NR 304 RUA Health History and Physical Assessment

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-304: Health Assessment II

Prof. Name

Date

RUA Health History and Physical Assessment

Health History: Subjective Data

P.B. is a 56-year-old African American male, originally born in Jamaica in March, who currently resides in New York. His primary language is English. He stands 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 280 pounds. He is married and presented for a routine annual examination. At the time of assessment, P.B. reported no active complaints and defined his understanding of health as the ability to remain free of illness or disease. He currently perceives himself to be in good health.

In terms of lifestyle, P.B. smokes about five cigarettes daily and consumes alcohol approximately three times per week. He denied the use of illicit drugs. He confirmed that his immunizations are current, including his childhood vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccine administered in June 2021, and the influenza vaccine given in October 2021. He has no known history of chronic illnesses, surgical interventions, or allergies. Furthermore, he does not currently take any prescribed or over-the-counter medications.

Regarding family history, P.B.’s father died of cancer in 2019, while his mother passed away in 2018 due to complications of dementia. He reported no family history of skin cancer and denied personal history of skin rashes, bruising, headaches, or head injuries. He does not require corrective lenses and denied any vision changes or ocular discomfort. Similarly, he reported no hearing difficulties, sore throats, respiratory issues, or cardiac abnormalities such as arrhythmias, clots, or edema. He denied gastrointestinal and urinary symptoms.

Neurologically, P.B. denied having seizures, strokes, or generalized weakness. He reported mild musculoskeletal concerns, specifically knee stiffness and discomfort during colder months, but denied prior fractures or serious injuries. His most recent prostate examination was completed in May 2021.

Culturally, P.B. described the use of traditional remedies such as rum mixed with honey to alleviate minor illnesses, reflecting his Jamaican heritage. He identifies as family-oriented and maintains strong connections with loved ones. While he does not attend a formal religious institution, he expressed belief in a higher power, which provides him with comfort and resilience.

According to Erikson’s psychosocial development theory, P.B. is currently navigating the stage of Generativity versus Stagnation. This stage emphasizes the importance of nurturing, guiding, and contributing to future generations, either through family, work, or community roles. His strong family values align with this developmental stage.

Physical Examination: Objective Data

The patient’s vital signs and physical assessment findings are summarized in the table below.

Needs Assessment

Although P.B. is generally in good health, his blood pressure reading of 130/64 mmHg places him in the pre-hypertensive category. Lifestyle adjustments are therefore critical to prevent progression into hypertension. Recommendations include smoking cessation and reducing alcohol intake.

Research has demonstrated that excessive alcohol consumption is associated with higher risks of hypertension and cardiovascular disease (Mostofsky et al., 2016). Additionally, smoking negatively impacts pulmonary function, decreases lung expansion, and impairs respiratory muscle strength (Tantisuwat & Thaveeratitham, 2014). If not addressed, these risk factors may contribute to long-term complications affecting the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurological systems.

Family involvement will be important in supporting lifestyle modifications. Encouragement, shared accountability, and emotional support from his spouse and family can facilitate adherence to healthier routines. Educational interventions on smoking cessation, diet modification, and regular exercise would further benefit his overall well-being.

Reflection

The patient interaction with P.B. was positive, as he was cooperative and open during the assessment. The environment supported effective communication, and the encounter allowed the integration of classroom knowledge from Health Assessment I and II into clinical practice.

One strength of the interaction was the successful application of theoretical concepts in real-life assessment. However, the absence of a detailed extended family medical history limited the completeness of the evaluation. Future assessments would benefit from allocating additional time to gather information on grandparents and other relatives to identify potential hereditary risk factors.

This experience reinforced the importance of patient-centered communication, thorough history-taking, and health promotion strategies in preventive care.

References

Mostofsky, E., Mukamal, K. J., Giovannucci, E. L., Stampfer, M. J., & Rimm, E. B. (2016). Key findings on alcohol consumption and a variety of health outcomes from the Nurses’ Health Study. American Journal of Public Health, 106(9), 1586–1591. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303336

NR 304 RUA Health History and Physical Assessment

Tantisuwat, A., & Thaveeratitham, P. (2014). Effects of smoking on chest expansion, lung function, and respiratory muscle strength of youths. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 26(2), 167–170. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.26.167