Family Nursing Paper
Running head: THE GROWING SPECIALTY OF FAMILY NURSING
The Growing Specialty of Family Nursing
Stephanie Hursey
University of Phoenix
Concepts of Family Nursing Theory
NUR 464
Mrs. Janice Hess
Jan 20, 2007
The Growing Specialty of Family Nursing
The family's health has become an important focus on health care today. Nursing research has transitioned from client centered care to viewing the client within the context of the family. Changing family dynamics and functions have made an impact on its health. Researchers have written materials that give explanation to the reasons for the evolving family and its impact on society. This paper provides insight on what constitutes a family, why family is important to nurses, how the family has changed and the writer's view of family health nursing.
Family is a group of people who are related or connected through a common bound. They rely on each other for support, identity, stabilization. Through the interaction of family the members derive their meaning of life and the society around them. Through family the members gain an …show more content…
understanding of their place in society, develop social etiquette, self-worth and values. What constitutes a family is an ever evolving question. The family is comprised of a variety of interdependent relationships and individuals today. Many sociologists have formed a definition of family. What is interesting to note is that individuals have their own definition of family and who they consider family. It is best for the nurse in caring for a family to ask the patient who he or she considers to be family. Per Friedman, Bowden and Jones (2003) the only "sure" way of determining who the individual client's family is, is to ask him or her. The family is an important focus for nurses because the family helps to influence and care for their loved ones who are our patients. Through the family patients derive their meaning of sickness and wellness. The family is the basic unit in which health and healthy life styles are defined for its members. In order for a nurse to be effective in teaching or guiding a patient to self change in his or her health and healthy life style, the family must be included. The nurse must first assess the patient's view of health and the family's view of health. Understanding their views will assist the nurse in identifying holes, gaps and unhealthy thinking and help formulate a care plan for the patient and family. According to Stanhope and Lancaster (2004) the family is a major influence on the individual's concept of health and illness. It is within the family a person's sense of self-esteem and personal competence is developed. The action taken by or for the person with a health problem depends on this sense of self-worth and the family's definition of illness.
The definition and demographics of the family is ever evolving with the changes in society. It is important for nurse to keep themselves informed and up-to-date about demographic trends pertaining to children and families per Stanhope and Lancaster (2004). Changing demographics have implications for planning health, developing community resources, and becoming politically active, so that scarce funds and resources can be made available for health services needed by the growing and diverse population Stanhope and Lancaster (2004).
The family has changed in its structure. The traditional family of father, mother and children is long gone as the norm of society. Today the family is represented by single-mother households, single father households, unmarried couples living together with or without children and teenage mothers. As a result of society accepting individual's choices in managing their own lives the family portrait has a variety looks. The family portrait now may depict the single mother with children, the single father with children, same sex couples with or without children, grandparents raising grandchildren, married couples with step or foster children and married couples without children. One definite change is the size of the family. The family has become smaller in size. Per Rozen (1996) the American family unit is changing. In the 1980s, Americans created 16% more new households, yet population rose just 10%. That means households are getting smaller. The average family size is down 5%. The fastest growing household segments from 1990 to 2000 are going to be married couples with no children, single father households and non-traditional households. Families, in the traditional sense, still account for 71% of households, but the number is shrinking. Meanwhile, household income will rise 40% more in the 1990s than in the previous decade.
The family has changed in its function. Six traditional family functions are summarized by Stanhope and Lancaster (2004):
Families exit to achieve financial survival. Families are economic units to which all members contribute and from which all family members benefit.
Families exist to reproduce the species.
Families provide protection from hostile forces.
Passing along the culture, including religious faith, is an important function for families.
Families educate (socialize) their young.
Families confer status in society.
In the past, families that possess these functions were considered healthy. Today these functions have either changed or have been transferred to other institutions. For example, the financial function of the family is no longer needed as much as it was needed in the past. With increase in education and higher paying employment family members are able to provide for themselves or seek assistance through government programs. Married couples are choosing to remain childless. Law enforcement now provides protection for the family and society. Many families now rely on the religious institutions such as churches and synagogues for the teaching of faith. Conferring status in society is no longer needed per Stanhope and Lancaster (2004).
Some functions of the family have evolved and changed, some have become more important than others. According to Stanhope and Lancaster (2004) the relationship function has come important in contemporary families, thus putting a great deal of pressure on how people get along and their level of satisfaction. The health function has become more evident because it is the basis of a life time of physical and mental health or the lack thereof.
Family health nursing is a specialty area of nursing that focuses on the family as its target or recipient of care.
Family health nursing may be accessed through an individual health event that causes them to become the recipient of a nursing system or the family seeking nursing assistance. Through these events the nurse is able to identify the health care deficit and the family's need for nursing care. This area of nursing as a specialty is new to me. After careful readings in this class it seems very appropriate to have this specialty evolving and growing within the nursing practice. Rarely does care of a patient take place with contact and impact from the patient's family. Therefore, recognizing and incorporating the family views on health and illness, as well as their involvement in care is a comprehensive approach to guiding the family system to health and
wholeness.
What constitutes a family, why the family is important to nursing, and the changing family has been examined in this paper. The family is an ever evolving entity. Because of its evolving nature nursing has recognized the family's transition and is making adjustments in nursing practices. A definition of family health nursing is provided.
Reference:
Freidman, M., Bowden, V., Jones, E., (2003). Family Nursing: Research, Theory and Practice (5th ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Rosen, Martin B. (March 11, 1996) Demographic changes call for new benefits: as the shape of American family and work force evolves, health benefits must do the same. In Business Insurance, 30, p15(2). Retrieved January 19, 2007, from Academic OneFile via Thomson Gale:
Stanhope, M., Lancaster, J., (2004). Community and Public Health Nursing. St. Louise, MO: Mosby .
