The nurse is obtaining information about a client's past medical history. Which source would provide the nurse with this data?

Question

1. Medication list.
2. Immunization records.
3. Average amount of hours of sleep each night.
4. Marital status.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 2

Past history includes information about childhood diseases; immunizations; allergies; blood transfusions; major illnesses; hospitalizations; labor and deliveries; surgical procedures; mental, emotional, or psychiatric health problems; and the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances. The medication list, sleep pattern, and marital status are related to current history. The description of the client's health patterns depicts a "lifestyle thread" that allows the nurse to see sets of related traits, habits, or acts that affect the client's health, which then can be compared to standard health patterns, and identification of risk potential or subsequent nursing diagnoses can be determined.