Functional health patterns: a curricular course model for adult acute care

The Functional Health Pattern (FHP) model is a categorization of 11 areas that assist in diagnosing human responses to illness and identifying risk factors for dysfunctional health. The incorporation of this model as a content organizer in a beginning medical-surgical course in a baccalaureate curriculum is presented as an effective method of familiarizing students with the application of the nursing process. This model permits the student nurse to identify FHPs (client strengths) and dysfunctional patterns (nursing diagnoses).