NURS1004 Health Assessment Assignment: Interview Critique & Summary

This assignment is a health assessment report, focusing on an interview critique and summary. The student interviewed an 83-year-old man named Robert Walker, analyzing his life span development through Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, concluding he is in the maturity stage. The report identifies potential health issues, including hearing loss and bronchitis, and discusses the relevant anatomy and physiological processes. The student reflects on the learning experience, highlighting the importance of patient care, family support, and the patient's role in maintaining their health. The assignment includes a bibliography of relevant sources.

NURS1004 Physical dimensions of being human
Health assessment assignment
Part 2 Interview critique & summary (1500 words)
Student Name, FAN and ID: (Please type into the white areas below)
Student Name,
FAN
ID:
Introduction of the client:
The client who has been interviewed is Robert Walker, aged 83, Australian citizen is a
resident of 15 Louis Avenue Brighton. Robert used to work as a technical person in a
brewery and as a part of his job role, he has been found to drink alcohol on a regular basis
apart from his own habit of drinking alcohol. He has no other habits that can be a reason of
his ill health. He has not been diagnosed with any kind of severe diseases but he once had an
operation due to obstruction in bowel. He is also very caring and takes care of his health by
visiting dentists and hearing doctors once or twice a year for regular check-ups. There has
been no such family history as well that would affect his health directly. HE has been
suffering from influenza and cold but recently, he is fit and fine there is no such complaints
for regarding his health. He lives alone but he has two daughters who give him complete
support and care in any need. He also takes care of himself by regularly exercising that has
made him fit enough to do all kinds of activities like transferring from bed to chair or taking
food and medicine on time. He is a retired person now and receives little grant from the
Government as his wife is blind. He is rather independent and has little trouble only in
hearing as a result of the old age.
Summary of interview data relevant to Life span development using Erikson's stages of
psychosocial development:
Considering the Erikson’s stages of the psychosocial development, it can be said that Robert
has crossed the adulthood stage and is at the maturity stage right now, considering his age to
be 83 years. He is mature enough to take care of himself and this is evident from the fact that
he takes good care of himself when it comes to his diet or physical exercise. In fact, he also
remembers the names of the medicines and the reasons of taking the medicines. This shows
that he is careful enough to take care of himself (Malone et al. 2014). Also, he has a good
memory with his beloved wife who is admitted in a nursing home because she is suffering
from dementia. It has also been found that there is no kind of ego integrity or despair in him
and that he loves to remain in a good and healthy state. He also loves his daughters and that
he shares a good relationship with them. He has lived his life and has fulfilled all his wishes

and thus, there is no kind of guilt or unproductive approach from his end that could have
created greater misery for him. Therefore, by expanding the personality development across
the lifespan of the patient, it can be said that he has been able to manage all kinds of
psychological or physical conflicts that have taken place in his life and that he has been able
to perform all the life duties that he is responsible for.
Identification of actual or potential health issues from interview aligned with physical
development age related changes.
There has been no such sign when Robert can be seen as really ill or is suffering from any
health issues that are found among the old aged people. It has been found that Robert faces
difficulties in hearing and so needed hearing aid at times as well. Apart from this, he takes
care of his health by regularly exercising and doing his own chores. It has also been found
that Robert also has bronchitis and this is the reason that he suffers from cold and cough at
several times. There is no issue related to the issues of his bones and teeth and it is seen that
Robert is careful enough to take his medicine on time. It has also been observed that he is
careful enough to take his medicine on time and that his food habit and fitness activities have
helped him to remain in a physically good state.
Select one (1) health assessment finding and identify the relevant anatomy and describe
the physiological process that underpins the finding
As identified, that the patient was suffering from bronchitis as a result of which, he always
had suffered from the illnesses like cough and cold. The anatomy of bronchitis can be taken
into consideration in this regards. The inflammation of the bronchi in the lungs as a result of
which, the patient has to suffer from discomfort and inability to breathe freely is called
bronchitis. Bronchitis is usually accompanied by regular cough and cold. From the interview,
it has been understood that Robert faces problems in inhaling and that he also delivers
sputum. The various causes that have been identified for bronchitis can be related to
excessive smoking or by inhaling toxic gases from the mines and other fumes or dust that
might create irritation in the lungs and the breathing tracts of the person and the person has to
suffer a lot for breathing (Dori et al. 2014).
Considering the cause or the physiology of the patient suffering from bronchitis, it can be
said that acute bronchitis actually results in the inflammation of the bronchi of the lungs. As a
result of this, the cough gets coagulated in the lungs and the patient suffers from congested
chest and inability to breathe properly. This might also be a cause of some viral infection or
any other issue that creates a kind of irritation in the nose or the respiratory passage of the
patient.

Apart from the bronchitis, it has also been found that Robert was suffering from loss of
hearing as well. Considering the anatomy of the loss of hearing, it has to be mentioned that
the ear has three specific parts that are responsible for the mechanism of the hearing. The
sound waves are passed from the external environment to the internal ears following the path
of the ear and then the person is able to listen or hear (Itkin et al. 2017). It is by the means of
some vibrations that the person is able to hear the sound. In the old age, this ability of a
person gets reduced and as a result of this, the hearing ability of the person is reduced.
What have you learnt from this assignment?
I have learnt a lot from the interview and the related studies. I have understood the fact that
with the increase in age, people do develop certain illnesses and health related problems that
cannot be avoided at any circumstances. It is at that point of time, the family members of the
patients have to take care of the patient. In fact there are many care homes and nursing homes
where the patients are taken in order to give them the care and security. Thus, the role of the
social carer is important in this respect. While interviewing Robert, it has been understood
that he is a very charming person and he also loves to take care of himself rather than
depending on others for the safety and care. Thus, I have also learnt that it depends on the
patients rather than the carer to remain in a healthy state of mind.
I have also understood that it should be the prime intension of the patient to remain in a state
of good health and enjoy the life. There will be situations when a person will have to suffer
from some illness or diseases but that should never stop a person to live his life. The family
members and other carers have to play important role in a patient’s life in order to make sure
that the patient receives the care love that he deserves.

Bibliography:
Dori, Y., Keller, M.S., Rychik, J. and Itkin, M., 2014. Successful treatment of plastic
bronchitis by selective lymphatic embolization in a Fontan patient. Pediatrics, 134(2),
pp.e590-e595.
Dunkel, C.S. and Harbke, C., 2017. A review of measures of Erikson’s stages of psychosocial
development: Evidence for a general factor. Journal of Adult Development, 24(1), pp.58-76.
Itkin, M., Dori, Y. and Piccoli, D., 2017. Protein-losing enteropathy: redefining the anatomy
and pathophysiology and providing novel therapy. Journal of Vascular and Interventional
Radiology, 28(2), pp.S135-S136.
Malone, J.C., Liu, S.R., Vaillant, G.E., Rentz, D.M. and Waldinger, R.J., 2016. Midlife
Eriksonian psychosocial development: Setting the stage for late-life cognitive and emotional
health. Developmental psychology, 52(3), p.496.