A genetic family history assessment contains information about family structure and relationships. A typical nurse will use a three-generation family pedigree to gather the information. By doing so, nurses can be aware of which family members are at risk for disorders from a genetic component. Therefore, they can be provided with lifestyle advice, recommendations, and referrals to appropriate specialists (Kaakinen, Coehlo, Steele, Tabacco & Hanson, 2015). A genetic family history assessment will be provided about my family. I am a 24 year old, female that has a history of kidney stones and hyperthyroidism. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism that progressed into Grave’s disease in 2013. I am currently in remission and do not take any medication for it. I have never been pregnant. I was born in Romania. My younger sister, who is 17 …show more content…
She has a history of hypertension, high cholesterol, acid reflux disease, kidney stones, arthritis and bone spurs on her right shoulder. Additionally, my grandmother has had her gallbladder removed at the age of 51 years old. She has been pregnant two times and has two children, my mother and my uncle. She entered menopause at the age of 42 years old. My maternal grandfather, who is 76 years old, was born in Romania. He has a history of kidney stones and hypertension and was diagnosed with a horseshoe kidney. Additionally, my grandfather also had to have surgery for cataracts. My paternal grandmother, died at 78 years old, of a heart attack. She was born in Romania. Her medical history only of consisted of hypertension. She was pregnant only once and had one son, my father. My paternal grandfather, who is 86 years old, was born in Romania. He has a history of colon cancer and no other known medical issues. All my grandparents have no issues with mental conditions. My ethnic background is Romanian and my family never had growth or development
Nowadays, DNA is a crucial component of a crime scene investigation, used to both to identify perpetrators from crime scenes and to determine a suspect’s guilt or innocence (Butler, 2005). The method of constructing a distinctive “fingerprint” from an individual’s DNA was first described by Alec Jeffreys in 1985. He discovered regions of repetitions of nucleotides inherent in DNA strands that differed from person to person (now known as variable number of tandem repeats, or VNTRs), and developed a technique to adjust the length variation into a definitive identity marker (Butler, 2005). Since then, DNA fingerprinting has been refined to be an indispensible source of evidence, expanded into multiple methods befitting different types of DNA samples. One of the more controversial practices of DNA forensics is familial DNA searching, which takes partial, rather than exact, matches between crime scene DNA and DNA stored in a public database as possible leads for further examination and information about the suspect. Using familial DNA searching for investigative purposes is a reliable and advantageous method to convict criminals.
All nurses, no matter where they practice, need to have proper training in genomics and genetics to provide the best information to clients regarding recognition, prevention, and/or treatment of diseases (Thompson & Brooks, 2011). A genetic family history can help clients discover the unique patterns of health and illness within their family. In this paper, I will complete a Genetic/Genomic Nursing Assessment using the information found in Kaakinen, Coehlo, Steele, Tabacco, & Hanson’s text (2015) in Box 7-7 (p. 198), identify three generations of a family, analyze the genetic health risks, and consider nursing strategies for this family.
The nursing profession is trusted to provide answers to their patients regarding questions of health, illness, and disease. Genetics often play a part in the overall wellness and health of particular individuals. The family health nurse should help family members understand the challenging aspects that genetic information will have on their own life, family structure, beliefs, and cultural norms (Daly, 2015, p. 550). This discussion post will explore a counseling scenario that involves a counseling session that will provide information and choices to a couple wishing to have children.
My grandmother is deeply religious. She goes to church every single day, prays multiple times a day, and spends time in the adoration chapel. Similar to the decent grandmother, my grandmother use to live with my family and take care of my siblings and I when we were young due to my parents’ heavy work schedules. My grandmother is the backbone for my nuclear and extended family. She is well respected among many and is caring, loving, and has “mother wit.” The difference between Anderson’s decent grandmother and my grandmother is that while most decent grandmothers are around thirty-seven-years-old, my grandmother is seventy-years-old, and became a grandmother at the age of forty-five-years-old. Another difference is that my grandmother did not have to deal with her children becoming crack addicts and abandoning their children for days on in. In Code of the Street, Betty is resistant in letting her daughters, Angela and her youngest one, move back into her apartment due to their boyfriends doing drugs and Betty was not financially stable to care for all of them. This situation differs from my grandmother, because my whole extended family from my mother’s side lived in one small house with my grandmother back in 2000. My grandmother accepts everyone and does not worry about her financial stability regardless of difficult
The purpose of this paper is to promote the importance of a multi-generational health history, expose my family’s risk factors for illness and disease, and determine if that illness or disease presents a genetic component. I will also identify the family member that is most at risk for genetically transferred diseases in the pedigree, explain why, and recommend healthy practice for the patient. The relationship of genetics to health and prevention will also be addressed. (maybe tie in last sentence?)
