Question

How is the Gordon Functional assessment tool applicable to your daily nursing practice?

Answer 1

Gordon proposed the functional assessment tool which includes 11 categories. They are:
1. Health perception and health management: This describes how the patient perceives health and how they manage health.
2. Nutrition and metabolism: This describes food and fluid consumption relative to the metabolic needs and patterns which are the indicators of nutrient supply.
3. Elimination: It describes the pattern of bowel, bladder and skin elimination function.
4. Activity and exercise: It describes activity level, exercise program and leisure activities.
5. Cognition and perception: It describes the ability of the patients to understand and follow directions, retain information, make decisions and solve problems. It assess the five senses.
6. Sleep and rest: It describes the pattern of sleep, rest and relaxation.
7. Self perception and self concept: It describes patient's self worth, comfort, body image and feeling state.
8. Roles and relationships: It describes the roles and relationships of the patient in the family and society.
9. Sexuality and reproduction: It describes their reproductive status and sexual health status.
10. Coping and stress tolerance: It describes the level of stress and their coping mechanism in situations.
11. Values and beliefs: It describes the pattern of values, beliefs, spirituality and goals that guides the patient’s choices and decisions.