Assessment Tool Analysis

1147 Words5 Pages
Introduction This paper will discuss the Perceived Stress Scale, Mini-Mental State exam, and the Beck Depression Inventory. It will identify how the test is done, what appropriate age the test can be used, and how these test would help in the nursing process. It also relates to the vulnerable population of psychiatric patients. Assessment Tool Analysis To be able to assist patients with their physical, mental, and psychological health concerns, assessment tools may be used. This allows the medical staff to use the knowledge they obtained in school in order to help the patients in improving their life. This helps in advancing their lifestyle and promotes good health. There are various types of assessment tools that may be used, all depending on the patient’s current situation. One tool that is currently being used is the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). It is a measure of the degree to which situation’s in one’s life are appraised as stressful (Cohen, 1988). It measures the current stress the person is feeling through answering questions. The questions are easy to understand and was designed for people with a junior high school education. The questions are in general terms and focuses on thoughts and feelings the person in experiencing within the last month. According to Cohen, higher PSS scores are associated with failure to quit smoking, failure among diabetics to control blood sugar levels, greater vulnerability to stressful life-event-elicited depressive symptoms, and more colds. Questions include asking if the person has been upset by something unexpected, if they have felt that they are not in control of important things in their life, if they have felt nervous or stressed, if they are confident with handling their own problems, if they feel things are going their way, if they can not cope with things they have to
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