I am writing in respond to the article titled “The Correlation between the Health Assessment and Forensics Nursing.” My job is performing assessments on patients for surgery, which in some way is similar to an assessment used in forensics nursing. I am not involved in forensics, but have read materials related to the assessment. I totally agree that as soon as I meet my patient, I start my assessment based on appearance, speech, skin color and facial expressions. Anesthesia assessment involves collecting all types of data that identifies the patient’s physiologic status, risk factors, knowledge and past health and anesthesia history. The most difficult challenge is keeping the patient focused and answering questions completely without omitting details, I can associate this also with a forensic assessment.
Once the subjective data is obtained, we do gather objective data to be complete. An example would be labs, EKG and x-rays which is also used in an investigation.
Subjective and objective data are the two primary components in performing a health assessment, whether it is any type. They both work together, if patient is unresponsive or unable to communicate, it does present a challenge. I than rely on family history or previous medical records. I agree with the last item in the article, “giving our clients a voice”, practicing as a nurse you must always assume the role as a patient advocate. Communication to physicians and other members of the health team is to ensure putting the patient’s best interest first. That is one reason I choice to become a nurse.
Original Post:
November 1, 2007
I think that performing a health assessment is very similar to a forensics investigation. The forensics investigator starts gathering evidence as soon as he enters the scene. The fractioned also gathers evidence as soon as she enters the examination room. Does the client answer questions appropriately, is her posture straight, is she tearful, guarding a certain area of her body. What about hygiene, is well groomed, or wearing stained, mismatched clothing. The forensics investigator uses many senses while investigating a crime scene. Smell, touch, sight, and the 6th sense about what seems to be not quite right. The fractioned doing the assessment uses the same senses. Smell can clue the fractioned into some diseases, for example some malignancies. The sense that something is not quite right is another skill that the fractioned develops. The client that says she is eating, yet losing weight leads the fractioned to follow-up with other questions. Is the client diabetic, bulimic, or an elderly patient unable to afford food?
The forensics investigator uses laboratory data to support his theories. Laboratory is a tool that the fractioned also uses. Is the chest pain cardiac with elevated cardiac enzymes and EKG changes? Is weight loss due to a malignancy, diabetes, poor nutrition?
Forensics investigation and health assessment share one more very important trait. Forensics investigators give the victim a voice. As health practitioners, our clients too, will often need us to give them a voice. This includes the very young, the very old, the cognitively impaired, and the victims of abuse.
tags
forensic nursing chronicles
forensic nursing
forensic nursing theories
forensic nursing diagnosis
forensic nursing assessment
forensic nursing history
Forensic Nursing Process
Health Assessment
nursing health assessment
Forensic Nursing Chronicles 