Problem:
According to a 2023 Gallup poll, nurses are ranked as the most trusted professionals in the United States. One of the most admired nursing skills is the ability to put patients at ease. When patients enter into a healthcare setting, they are often apprehensive about sharing personal health information. Caring nurses can alleviate the hesitance of patients and encourage them to be forthcoming with this information. The initial health history interview can be an excellent opportunity to develop supportive relationships between patients and nurses. Advanced practice nurses (APRNs) may employ a variety of communication skills and interview techniques to foster strong bonds with patients and to effectively facilitate the diagnostic process. In conducting interviews, APRNs must also take into account a range of patient-specific factors that may impact the questions they ask, how they ask those questions, and their complete assessment of the patient's health. This week, you will consider how social determinants of health, such as age, gender, ethnicity, and environmental situation, impact the health and risk assessment of the patients you serve.