Deck 10: Caring for Families

Question 1

The nurse is caring for an elderly patient who has no apparent family.When questioned about his family and his definition of family,the patient states,"I have no family.They're all gone." When asked,"Who prepares your meals?" he states,"I do,or I go out." Given the three different approaches to family nursing practice,which would be most appropriate for this patient?

A) Family as context
B) Family as patient
C) Family as system
D) Combination of "family as context" and "family as patient"

Answer 1

Family as context

Question 2

Different approaches may be taken to family nursing practice.When the nurse is caring for a patient who needs constant care in the home setting and for whom most of the care is provided by the patient's family,what is the best approach for the nurse to take?

A) Family as context
B) Family as patient
C) Family as system
D) Patient as individual

Answer 2

Family as system

Question 3

When the nurse views the family as context,the primary focus is on the health and development of an individual member existing within a specific environment (i.e.,the patient's family).Although the focus is on the individual's health status,the nurse should

A) Assess how much the family provides the patient's basic needs.
B) Assess family patterns versus individual characteristics.
C) Maintain distinctions between "family as patient" and "family as context."
D) Plan care to meet not only the patient's needs, but those of his family as well.

Answer 3

Assess how much the family provides the patient's basic needs.

Question 4

Although the family as a whole differs from individual members,the measure of family health is more than a summary of the health of all members.Of the following,what areas are unique to family assessment?

A) Family form
B) Family structure
C) Family function
D) Family health
E) Individual health

Question 5

When initiating the care of families,one factor that helps organize the family approach to the nursing process is that the nurse

A) Views all patients as unique individuals.
B) Realizes that families have little impact on individuals.
C) Understands that individuals have little impact on families.
D) Realizes that individuals have an impact on families.

Question 6

Balancing employment and family life creates a variety of challenges in terms of child care and household work for both parents.This has major implications in health care because

A) Maternal employment has been demonstrated to be harmful for children.
B) Maternal employment has shifted the majority of household tasks to the male.
C) Fathers now participate more fully in day-to-day parenting responsibilities.
D) The number of single-parent families has decreased since 1970.

Question 7

A husband brings his children in to visit their mother in the hospital.The nurse asks how the family is getting along at home without their mom around.The husband states,"None of her jobs are getting done,and I don't do those jobs,so the house and the kids are falling apart." The nurse suspects that this family structure is

A) Very flexible.
B) Quite rigid.
C) Extremely open.
D) Hardy.

Question 8

When focusing on older adults,the nurse must be aware that

A) Elder abuse happens in lower socioeconomic classes only.
B) Elders have the same social networks as younger people.
C) Caregivers may be spouses or middle-age children.
D) Caregiver stress is minimal when caring for a parent.

Question 9

The nurse is providing discharge teaching for an older adult woman who will need dressing changes at home.Her husband,who is also elderly,is her only source of care.The husband states that he will not be able to perform the dressing changes.What does the nurse need to arrange for?

A) Home care service referrals
B) Extra dressing supplies
C) Cancellation of the discharge
D) An order for antibiotics

Question 10

The family is a central institution in American society; however,the concept,structure,and functioning of the family unit continue to change over time.The uniqueness of each family is referred to as family

A) Durability.
B) Resiliency.
C) Diversity.
D) Forms.

Question 11

Social scientists have identified four threats facing the family in today's American society.Of the choices below,what are the four threats?

A) Changing economic status
B) Homelessness
C) Family violence
D) Rise of homosexual families
E) Presence of illness

Question 12

The nurse is caring for an elderly woman and notices that she is not using her cane properly.Which of the following statements by the nurse would most likely elicit a positive response from the patient?

A) "You're doing that all wrong. Let me show you how to do it."
B) "I don't know who showed how to use the cane like that, but you're not doing it right. Let me show you again."
C) "You use the cane the way I did before I was shown a way to keep from tripping over it; do you mind if I show you?"
D) "I used to use the cane the same way you are using it: the wrong way. I'll show you the right way to do it."

Question 13

The nurse is interviewing a patient who is being admitted to the hospital.The patient's family went home before the nurse's interview.The nurse asks the patient,"Who decides where to go on vacation?" In asking this,what is the nurse trying to do?

A) Assess the family structure.
B) Assess the family form.
C) Assess the family function.
D) Make a categorical generalization.

Question 14

It is essential for family members to realize that a family's beliefs,values,and practices strongly influence the health-promoting behaviors of its members,and to understand that

A) American families are part of the same culture with the same values and beliefs.
B) Economic status has little effect on a family's ability to access adequate health care.
C) Family environment in early life has a strong influence on later health practices.
D) All families place a high value on good health and health practices.

Question 15

The nurse is caring for a male patient newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus.The patient is not adjusting well to the diagnosis and is refusing to learn how to self-inject insulin.The patient's wife is critical of the patient's refusal to learn; a small argument ensues,and the wife leaves,stating,"I'll be back later when I cool off." What should the nurse do?

A) Ask the patient if he would like his wife excluded at visiting time.
B) Tell the wife in the hall that her behavior is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.
C) Realize that the wife will be an important part of therapy.
D) Tell the patient that he needs to listen to his wife more.

Question 16

The nurse is caring for a patient in hospice.As she observes the family dynamics,she notes that the patient is getting adequate care,but the wife is not sleeping well and needs rest.The nurse also assesses the need for better family nutrition and meals assistance.The nurse discusses these assessments with the patient and his family and formulates a plan of care with them to address these issues.The nurse is utilizing which approach to family nursing practice?

A) Family as context
B) Family as patient
C) Family as system
D) Autocratic determination