nutrition

The results of survey have uncovered that the family receives enough carbohydrates and fat, but the quantity of protein is lacking. Thus, spouses must enrich their ration with meat, fish, cheese, nuts and seeds. In addition, they should eat more fruits and vegetables. It is also recommended to increase the portion of water by 0, 5 liter per day. The couple has got problems with teeth because of scarcity of dairy products in daily nutrition.

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Sleep and Rest

In average, the family sleeps eight hours every day that is within normal limits. The sleep is continual during the whole night. Both applicants have plentiful rest. They look fresh and enthusiastic.
Elimination

The interviewed do not experience any problems or difficulties with elimination process. They do not feel discomfort or pain in gastrointestinal tract as well.

Activity and Physical Exercise

The attitude towards physical trainings of family members somewhat differs. On the one hand, the husband has regular morning exercises and works out in the gym twice a week. On the other hand, the wife is less active. Her trainings are irregular and random. The partners admit they must spend more hours outdoors.

Cognitive

In general, relatives do not observe difficulties in memorizing information. However, when they were tired or worn-out, upsetting situations with thought processes happened. These were mostly failing to recall the words or misuse and misspell them. Suchlike accidents rarely occurred and could be explained by insufficient concentration.

Sensory-Perception

Presently, spouses do not notice any deficiencies, pain, or discomfort in the work of sensory organs. All perception systems function properly.

Self-Perception

Both partners acknowledge that they have to work hard to keep fit and healthy. Definitely, they are ready to correct mistakes in their usual lifestyle in order to feel better. The couple mutually recognizes personal achievements of other half.

Role Relationship

Although a young family does not yet have parental responsibilities, the spouses successfully cope with their social roles and domestic duties. The practice of living under the same roof is not so long, therefore, husband and wife have minor conflicts. Nonetheless, the misunderstandings are commonly resolved.

Sexuality

The partners have normal sexual relations. They did not experience any diseases, troublesome situations, or falls in this sphere of family life.

Coping

No violence cases and suicide attempts were detected in the interviewed household. The couple positively copes with stress and difficulties. They either solve the problem together or turn to the help of their dearest and nearest.

Conclusion

The family members answered the suggested questions collectively. Most frequently, their reactions were unanimous with little deviations. The obtained data shows that a newborn family strives for perfection and promotion of healthy way of life. Thus, such wellness diagnosis as a health-seeking behavior can be surely defined. Unfortunately, the food ration of applicants is not appropriately organized. It provides substantial grounds for the following risk diagnoses: risk for imbalanced nutrition (less than body requirements) and risk for imbalanced fluid volume. Moreover, the actual diagnosis of both spouses is altered dentition. The cognitive pattern reveals a risk diagnosis for disturbed thought processes. In other functional health aspects, one can set only wellness diagnoses: readiness for enhanced activity-exercise and breathing, relationship, role performance and family coping. From these arguments, one might conclude that the interviewed married couple has got all chances to move to a higher level of self-development.