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.
My Family Microsystem
(Denham, 2003)
Intrafamily

Interfamily

Social connectedness
Caregiving

Cathexis

Celebration

Change

Communication

Connectedness

Coordination
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
 Communication skills

 Coordinated care

 Be a team player

 Hear the stories

 Involve families

 Joint decision - making

 Create meaningful measurable plans

 Rethink educational needs

 Give needed supports