Knowing one’s family health history provides families, as well as family health nurses knowledge regarding a patient’s risk for certain diseases (NIH, 2016). As families not only share genes, but their environment, and lifestyle, a family nurse must also consider non-biological factors when completing a family health history (NIH, 2016). The purpose of this paper is to discuss my findings after completing a genetic family history assessment, including three generations, as well as family nursing interventions that may be implemented based on the assessment. Choosing this particular family was based on the knowledge, one member has cystic fibrosis.
Family Members and Health History The family’s three generations include the grandparents, …show more content…
The maternal grandfather, a college professor with a history of hypertension, died at age sixty-five, due to colon cancer. The maternal grandmother, age seventy, is a retired elementary school teacher living with a history of hypertension. Their only child, a daughter, age forty-three, is unemployed, with no known medical history. The youngest son and daughter of the families are not married, however, live together and had one child who is now twenty-three years of age, diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of four. This young man is neither married nor currently dating, and is currently completing his higher …show more content…
Nursing interventions identified regarding the young man include offering individual counseling and education regarding fertility testing, as well as further assessing his outlook regarding his future (Kaakinen et al., 2015). There is an opportunity to address concerns with other family members, including their family history of colon cancer, providing them options to explore further and address their risk (Kaakinen et al., 2015). Other nursing interventions including education regarding carriers of cystic fibrosis, the pros, and cons for the young man in pursuing fertility testing, his right to make the decision, as well as disclosure of the information (Kaakinen et al., 2015). Moreover, the family’s culture must be considered, but there is an opportunity to facilitate family discussions regarding the young man’s fertility status (Kaakinen et al., 2015). Finally, other nursing interventions include encouraging each family member to address their health, for instance ensuring the grandmother’s hypertension is under good control, as well as offering the father smoking cessation
Family Members and Health History The family’s three generations include the grandparents, …show more content…
The maternal grandfather, a college professor with a history of hypertension, died at age sixty-five, due to colon cancer. The maternal grandmother, age seventy, is a retired elementary school teacher living with a history of hypertension. Their only child, a daughter, age forty-three, is unemployed, with no known medical history. The youngest son and daughter of the families are not married, however, live together and had one child who is now twenty-three years of age, diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of four. This young man is neither married nor currently dating, and is currently completing his higher …show more content…
Nursing interventions identified regarding the young man include offering individual counseling and education regarding fertility testing, as well as further assessing his outlook regarding his future (Kaakinen et al., 2015). There is an opportunity to address concerns with other family members, including their family history of colon cancer, providing them options to explore further and address their risk (Kaakinen et al., 2015). Other nursing interventions including education regarding carriers of cystic fibrosis, the pros, and cons for the young man in pursuing fertility testing, his right to make the decision, as well as disclosure of the information (Kaakinen et al., 2015). Moreover, the family’s culture must be considered, but there is an opportunity to facilitate family discussions regarding the young man’s fertility status (Kaakinen et al., 2015). Finally, other nursing interventions include encouraging each family member to address their health, for instance ensuring the grandmother’s hypertension is under good control, as well as offering the father smoking cessation