This document discusses the 11 functional health patterns that are used to assess individuals as a whole. The patterns include health perception and management, nutritional-metabolic, elimination, activity-exercise, sleep-rest, cognitive-perceptual, self-perception-self-concept, roles-relationships, sexuality-reproductive, coping-stress tolerance, and values-beliefs. Each pattern focuses on a different area of an individual's health and allows healthcare providers to establish a nursing or dental hygiene diagnosis by identifying unmet needs. The patterns will be used throughout the course to assess individuals at different life stages.

1. H E A LT H
P R O M O T I O N A N D
T H E I N D I V I D U A L
J A C E Y S H E C K L E R , R D H , M S
F A L L 2 0 1 7
Copyright © 2014 by Mosby, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

2. FUNCTIONAL HEALTH PATTERNS:
ASSESSMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL
• Functional health patterns view the individual as a whole being using interrelated behavioral
areas.
• The 11 functional health patterns are characterized by their focus
– Pattern focus
– Individual-environmental focus
– Age developmental focus
– Functional focus
• These functional health patterns allow for nurses to establish a “nursing diagnosis”.
how we use the unmet human needs to determine the “dental hygiene diagnosis”.
• These patterns will be used throughout the course as we expand upon each life stage.
2Copyright © 2014 by Mosby, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

3. 1. HEALTH PERCEPTION-
HEALTH MANAGEMENT PATTERN
• Individual’s health status and health practices used to reach the current level of health or
wellness with a focus on perceived health status and meaning of health (Gordon, 2011)
• Health promoting activities, routine professional examinations, self-examinations,
immunizations, and safety precautions provide this pattern’s clues to improve or
maintain optimal health.

4. 2. NUTRITIONAL- METABOLIC PATTERN
• Centers on nutrient intake relative to metabolic need (Gordon, 2011).
• Explores satisfaction with current eating and drinking patterns, including restrictions, and
their perceptions of problems associated with eating, drinking, growth and
development, skin condition, and healing processes

5. 3. ELIMINATION PATTERN
• Includes bowel, bladder and skin function and varies significantly from individual to
individual.

6. 4. ACTIVITY EXERCISE PATTERN
• Centers on activity level, exercise program and leisure activities.
• Parameters include movement capability, activity tolerance, self-care abilities, use of
assistive devices, changes in pattern, satisfaction with activity and exercise patterns, and
any perceived problems (Gordon, 2011)
• Provide effective indicators for commitment to health promotion and prevention.

7. 5. SLEEP- REST PATTERN
• The single most important factor assessed in the sleep-rest pattern is the perception of
adequacy of sleep and relaxation.
• Fatigue and energy levels provide some indication of the individuals satisfaction

8. 6. COGNITIVE- PERCEPTUAL PATTERN
• Includes the ability of an individual to understand and follow directions, retain
information, make decisions, solve problems, and use language appropriately.

9. 7. SELF- PERCEPTION- SELF-CONCEPT
PATTERN
• This pattern encompasses the sense of each individual’s personal identity, goals,
emotional patterns, and feelings about the self.
• Self image and sense of worth stem from the individual’s perception of personal
appearance, competencies , and limitations, including the individuals self-perception
and others’ perceptions.

10. 8. ROLES-RELATIONSHIP PATTERN
• Describes the position assumed and the associations engaged by the individual that are
connected to that position.

11. 9. SEXUALITY- REPRODUCTIVE PATTERN
• Describes the individuals sexual self-concept, sexual functioning, methods of intimacy,
and reproductive areas.

12. 10. COPING-STRESS TOLERANCE PATTERN
• Gordon describes the coping-stress tolerance pattern as a depiction of general coping
and the individual’s ability to effectively manage stress.

13. 11. VALUES- BELIEFS PATTERN
• Describes values, including the individual’s spiritual values, beliefs, and goals
• Includes perceptions of what is right, what is good, and conflicts that beliefs or values
impart