Health History and Risk Assessment course for Nurses

This session looks at the taking of medical history, including sexual history. It also discusses risk assessment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy. 

Learning objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• 2.1 Take an appropriate medical history without the use of pro-formas
• 2.2 Conduct a sexual health risk assessment

Sexual health can have a significant impact on general health, yet it is considered a private and delicate subject for most people, so potentially more difficult to talk about. However it is necessary to address, as unwanted pregnancy and STIs are issues that continue to have an impact on the health of the population. The history taker should acknowledge the discomfort a patient may feel and reassure them.