4.1 Family Dynamics
Learning Objectives
- Identify family roles, structure, and functions
- Examine family dynamics
- Identify various factors that can lead to actual and potential family health problems
- Compare and contrast parenting styles and behaviors
- Consider the influence of family cultural practices related to health
- Identify the psychosocial effect of illness on a client and their family’s health
- Apply the nursing process to caring for a client in the context of the family
Extensive research has demonstrated the importance of family dynamics to health, illness, and recovery outcomes.[1] When creating a plan of care, nurses consider family roles and cultural practices, as well as potential psychosocial impact of chronic disease and disability on family functioning. When caring for pediatric clients, nurses also assess parenting styles and behaviors and provide anticipatory guidance.
When providing health teaching, nurses often include family members while also considering client confidentiality and privacy. For example, nurses provide health teaching to a child’s parents about safety, nutrition, preventive care, and medical care. In other circumstances, nurses may teach the caregiver or an adult client how to self-manage medical conditions at home.
This chapter will introduce concepts related to family dynamics and factors that can lead to actual and potential family health problems. The nursing process will be applied to caring for a client in the context of the family.
- Family Dynamics by Jabbari, Schoo, & Rouster is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 ↵