Family health history significant in nursing: Nursing is one of the most important sectors of healthcare and plays a huge role in not only caring for people when they are sick but also in preventing illnesses. A core component of any role in this profession is nursing practice. This refers to the practical application of a nurse’s knowledge and skills when caring for patients in a real-world setting.
Although a lot goes into the practice of nursing, taking time to get to know someone’s personal and family health history is vital. This is especially true if you plan to move into an autonomous family nurse practitioner role and complete a course such as the University of Indianapolis’s DNP-FNP online program to earn your credentials. Working as a family nurse practitioner involves finding out all you can about a patient in order to treat them properly.
But why is family and personal health history so crucial in this respect?
Why is personal health history significant for nursing practice?
As we move through life, we build up a detailed picture of our own health and this is recorded on our personal health record. This can include our lifestyle, any serious injuries we have suffered in the past or any conditions we have been treated for.
Personal health history is key for nursing practice because it ensures healthcare professionals have the latest information to work with. This gives them all the data they need to provide the best care and look after patients in a safe, controlled way.
Knowing a patient’s personal health history can also provide clues as to what may be wrong, should a nurse notice someone they are treating is in distress. It can also help them see which medications a patient is on before prescribing any and handle those with a long history of health complications with even greater compassion.
Why is family health history important in nursing practice?
In addition to the personal health history of patients being important, family health history is also significant. This refers to knowing the general health history within someone’s family and any common conditions which might have occurred in the past. While this can include a wider view, it is normally focused on close family members, such as parents, siblings and grandparents.
These kinds of details help nurses provide better care to those they look after and are essential for good nursing practice. They can also highlight patterns of medical disorder in a family and help nurses flag them up to those they treat. This in turn enables patients to take steps to prevent these conditions occurring or find ways to manage them. If people combine this knowledge with the best health and fitness tips, it can help them stay in better shape overall.
Personal and family histories of health lead to better care
It is evident that family and personal health histories are important for nursing practice. Without the essential information both offer, nurses would not be able to provide the best care or have all the details needed when treating someone. In addition, knowing the full health history of a patient can alert nurses if they are allergic to any medicines and aid in quicker diagnosis of issues.