Family - Focused Nursing Care

Sharon A. Denham, PhD, RN, CNE

 OBJECTIVES

1. Describe family context, family functioning, & family structure.

2. Differentiate between ‘family as the context’ of care & ‘family as the focus of
care.’
3. Discuss concepts associated with family - focused care (e.g.,
communication, nursing presence, being with & doing for, coordinated
care, support,)
4. Identify ways family context, family functioning, & family health
routines can be used to address health and illness.
5. Explain ways nurses can use family - focused care to improve individual
health & illness.
Family - Focused Nursing Care
My Family Microsystem
Medical Model
(Denham, 2003)
Intrafamily

Interfamily

Social connectedness
Core Family Processes

Caregiving

Cathexis

Celebration

Change

Communication

Connectedness

Coordination
Family Structure
Rituals

Family Routines

Family Health Routines

 Family traditions

 Belief orientations

 Ethnic or racial behaviors

 Habitual behaviors

 Patterned behaviors
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBACCDVHkpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ups_PNw5YdM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbZ66LuxkJQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUF4VpQKaZE
Self-care
Safety and precautions
Mental health behaviors
Family care
Illness care
Member care-taking
 Complexity of Family Health

Household Niche
$$$
Motivation
Resources
Routines

Interactions

Personal Traits
Community
Societal Circumstances

Values
Social Networks
 See Individuals as persons not
patients

 Move from Family as Context to

Family as Unit of Care

 View Family as Expert of their

experience

 All people need family care

 Intentional practice

 Think Family

 Relationship - based (e.g., respect,

honest, trust)

 Nursing Presence: Be With not

just Do For

 Assessment – Family, SDoH

 Education - Family needs

 Communication skills

 Collaborate and coordinated care

 Be a team player

 Hear the family stories - Involve them

 Consider values & joint decision - making

 Set meaningful goals - Create measurable

plans

 Identify specific educational needs

 Identify needed supports, resources &

referrals