Building a Health History

Taking a Health History Part 1: Building a Health History: Asking Difficult Questions

 

Much of an archeologist’s work is done under the mantra “proceed with caution.” Archeologists must dutifully secure permissions to access sites. They also must exercise extreme caution when excavating or analyzing in a lab to avoid potential damage to historical artifacts.

Likewise, nurse practitioners must proceed with caution when building a patient’s health history. Important questions can be difficult for both nurse and patient. Care must be taken to approach such questions with dignity, tact, and respect to create an environment conducive to productive conversations. 

 

This Assignment is composed of 2 parts. Part 1 will include a written script for building a health history where you incorporate those difficult questions as well as a video of you assessing a patient with a written reflection for your submission. Part 2 will include a written assessment of the use of screening apps. Both parts will be due at the end of Week 2, the final week of this module.

 

For Part 1 of this Assignment, you will develop a script to be used to interview a volunteer serving in the role of patient. You will then practice an approach to effective interviewing.

 

To prepare:

 

Review the Ewing (2004) questionnaire found in this week’s Learning Resources and consider the difficult questions you might have to ask when you take a patient’s health history.

Review the screening tools found in the Learning Resources and consider how you might use an app or tool to assist in screening.

Review the media programs related to a vaginal exam, pap test, and breast exam.

Review the health history guides and Health History Template found in the Learning Resources and consider how you would create your own script for building a health history.

Select a “volunteer” patient to work with during your self-recorded video and arrange an appropriate time and setting with a volunteer patient to complete your health history. Note: Make sure to submit the Video Release Form located on the Kaltura Media Uploader page located in the course navigation menu.

Create your own script for building a health history and use the Health History Template for guidance (consider the type of language you would use to help your patient be more comfortable). As you create your script, consider the next bullet point and the difficult questions you want to include in your script.

As you work with your patient, include those questions that you would have difficulty asking (number of sexual partners, sexual activity, types of sexual partners, recreational drug use, alcohol use, gender affiliation, age of first intercourse, STD history, reproductive history of pregnancy terminations, etc.)

Review the Kaltura media Uploader tools in the left-hand navigation of Blackboard to guide you as you create your self-recorded video.

Assignment Part 1: (1- to 2-page reflection)

 

Ensure that you have appropriate lighting to record yourself collecting the patient’s health history.

Self-record a video session of you with your volunteer patient (no more than15 minutes) taking a health history and using the script that you created that includes the difficult questions to ask.

In addition to your script for building a health history for this assignment, include a separate section called “Reflection” that includes the following:

A brief summary of your experiences in developing and implementing your script during your health history.

Explanations of what you found difficult when asking these questions. What you found insightful and what would you say or do differently.

Explain how you incorporated the use of an app within your health history.

Reminder: The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/57.htm). All papers submitted must use this formatting.

 

No Assignment submission due this week.

 

By Day 7 of Week 2

 

Submit your Parts 1 and 2 of your Module 1 Assignment by Day 7 of Week 2.

 

What’s Coming Up in Week 2?

 

Photo Credit: [BrianAJackson]/[iStock / Getty Images Plus]/Getty Images

Next week, you continue to explore common health screening but more specifically, how technology tools can support your screening process when working with women and/or LGBTQ+ individuals. You also examine the elements of gynecologic history and the recommended screenings.

Week 2: Knowledge Check

 

In Week 2, you will experience your first Knowledge Check which covers the topics from Weeks 1 and 2 of Module 1. Please refer to the Week 2 Knowledge Check Assignment for further details related to the topics covered. Plan your time accordingly.