Fundamentals of Nursing Q 125
Nurse Patrick is acquiring information from a client in the emergency department. Which is an example of biographic information that may be obtained during a health history?
A. The chief complaint
B. Past health status
C. History immunizations
D. Location of an advance directive
Correct Answer: D. Location of an advance directive
Biographic information may include name, address, gender, race, occupation, and location of a living will or durable power of attorney for health care. Biographic data usually include information that identifies the client, such as name, address, phone number, gender, and who provided the information—the client or significant others. The client’s birth date, Social Security number, medical record number, or similar identifying data may be included in the biographic data section. The chief complaint, past health status, and history of immunizations are part of assessing the client’s health and illness patterns.
Option A: Encourage the client to explain the health problem or symptom in as much detail as possible by focusing on the onset, progression, and duration of the problem; signs and symptoms and related problems; and what the client perceives as causing the problem. The client’s answers to the questions provide the nurse with a great deal of information about the client’s problem and especially how it affects the lifestyle and activities of daily living. This helps the nurse to evaluate the client’s insight into the problem and the client’s plans for managing it.
Option B: This portion of the health history focuses on questions related to the client’s past, from the earliest beginnings to the present. These questions elicit data related to the client’s strengths and weaknesses in her health history. The client’s strengths may be physical (e.g., optimal body weight), social (e.g., active in community services), emotional (e.g., expresses feeling openly), or spiritual (often turns to faith for support).
Option C: Information covered in the past health history includes questions about birth, growth, development, childhood diseases, immunizations, allergies, previous health problems, hospitalizations, surgeries, pregnancies, births, previous accidents, injuries, painful experiences, and emotional or psychiatric problems.