Gordons Functional Pattern Assessment

GORDON'S FUNCTIONAL HEALTH PATTERNS
QUESTION GUIDE
Gordon's functional health patterns are a method devised by Marjory Gordon to be used by nurses in the
nursing process to provide a more comprehensive nursing assessment of the patient. The following are guide questions
to asks your client to elicit functional patterns.
HEALTH PERCEPTION AND MANAGEMENT PATTERN
• History (subjective data): Client’s general health? Any colds in past years? If appropriate: any absences
from work/school? Most important things you do to keep healthy? Use of cigarettes, alcohol, drugs? Perform
self exams, i.e. Breast/testicular self-examination? Accidents at home, work, school, driving? In the past, has
it been easy to find ways to carry out doctor’s or nurse’s suggestions? (If appropriate) What do you think
caused current illness? What actions have you taken since symptoms started? Have your actions helped? (If
appropriate) What things are most important to your health? How can we be most helpful? How often do you
exercise?
NUTRITIONAL METABOLIC PATTERN
• History (subjective data): Typical daily food intake? (Describe) Use of supplements, vitamins, types of
snacks? Typical daily fluid intake? (Describe) Weight loss/gain? Height loss/gain? Appetite? Breastfeeding?
Infant feeding? Food or eating: Discomfort, swallowing difficulties, diet restrictions, able to follow? Healing –
any problems? Skin problems: lesions? Dryness? Dental problems?
• Physical Examination (examples of objective data): Skin assessment, oral mucous membranes, teeth,
actual weight/height, temperature. Abdominal assessment.
ELIMINATION PATTERN
• History (subjective data): Bowel elimination pattern (describe) Frequency, character, discomfort, problem
with bowel control, use of laxatives (i.e. type, frequency), etc.? Urinary elimination pattern (describe)
Frequency, problem with bladder control? Excess perspiration? Odor problems? Body cavity drainage,
suction, etc.?
• Physical Examination (examples of objective data): If indicated, examine excretions or drainage for
characteristics, colour, and consistency. Abdominal assessment.
ACTIVITY - EXERCISE PATTERN
• History (subjective data): Sufficient energy for desired and/or required activities? Exercise pattern? Type?
regularity? Spare time (leisure) activities? Child-play activities? Perceived ability for feeding, grooming,
bathing, general mobility, toileting, home maintenance, bed mobility, dressing and shopping?
• Physical Examination (examples of objective data): Demonstrate ability for above criteria. Gait. Posture.
Absent body part. Range of motion (ROM) joints. Hand grip - can pick up pencil? Respiration. Blood pressure.
General appearance. Musculoskeletal, cardiac and respiratory assessments.
SLEEP - REST PATTERN
• History (subjective data): Generally rested and ready for activity after sleep? Sleep onset problems? Aids?
Dreams (nightmares), early awakening? Rest / relaxation periods?
• Physical Examination (examples of objective data): Observe sleep pattern and rest pattern.
COGNITIVE-PERCEPTUAL PATTERN
• History (subjective data): Hearing difficulty? Hearing aid? Vision? Wears glasses? Last checked? When last
changed? Any change in memory? Concentration? Important decisions easy/difficult to make? Easiest way
for you to learn things? Any difficulty? Any discomfort? Pain? If appropriate – PQRST questions PQRST P –
Palliative, Provocative Q Quality or quantity R – Region or radiation S - Severity or scale T - Timing (Morton,
1977) COLDSPA C - Character O - Onset L - Location D - Duration S – Severity P - Pattern A - Associated
factors (Weber, 2003)
• Physical Examination (examples of objective data): Orientation. Hears whispers? Reads newsprint?
Grasps ideas and questions (abstract, concrete)? Language spoken. Vocabulary level. Attention span.
SELF PERCEPTION/ SELF CONCEPT PATTERN
• History (subjective data): How do you describe yourself? Most of the time, feel good (or not so good) about
self? Changes in body or things you can do? Problems for you? Changes in the way you feel about self or
body (generally or since illness started)? Things frequently make you angry? Annoyed? Fearful? Anxious?
Depressed? Not able to control things? What helps? Ever feel you lose hope?
• Physical Examination (examples of objective data): Examination (examples of objective data): Eye
contact. Attention span (distraction?). Voice and speech pattern. Body posture. Client nervous (5) or relaxed
(1) (rate scale 1-5) Client assertive (5) or passive (1) (rate scale 1-5)
ROLE - RELATIONSHIP PATTERN
• History (subjective data): Live alone? Family? Family structure? Any family problems you have difficulty
handling (nuclear/extended family)? Family or others depend on you for things? How well are you managing?
If appropriate – How families/others feel about your illness? Problems with children? Belong to social groups?
Close friends? Feel lonely? (Frequency) Things generally go well at work / school? If appropriate – income
sufficient for needs? Feel part of (or isolated in) your neighborhood?
• Physical Examination (examples of objective data): Interaction with family members or others if present.
SEXUALITY - REPRODUCTIVE PATTERN
• History (subjective data): If appropriate to age and situation – Sexual relationships satisfying? Changes?
Problems? If appropriate – Use of contraceptives? Problems? Female – when did menstruation begin? Last
menstrual period (LMP)? Any menstrual problems? (Gravida/Para if appropriate)
• Physical Examination (examples of objective data): None unless a problem is identified or a pelvic
examination is warranted as part of full physical assessment (advanced nursing skill).
COPING-STRESS TOLERANCE PATTERN
• History (subjective data): Any big changes in your life in the last year or two? Crisis? Who is most helpful in
talking things over? Available to you now? Tense or relaxed most of the time? When tense, what helps? Use
any medications, drugs, alcohol to relax? When (if) there are big problems in your life, how do you handle
them? Most of the time, are these ways successful?
VALUE-BELIEF PATTERN
• History (subjective data): Generally get things you want from life? Important plans for future? Religion
important to you? If appropriate - Does this help when difficulties arise? If appropriate – current condition
interfere with any religious practices?

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