Interview a peer to simulate a cultural & family assessment interview

Please indicate: Individual interviewed consents to interview and understands no identifying factors will be disclosed and information will be kept confidential for the purposes of student cultural assessment interview practice.

Box 9-4 Potter & Perry Nursing Assessment Questions

We can provide an interpreter for you in your preferred language. Please let me know if this is your preference.

Open-Ended

• What illness/condition/health problem(s) are you encountering?
• How do you want your provider and nursing staff to help you with your problem?
• Tell me how your beliefs affect your views on medical treatment choices and your willingness to receive care.
• Did you have this problem before?
• Is there someone with whom you want us to talk about your care?
• How different is this problem from the one you had previously?
• What is the difference between what your care provider and nursing staff are doing and what you think they should be doing for you?

Ethnohistory

Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P. & Hall, A. (2017). Fundamentals of nursing (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

• What is your ethnic background or ancestry?
• For patients who are first- or second-generation immigrants: How long have you/your parents resided in this country?
• Tell me why you/your family left your homeland.
• How different is your life here from back home?
• What is your legal name?
• How do you prefer to be addressed?
• What is your preferred pronoun?
• What is your gender?”
• In the past have your sexual partners been men, women, or both?
• What is your current relationship status?
• Who lives with you?
• Whom do you consider members of your family?

Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P. & Hall, A. (2017). Fundamentals of nursing (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

• Where do other members of your family live?
• Who makes the decisions for you or your family?
• To whom do you go outside of your family for support?
• What expectations do you have of your family members and support people? Are there different expectations for family members and support people of different ages and genders?
• What is your main source of income?
• If employed: What do you do for a living?
• What do you think caused your health problem?
• How does this problem affect or how has it affected your life and your family?
• How do you treat this problem at home?
• What other health problems do you have at this time that you want to talk about?

Language and Communication

What language(s) do you speak at home? What is your preferred method of language for receiving health information and instructions? Do you prefer a language interpreter to be provided for you while you are in our care?

What language(s) do you use to read and write?

Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P. & Hall, A. (2017). Fundamentals of nursing (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

“English”

• How should we address you or what should we call you?
• Which kinds of communication upset or offend you?
• What do you do to keep yourself well?
• What do you do to show someone you care?
• How do you take care of sick family members?
• Which caregivers do you seek when you are sick?
• How different is what the providers of care do from what your family does for you when you are sick?

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Box 10.3 Family Assessment Questions

Family Structure - Determines members of the family, relationships among family members, and the context of the family

• Who are the members of your family? How are they related to you?
• Who lives with you?
• Has anyone recently moved out of your home?
• Is there anyone who doesn’t live with you whom you consider to be family?

Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P. & Hall, A. (2017). Fundamentals of nursing (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

Developmental Assessment

Determines how families adapt during predictable and unpredictable changes and difficult times

• What transitions/changes (e.g., recent death, divorce, children leaving/returning home, new births) has your family experienced most recently?
• Are there any members of your family who are having problems (e.g., difficulty in school, acute or chronic illnesses) that are currently affecting your family?
• What aspects of your family do you enjoy the most?
• What plans have you or your family made to care for family members who are in poor health?

Family Functioning

Addresses how individuals behave in relation to one another; includes instrumental aspects, which are routine activities (e.g., making meals, doing laundry), and expressive aspects (e.g., communication, problem solving, roles, influence and power, beliefs)

• Describe a recent problem and how your family resolved it.
• Who is the caregiver for children or older adults?

Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P. & Hall, A. (2017). Fundamentals of nursing (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

• What are your family beliefs about health/illness, end-of-life care, and advance directives?
• What does your family mean to you?
• How does your family celebrate holidays, birthdays, weddings?
• How do the members of your family manage their health? How do they manage care of a sick family member?
• When someone is ill, who is the caregiver? Is it always the same person?
• What coping strategies does your family use (e.g., exercise, avoidance, overeating, arguing)?

Reflection for the SN- answer the following:

1. How did the interview flow?
2. What would you differently to improve interview skills?
3. How did you feel throughout this process?

Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P. & Hall, A. (2017). Fundamentals of nursing (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

• What are your family beliefs about health/illness, end-of-life care, and advance directives?
• How does your family celebrate holidays, birthdays, weddings?
• How do the members of your family manage their health? How do they manage care of a sick family member?
• When someone is ill, who is the caregiver? Is it always the same person?
• What coping strategies does your family use (e.g., exercise, avoidance, overeating, arguing)?

Reflection for the SN- answer the following:

• How did the interview flow?
• How did you feel throughout this process?

Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P. & Hall, A. (2017). Fundamentals of nursing (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.