Genetic Screening is a medical test that examines ones DNA. It can find mutations in chromosomes, genes, and proteins. These tests can confirm or refute a suspected genetic condition that could become a serious problem for one in the future. They can also help figure out a persons probability of getting certain diseases or sicknesses like cancer or diabetes. ( What is Genetic Testing?, para 1) There is also carrier testing which can be used to see what diseases couples may carry before having children. (What are the benefits of genetic testing? Para 1)
Family history possesses valuable information about a person’s past and future life. It can be used as a powerful screening tool to help conduct decisions about genetic testing for you and family members at risk. Family history can identify potential health problems that an individual has an increased risk for in their lifetime. With early identification, you can begin taking steps to reduce the risk with things such as lifestyle changes of diet and exercise. In many cases, just by adopting a healthier lifestyle can reduce your risk for diseases that run in your family.
The thought of completing a genogram on my family was interesting because the majority of my family lives in Liberia. I have an aunt that lives here but we have an estranged relationship and we don’t communicate. The person I could have told me everything about my paternal family was my grandmother. However, my grandmother passed away in 2000 from high blood pressure. My grandparents had six children and the youngest daughter became my source for the information I needed. Doing this genogram has been very difficult for me because I learned that maternal grandparents are deceased and my aunts and uncle are also deceased. My mother is the only living family member that I know of. I never got the opportunity to have a relationship with my mother’s side of the family.
Collect as much information as you can on the history of chronic diseases on both sides of your family going back as least as far as your grandparents and preferably your great grandparents. Discuss how the presence or absence of certain chronic diseases in you family history influences your risk for these
After completing my family genogram, I was able to notice the history of a couple of patterns of fusion in particular. One of the relational patterns that stood out was emotional abuse which for the sake of this assignment I have only traced it back three generations, starting with my paternal grandfather Marciano, who endured the aftermath of the WWII and who conceived out of wedlock (COW) from Spanish and Mestizo parents and who married a woman Fidelina, of Chinese and Indian origin, born in El Salvador like him. Based on anecdotal accounts, Marciano was particularly emotionally abusive towards Rosa, my mother, who is also the first born of the couple and COW. Marciano had very high standards of beauty and intellect, which often triggered name calling, insults, and other forms of humiliation aimed towards my mother, causing her to feel belittled and resent his treatment towards her.
The purpose I searched for my family health history was to see what complications may occur in my future or in my family. There are a couple of benefits behind me researching the diseases throughout my family history including that I can learn what is prevalent which may put me at risk of contracting it, it can help me change my lifestyle to prevent or lower my chances, and help me prepare for what may arise. The diseases that are most prevalent my family that will most likely affect me or my brothers and sisters are Diabetes, Migraine, High Blood Pressure, and High Cholesterol.
More than 5 years ago, I found myself in the exact same position that Susan Wolf had found herself in with her father. In my case, it was the end of life care for an elderly aunt who had no other family and as such, became a part of mine. She was my ward in a way, fully reliant and dependent on me in so many ways due to her advanced age. I thought that she was a very healthy person and could possibly go on living forever since she was under constant medical care. But all the medical care that the doctors could provide for her could not remove the nagging pains that seemed to be ravaging her fast aging body.
My mother has suffered from a rare kidney disease called glomerulonephritis my entire life. This disease eats away at my mother’s health, leaving her mostly bed-ridden and depressed. My father is a store director at a local grocery store and has been for twenty-seven years.
My grandmother, Rokeya Sultana, grew up in the urban parts of Bangladesh, with 2 sisters and 3 brothers. Her father, my great grandfather, was the chief officer of the district. She would go to school or to places by a motorcycle, car, or helicopter. She was living the life of her dreams. But then, my great grandfather had diabetes, and it was discovered one month before he died. It was a great shock for my great grandmother’s family because they had to move from the urban city to a rural neighborhood. My grandmother went to elementary, middle, and high school as a child. She also received a Bachelor’s degree in teaching. She was a good student and a very honest and respectful person. Once she reached the age of 20 to 21, she married Jonab Ali, my grandfather, and moved to Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh.
Family history is very important to an individual. By knowing where you come from, you can have a better perspective of your life. Having a clear understanding of your family background allows you to better appreciate the things that you would normally take for granted. The house, the car, and the average clothing may look better when one sees the sacrifices their family has made. They will see that their family has worked very hard just so their family can experience the better things in life. A persons roots and origin is one of the most important things to explore. It alone can bring you closer to self-discovery.