Winona State University

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Department of Nursing

Nursing 435
Holistic Assessment

Virtual Family Health Assessment Project (100 points)

Purpose: The purpose of the virtual family health history project is to correlate
subjective data (provided by the primary adult individual in the family) with the
objective data from the physical examination and laboratory studies to form the data
base. The primary adult individual is the person in the family that you will select to focus
on in depth for this assignment. All other family members are important only as they
impact the primary adult individual. The data base is used to make a judgment and/or
diagnosis about the health status, issues, and/or coping of the primary adult individual
in the family.

The virtual family health history project should reflect: (1) a complete picture of the
primary adult individual’s past and present health; (2) present the individual holistically;
(3) reflect how the individual interacts with the environment; integrating strengths,
weaknesses, and coping skills; (4) lifestyle; (5) chronological detail; and (6) its relevance
as a screening tool.

The virtual family health history project has three components:

1. Case Study Development (25 points)

2. Health History (50 points)
3. Analysis of Data (25 points)

Process: Includes subjective and objective data.

1. Develop a case study of a family to be used as a base of information for the

project.
2. Write a comprehensive health history based on developed case study.
3. Analyze, with justification, the health history.
 VIRTUAL FAMILY HEALTH ASSESSMENT PROJECT
Family health assessment is crucial part of an individual and their family health.

Nursing profession is well respected profession with professional expertise to conduct

family health assessment that can help to impact on individual and family (Falkner,

2018). A family health assessment can also help the nurse understand more about the

culture of the chosen family and gain insight on health care practices, beliefs, and values.

Family represents a group of people who are related to each other by blood and relation,

live in a household with similar beliefs, values and customs that are passed through

families for generations (Mantelo Cecilio, Sturiao dos Santos, Silva Marcon, 2014, p.

494). Members of a family has a great influence on each other. To promote care and the

ability for one to manage their own chronic health condition, complete understanding of

family structure can help health professionals, such as Nurses, to design a care plan for

the patient that will enable the patient to be independent and able to manage their own

health. This can allow the care to be incorporated within the family setting to improve

overall health of the whole family.

COMPONENTS:

A. CASE STUDY
I interviewed an somali family, which migrated from somali about 15 years ago.

Family consist of 4 members, Father Omar (55), mother, Lul (50), two children hassan

(15), and fardowsa (12). The Omar’s are a middle class, somali family, who values their

rich somali culture and tradition. They practice their religion: islam, attending islamic

temple with their kids weekly on fridays to keep their kids engaged and in touch with

their muslim and somali heritage. Although, they have embraced the American way of
life in many ways but to preserve their culture, Mr. Omar believes that its important for

their kids to speak their native language and be involved in the somali community.

1. Address family history

Draw a genogram (Identifying health issues)

2. Describe three - four (past/present) health problems of the primary adult

in which you will focus the health history.

B. HEALTH HISTORY (of primary adult)

Mr. Omar believes that good health is important to their family. Although Mr. Omar
exercises regularly and his work is also physically demanding, but due to a family
history, he does have high cholesterol, diabetes and some liver function issues for which
he does take medication regularly and tries to follow a good diet regimen. His wife and
two children both claim to have no medical issues. Mr. Omar and his family do visit their
doctor for their annual physical exams and immunization for children. Mr. Omar’s kids
are involved in extra curriculum activities such as sports and dance.

2. Present health status

Omar Family enjoys eating traditional somali food with his family. They diet usually
includes chicken, fish, dairy product, vegetables, flour tortillas, rice and some fried food.
Although kids do enjoy eating American food, but Mr. Omar prefers to eat mostly Indian
food on the daily basis. Mrs. Omar mostly cooks the meals at home, but children
occasionally likes to eat outside food. Mr. Omar does try to eat healthy and watch his
diet due to his comorbiditie. Mrs. Omar and kids are generally healthy and limit drinking
carbonated beverages.

3. Functional assessment
Mr. and Mrs. Omar have a good daily routine. The children have their
own bedrooms and generally sleep by 10pm since both Mr. and Mrs. Omar work. They
drop their kids to school in the morning and head for work. Mr. and Mrs. Omar usually
get between 6-7 hours of sleep and kids between 6-8 hours. Family seem to function
normal with no other issues. Other medical issues such as sensory deficit or hearing loss
were identified. Bowl and bladder regimen of the family also seems normal. Cognitive
and emotional functioning seems to be normal except some barriers were noted to persist
in expressing emotions due to their culture.

C. ANALYZE THE VIRTUAL DATA

1. Correlate case study and health history

2. Determine:
a. Strengths within the data
 b. Weaker areas within the data
c. Educational needs
d. Health promotion needs
e. Issues needing further referral and follow-up
f. Cultural needs, issues, strengths
g. Spiritual needs, issues, strengths
3. Justify your analysis