The Growing Specialty of Family Nursing
Stephanie Hursey
University of Phoenix
Concepts of Family Nursing Theory
NUR 464
Mrs. Janice Hess
Jan 20, 2007
The Growing Specialty of Family Nursing
The family's health has become an important focus on health care today. Nursing research has transitioned from client centered care to viewing the client within the context of the family. Changing family dynamics and functions have made an impact on its health. Researchers have written materials that give explanation to the reasons for the evolving family and its impact on society. This paper provides insight on what constitutes a family, why family is important to nurses, how the family has changed and the writer's view of family health nursing.
Family is a group of people who are related or connected through a common bound. They rely on each other for support, identity, stabilization. Through the interaction of family the members derive their meaning of life and the society around them. Through family the members gain an …show more content…
understanding of their place in society, develop social etiquette, self-worth and values. What constitutes a family is an ever evolving question. The family is comprised of a variety of interdependent relationships and individuals today. Many sociologists have formed a definition of family. What is interesting to note is that individuals have their own definition of family and who they consider family. It is best for the nurse in caring for a family to ask the patient who he or she considers to be family. Per Friedman, Bowden and Jones (2003) the only "sure" way of determining who the individual client's family is, is to ask him or her. The family is an important focus for nurses because the family helps to influence and care for their loved ones who are our patients. Through the family patients derive their meaning of sickness and wellness. The family is the basic unit in which health and healthy life styles are defined for its members. In order for a nurse to be effective in teaching or guiding a patient to self change in his or her health and healthy life style, the family must be included. The nurse must first assess the patient's view of health and the family's view of health. Understanding their views will assist the nurse in identifying holes, gaps and unhealthy thinking and help formulate a care plan for the patient and family. According to Stanhope and Lancaster (2004) the family is a major influence on the individual's concept of health and illness. It is within the family a person's sense of self-esteem and personal competence is developed. The action taken by or for the person with a health problem depends on this sense of self-worth and the family's definition of illness.
The definition and demographics of the family is ever evolving with the changes in society. It is important for nurse to keep themselves informed and up-to-date about demographic trends pertaining to children and families per Stanhope and Lancaster (2004). Changing demographics have implications for planning health, developing community resources, and becoming politically active, so that scarce funds and resources can be made available for health services needed by the growing and diverse population Stanhope and Lancaster (2004).
The family has changed in its structure. The traditional family of father, mother and children is long gone as the norm of society. Today the family is represented by single-mother households, single father households, unmarried couples living together with or without children and teenage mothers. As a result of society accepting individual's choices in managing their own lives the family portrait has a variety looks. The family portrait now may depict the single mother with children, the single father with children, same sex couples with or without children, grandparents raising grandchildren, married couples with step or foster children and married couples without children. One definite change is the size of the family. The family has become smaller in size. Per Rozen (1996) the American family unit is changing. In the 1980s, Americans created 16% more new households, yet population rose just 10%. That means households are getting smaller. The average family size is down 5%. The fastest growing household segments from 1990 to 2000 are going to be married couples with no children, single father households and non-traditional households. Families, in the traditional sense, still account for 71% of households, but the number is shrinking. Meanwhile, household income will rise 40% more in the 1990s than in the previous decade.
The family has changed in its function. Six traditional family functions are summarized by Stanhope and Lancaster (2004):
Families exit to achieve financial survival. Families are economic units to which all members contribute and from which all family members benefit.
Families exist to reproduce the species.
Families provide protection from hostile forces.
Passing along the culture, including religious faith, is an important function for families.
Families educate (socialize) their young.
Families confer status in society.
In the past, families that possess these functions were considered healthy. Today these functions have either changed or have been transferred to other institutions. For example, the financial function of the family is no longer needed as much as it was needed in the past. With increase in education and higher paying employment family members are able to provide for themselves or seek assistance through government programs. Married couples are choosing to remain childless. Law enforcement now provides protection for the family and society. Many families now rely on the religious institutions such as churches and synagogues for the teaching of faith. Conferring status in society is no longer needed per Stanhope and Lancaster (2004).
Some functions of the family have evolved and changed, some have become more important than others. According to Stanhope and Lancaster (2004) the relationship function has come important in contemporary families, thus putting a great deal of pressure on how people get along and their level of satisfaction. The health function has become more evident because it is the basis of a life time of physical and mental health or the lack thereof.
Family health nursing is a specialty area of nursing that focuses on the family as its target or recipient of care.
Family health nursing may be accessed through an individual health event that causes them to become the recipient of a nursing system or the family seeking nursing assistance. Through these events the nurse is able to identify the health care deficit and the family's need for nursing care. This area of nursing as a specialty is new to me. After careful readings in this class it seems very appropriate to have this specialty evolving and growing within the nursing practice. Rarely does care of a patient take place with contact and impact from the patient's family. Therefore, recognizing and incorporating the family views on health and illness, as well as their involvement in care is a comprehensive approach to guiding the family system to health and
wholeness.
What constitutes a family, why the family is important to nursing, and the changing family has been examined in this paper. The family is an ever evolving entity. Because of its evolving nature nursing has recognized the family's transition and is making adjustments in nursing practices. A definition of family health nursing is provided.
Reference:
Freidman, M., Bowden, V., Jones, E., (2003). Family Nursing: Research, Theory and Practice (5th ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Rosen, Martin B. (March 11, 1996) Demographic changes call for new benefits: as the shape of American family and work force evolves, health benefits must do the same. In Business Insurance, 30, p15(2). Retrieved January 19, 2007, from Academic OneFile via Thomson Gale:
Stanhope, M., Lancaster, J., (2004). Community and Public Health Nursing. St. Louise, MO: Mosby .