Utilize Gordon,s Functional Health Pattern effectively while assessing a
patient.
Today on 12/9/24 I was assigned in female surgical ward where I assess a patient
named farzana her age was 55 years. She come with the complain of lower back pain
and right leg pain with co-morbid hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Her medical
diagnosed was disc bulge.
I go to the patients bed and ask for her permission to ask some question. When
the patient allowed me I start asking question according to the functional health
Pattern. The points written below are the answers which the patient give me on my
questions. Firstly I asked her about:
Health perception: The patient was well aware of her current disease and her
co morbids. She was taking medication of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. She
said that she usually don’t visit to hospital for any routine check up and do home
remdies if she become ill. She also said that the co morbids she have are in their
hereditary and she got them from her father but she is taking medication because
she do not want to suffer much.
Nutritional pattern: The patient state that she usually eat a low fat and low
sugar diet because of her health concerns and drink almost 7 to 8 glass of water
daily.
and in hospital she was on IV hydration and diet was normal. On physically assesing
we can also see that her skin turgor was good means that she is hydrated and her
Skin colour and texture was also good.
Elimination pattern: The patient stated that her micturation pattern is normal
but some time she feel urinary incontinence and constipation on and off and in
hospital she go to washroom by her self amd she don’t feel any changing in her
elimination pattern due to hospitilization.
Activity exercise pattern: The patient state that she don’t do any type of
exercise or activity but she do her house chores by her self . on assessing I observed
that the patient body mass index is normal according to her age. The patient was
also mobile and can do her work by herself but now she need some assisstance due
to her back nad leg pain.
Sleep and rest pattern: The patient state that her sleep pattern is normal she
used to sleep for 6 to 7 hours but from past few days her sleep pattern was
disturbed because of pain and now also she cant sleep well because of the
hospitilzation.
Cognitive perceptual pattern: The patient was orinted to the time, place and
people her GCS level was 15/15. she was very calm and responsive while talking to
me and she was choosing her words appropriately. She has no any memory problem
because I have introduce myself one time and she had remembered my name.
Self perception: The patient describe herself as groomed and confident
Personality she said that she perceive her self as an impotant personality in her
family because her all family members are dependent on her she is the care taker of
her family. But now due to the pain she was becoming dependent for her daily work
she was feeling awkward but her family was supporting her so much which make her
hope ful.
Role and relationship: The patient lives in a nuclear family with her husband and
three children. Her husband and her older son are the bread earners of the family.
She also has good relation with neighbours and quite social with them but she loves
to spend time with her family. During hospitilization we also observe that her family
members were very supportive and they were very concern about her health.
Sexuality and reproductive pattern: The patient exactly doesn’t remember
when her menstruation cycle started but she said that she always have regular
periods and doesnot feel any pain while menses. She had menopause 3 years ago.
She has three children one son and two daughters her husband is alive and she had a
satisfactory marital status with her spouse.
Coping/stress pattern: The patient stated that she sometime feel stressed about
her health because due to her health concern she become very picky in her food
when she face a stress full situation her family help her to cope with it. She doesn’t
have any addiction to any thing like tobacco, pan or any drugs. During her
hospitilization period she was very calm and she was sharing her problems with her
daughter and also with us.
Value belief pattern: The patient stated that she has a strong belief in reciting
tasbeeh and namaz. she has a strong belief in her religion. She value her family so
much and preach them about her belief.
