NASSAU COMMUNITY COLLEGE
NURSING DEPARTMENT
OLDER ADULT INTERVIEW AND ASSESSMENT
Student Learning Outcomes
The student will:
- Use and identify specific communication techniques when conducting a therapeutic interview.
- Identify and discuss specific communication facilitators and blockers.
- Identify and discuss factors that allow individuals to remain independent.
- Cluster data and identify two appropriate nursing diagnoses (one physiological and one psychosociocultural).
- Identify and discuss community resources that can be used to assist individuals to maintain their independence or stay in their current residence.
Directions
You are to choose an older adult individual who will be comfortable speaking with you. You will conduct a non-directive interview of at least 20-30 minutes focusing on how this individual is managing to live successfully in their own home, or otherwise independently (not a nursing home or assisted living facilities). After completing the interview, complete a written assignment that specifically answers each of the following areas.
Assignment:
1. Write (must be typed) a narrative summary paragraph describing the individual and the setting of the interview. Discuss the older adult background, medical history and situation.
2. Give at least five specific examples of interviewing techniques utilized and the responses. (example)
| Older adult: | Student Nurse: | Techniques used | Older adult response: |
| “I stay awake all night.” | “You haven’t been able to sleep?” | Paraphrasing | “It’s very noisy in my neighborhood.” |
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3. Evaluate each technique, the appropriateness and effectiveness of the overall conversation.
4. What factors do you think facilitated communication? (list five and explain why each helped)
5. What factors do you think interfered with communication? (list five and explain why each interfered)
6. Identify the individual’s culture and describe three ways in which culture influences the individual’s life? (e.g., concepts of health, health care practices, communication, food preferences, religious beliefs, feelings about death and dying, etc.)
7. Identify five factors making it difficult for the person to maintain their independence. These could be physiological problems, environmental conditions, or social issues, etc. Describe how the individual has responded to each factor.
| Factors | Describe the responses |
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8. Cluster data and identify a relevant physiological nursing diagnosis for this individual including the “related to” portion of the statement
| Data Cluster | Identify ONE nursing diagnosis |
| 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. | |
9. Cluster data and identify a relevant psychosociocultural nursing diagnosis for this individual including the “related to” portion of the statement
| Data Cluster | Identify ONE nursing diagnosis |
| 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. | |
10. What are the most significant factors influencing this individual’s ability to remain in the community? Discuss five factors. (e.g., individual strengths, support systems). List and state why they are important.
11. List five community resources/agencies that could be utilized by this individual. Describe the services provided by each of these resources/agencies and explain how or why these resources would be appropriate or considered for your Older Adult. Include a copy of the printed brochure or print from the electronic information provided on the resource’s web site.