What are Gordon's functional health patterns used for in nursing?

Gordon's functional health patterns are used to create a structured database of patients' comprehensive histories. This framework allows nurses to assess various aspects of a patient's health and well-being in a systematic way. By organizing patient information into functional health patterns, nurses can gather detailed insights about the individual's lifestyle, health behaviors, and potential health issues. This holistic approach encompasses several domains such as nutrition, activity, sleep, cognitive function, and psychosocial factors, facilitating a thorough understanding of a patient's health status. Such comprehensive histories enable better identification of health problems, leading to more effective planning and coordination of care, thereby improving patient outcomes.