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