NRS 410 Discuss how functional patterns help a nurse understand the current and past state of health for a patient
NRS 410 Discuss how functional patterns help a nurse understand the current and past state of health for a patient
NRS 410 Discuss how functional patterns help a nurse understand the current and past state of health for a patient
Assisting patients with elimination is an essential aspect of the nurse’s role and has important medical significance as well as psychosocial effects on the client’s quality of life (Dal Molin et al., 2018). As the pattern of healthy bowel movements and urination vary in different patient groups, the management for each patient population may differ. Nurses need to assist with healthy elimination patterns to ensure patients are having regular soft bowel movements and adequate urination and to identify abnormal patterns such as flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, incontinence, fecal impaction, hemorrhoids as well as polyuria, anuria, and other abnormalities which can be signs of underlying medical conditions (Dal Molin et al., 2018). The nursing team must provide strong supportive communication when assisting clients with elimination. A study found that the nurse’s attitudes toward excretion-related nursing care strongly influenced the use of a toilet and the physical functions of the elderly (Dal Molin et al., 2018). Patients may be reluctant to discuss their bowel and bladder problems due to embarrassment. It is vital that nurses maintain open communication and empathy with their clients and ask questions as well as physically assess patients for signs of bladder and bowel irregularities.
References
Dal Molin, A., Gatta, C., Boggio Gilot, C., Ferrua, R., Cena, T., Manthey, M., & Croso, A. (2018). The impact of primary nursing care pattern: Results from a before-after study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(5-6), 1094-1102. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14135
Functional health pattern refers to a technique that was devised by Marjory Gordon to be utilized by nurses in the professional process of providing the patient a more detailed medical assessment (Gaewkhiew et al., 2020). The mentioned assessment entails taking medical history and running necessary examinations. When it comes to running a database and evaluation of a diagnosis, these assessments comes in very handy since a nursing history provides all the functional patterns of the given patient. The functional health patterns are often acquired from the patient or in some cases where the patient is not in a sound state this information is attained from family, friends, or any other caregiver. The functional patterns avails both the subjective and objective data of a patient and thus can be said to be enough to help a nurse determine the past and the current state of health of a patient.
An instance of an illness where functional health pattern can come in useful is the elimination issue of kidney failure. During a kidney failure, the kidney gets impaired failing to sift the waste materials from the blood. These waste materials pile up after some time resulting in a disproportion in the biochemical proportions of the blood raising clinical manifestations that prompts one to seek for care immediately (JA, 2017). Among the symptoms of this illness are fatigue, chest pain, angina, confusion, weariness, fluid retention, swollen feet and eyes, and minimized urine production among others. The available treatment options of this condition includes medicinal and natural processes such as dieting and exercises. The above methods reflects on applying the functional health plans patterns in helping a nurse understand the current and past health state of a patient.
References
Gaewkhiew, P., Sabbah, W., & Bernabé, E. (2020). Functional dentition and changes in dietary patterns among older adults in Thailand. Public Health Nutrition, 24(14), 4556-4563. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980020004279
JA, J. (2017). New ABC Chronic Kidney Disease Classification. International Journal Of Nephrology And Kidney Failure, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.16966/2380-5498.144
Click here to ORDER an A++ paper from our Verified MASTERS and DOCTORATE WRITERS NRS 410 Discuss how functional patterns help a nurse understand the current and past state of health for a patient:
The nurse’s focus during data collection is different from that of the physician and other health team members; however, it complements these approaches and encourages collaboration among the health care providers, as each member brings his or her own focus to the situation.
Obtaining a health history, as a part of a thorough nursing assessment, is the first step in the nursing process. The health history is conducted to determine the individual’s state of wellness or illness and is best accomplished as part of a planned interview. The use of a health history guide (such as the functional health patterns created by Gordon) helps in obtaining patient information and directing the course of the interview. According to Khatiban et al, “each of the patterns consists of different questions to reflect the uniqueness of the individual patient, as well as to assess her/his strengths and weaknesses, which could link to the diagnostic categories” (2019).
