Which tool should a nurse use to determine a client's biological risk?

• A. Lifestyle History
• B. Genogram
• C. Blood Type Analysis
• D. Risk Assessment Form

Answer: (B)

Assessing inherited or familial risk relies on documenting family health patterns across generations. The genogram is the tool designed to do this because it visually maps who is related to whom and records the health conditions, ages at onset, and cause of death among relatives. This creates a pattern that helps the nurse spot potential hereditary conditions, such as conditions that run in families or follow specific genetic patterns, and guides decisions about further genetic counseling or targeted screening. In contrast, a lifestyle history focuses on behaviors that affect risk rather than genetics; blood type analysis shows current blood type but not predisposition to hereditary diseases; and a general risk assessment form may capture some risk factors but won’t reveal the familial patterns across generations that pinpoint biological risk.