A guide to taking a patient's history, Clinical skills: 28 - Essay Example

Summary of the Article The focus of the article is on the process of taking a history from a patient. According to the article, the process of taking a history from a patient incorporates preparing the environment, communication skills, and the significance of order. In addition, the article looks at the basis for taking a thorough history of the patient. In addition, the article employs words, for example, history taking, communication, and assessment to investigate the subject at hand. These significant words are found on the basis of the subject headings from the British Nursing Index.

Also, the article has been exposed to double-blind evaluation. The article also explains the health assessment procedure and discusses a number of rationales. According to the article, taking a patient history is debatably the most essential component of patient assessment, and is being progressively more carried out by nurses. The health assessment procedure encourages patients to give their description of the problem and offers vital information for the health expert. The article also asserts that it is probable that history taking will be carried out by a specialist nurse or a nurse practitioner, even though it can be tailored to a large number of nursing assessments.

In addition, the history is only a single area of patient assessment and is likely to be carried out in association with different information gathering methods, for example, the nursing assessment and single assessment process. The article provides several general rules to pursue when collecting information from patients. The rules include always start with setting up the environment, introducing oneself, beginning the purpose, and obtaining consent. After this has been accomplished, it is significant to establish the identity of the patient and how they would like to be addressed.

This article gives the reader the basis in which to take a comprehensive and complete history from a patient. Also, there are health assessment tools and strategies which have been addressed in this article. They include questioning techniques, Calgary Cambridge framework, including the perspective of the patient, and looking at past medical history. Questioning techniques which are appropriate will make sure that there is nothing that is overlooked when taking a history from a patient. It is significant to begin with open-ended queries and take time to listen to the accounts of the patients.

This will give a wide range of information, even if not in an orderly manner. The article asserts that direct questioning may be utilized to ask about the succession of events, how things stand at present, and any other symptoms which may be linked with probable differential risk factors and diagnoses. The Calgary Cambridge framework is perceived to be essential as it promotes continuous learning and refining of skills of consultation for the practitioner and teacher and is a perfect model for both experienced and novice nurses.

Including the perspective of the patient will promote interaction instead of a transmission which is one-way. Setting up via shared decision making will help in understanding and involving patients in the process. Finally, the article states that looking at past medical history is also significant. When a complete account of the presenting problem has been determined, information