An example that can be used is a patient being admitted with constipation. This patient may be at risk of bowel obstruction due to inability to pass stool, as discussed by Gholizadeh et al (2021). During the functional health discovery, concentration will mainly be in the areas of NUTRITIONAL- METABOLIC PATTERN & ELIMINATION PATTERN. The questions from these two areas mainly establish the patient’s daily habits regarding food and fluid consumption; their bowel and bladder elimination patterns; any excessive and unintentional weight loss and/or weight gain; and any food or eating discomforts. The patient’s response to these questions can help the nurse formulate a nursing diagnosis and appropriate interventions to help manage the constipation.

REFERENCES
Gholizadeh, E., Keshteli, A. H., Esmaillzadeh, A., Feizi, A., & Adibi, P. (2021). The relationship between functional constipation and major dietary patterns in Iranian adults: Findings from the large cross-sectional population based SEPAHAN study. Preventive Nutrition and Food Science, 26(2), 146–156. https://doi.org/10.3746/pnf.2021.26.2.146
Khatiban, M., Tohidi, S., & Shahdoust, M. (2019). The effects of applying an assessment form based on the health functional patterns on nursing student’s attitude and skills in developing the nursing process. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 6(3), 329–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2019.06.004
Understanding functional health patterns are crucial to having a thorough knowledge of patients’ current health status, at-risk behavior, and informative health history. All these functional health patterns can dictate whether a patient is at risk for health diseases or is taking preventive measures to not acquire chronic diseases. For instance, studies have shown not getting the appropriate amount of sleep puts an individual at risk for hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac dysthymias (Books et al., 2020). If an individual is required to work the night shift, like some nurses, it can even put them at risk for obesity (Books et. al., 2020). Since such a population requires stimulants to stay awake, this also increases their chance for various health effects (Books et al., 2020). Specifically to the elimination pattern to the liver, health patterns such as nutrition and activity, and exercise patterns can put an individual at risk for liver failure. For instance, if a patient has a diet high in fatty foods or excessively drinks alcohol can predispose them to illnesses such as fatty liver disease or cirrhosis of the liver (Loomba et. al., 2021)
References
Books, C., Coody, L. C., Kauffman, R., & Abraham, S. (2020). Night shift work and its health effects on nurses. The health care manager, 39(3), 122-127.
Loomba, R., Friedman, S. L., & Shulman, G. I. (2021). Mechanisms and disease consequences of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Cell, 184(10), 2537-2564.
the function nursing patterns, they play a vital role in process of helping the nurse develop an understanding of the past and the current state of health for a patient. Notably, it is using the functional patterns that the nurse can get a comprehensive analysis of the condition of the patient. In that instance, the nurse can be able to administer care which is based on evidence and patient centered. Notably, it is through of functional patterns that the nurse able to conduct a detailed examination and in that case ask the patient questions which bears a huge deal of relevance. In that instance, the nurse will be able to make an informed diagnosis. With such a diagnosis, the nurse will be able to administer the right medication which will be able to treat the patient based on his present and past medical conditions.
Khatiban, M., Tohidi, S., & Shahdoust, M. (2019). The effects of applying an assessment form based on the health functional patterns on nursing student’s attitude and skills in developing the nursing process. International journal of nursing sciences, 6(3), 329–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2019.06.004
The functional patterns, have an essential role in understanding the health status of an individual. They assist in determining the health perception of the patient, the nutritional pattern, the elimination pattern, sleep/rest, mobility, cognitive, sensory, relationship, sexuality, and coping pattern (Whitney, 2018). These are all essential in understanding the health status of the patient. The health status of an individual also requires the nurse to understand the exercise pattern required by an individual as well as the rest pattern (Edelman et al., 2017). Through this assessment, a nurse can identify any areas of teaching or education needed for the patient. For example, when patients have a complexity such as diabetes or obesity, he or she is subjected to a dietary plan as well as the timing of meals. Through an assessment, the nurse may be able to identify what the patients eats on a daily basis and whether or not they are taking their insulin. By carefully evaluating aspects of a patient’s past, may also link past behaviors and habits to the patient’s current health status.
Edelman, C. L., Mandle, C. L., & Kudzma, E. C. (2017). Health promotion throughout life span-e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Whitney, S. (2018). Elimination complexities. In Grand Canyon University (Ed.), Pathophysiology:Clinical applications for client health. https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs410v/pathophysiology-clinical-applications-for-client-health/v1.1/#/chapter/3