midterm Flashcards
characteristics of healthy families
- effective communication
- encouragement of individuals
- commitment to family
- religious/spiritual orientation
- social connectedness
- adapt to stress
- clear role definition
- spending time together
what is family health care nursing
- health and illness impact families not just client
- family members viewed as partners in care
- nurses need positive attitude to include families in care
- strengths based approach to empower families & build on existing strengths
- role of family is respected along with cultural/religion
- reciprocal relationship b/w nurses & families = recovery
in family system theory, the idea is that . . .
entier system shifts in response to a stressor not just the individual impacted
the person who takes on too much responsibility for distress is the . . .
person who is most vulnerable to both physical or mental illness
problems are not seen as the responsibility of . . .
one family member, rather due to relationship dynamics & reciprocal interactions b/w family members
impact of divorce on the family system
- role changes need to compensate for loss of parent + extended family
- parental conflict transfer anxiety onto children & create imbalance
- system boundaries become more permeable due to introduction of new people
- alliances shift leading to triangulation
stressors that arise due to impact of divorce on family system
less time, less money, less energy to manage the same life tasks
role of the rpn in family systems
- recognize illness/suffering in one family member impacts entire unit
- help families identify dysfunctional patterns of behaviour
- help families identify how stressors is impacting each member & system as a whole
- recognize family roles & rituals can change during times of illness
- recognize that family communication patterns will change during stressful times
- acknowledge our goal is to help family reach stability by building on their strengths as system
family systems theory - key concepts
- systems theory about relationships & interconnectedness b/w different systems
- each family viewed as emotional unit or system rather than collection of individuals
- family system is greater than sum of its individual members
- family system always trying to maintain stability as it attempts to adapt to changes/stressors
- significant event or change in one family member will impact entire family unit
- boundaries exist b/w family & environment
- family member’s relationships are best understood as circular and reciprocal as opposed to linear
bowen’s theory of self differentiation
process of freeing yourself from your family’s processes to define yourself. Being able to have different opinions & values than your family members but being able to stay emotionally connected to them, being able to calmly reflect on conflicted interaction afterward, realizing your own role in it & choosing a different response for the future
8 concepts in bowen’s theory
- differentiation of self
- triangulation
- nuclear family emotional process
- family projection process
- multigenerational transmission process
- sibling position
- emotional cut-off
- emotional process in society
differentiation looks at the balance b/w
- connection and individuality within a family
ppl with well differentiated “self” can
recognize their dependence on others, and remain connected, but don’t get caught up in other people’s emotions (emotionally autonomous)
to be well differentiated means you have the ability to
see yourself as distinct and separate in terms of thoughts/feelings of others
when you are too connected to someone’s emotions . . .
begin to experience feelings you don’t actually feel, becomes to objectified, not able to have own feelings (one who experiences the initial reaction)
healthy boundaries
- saying no without guilt
- asking for what you want/need
- taking care of yourself
- saying yes because you want to, not out of obligation
- behaving according to your own values
- feeling safe to express difficult emotions
- feeling supported to pursue own goals
- being treated equally
- taking responsibility for own happiness
- being in tune with own feelings
- knowing who are you, what you believe and what you like
outcomes of self-differentiation
- can make decisions rationally
- less influenced by others’ emotions but are still able to connect with others
- are more adaptable and flexible under stress
- maintain clear emotional boundaries with others
what is at the opposite end of the differentiation spectrum
fusion
poor self differentiation tend to
- rely on acceptance & approval of others
- more emotionally reactive
- cope poorly with stress
- higher risk for mental health concerns (depression & anxiety)
- become people pleasers (fixers)
triangulation
- occurs when 2 ppl attempt to divert conflict or tension by pulling in another person
- 3rd person absorbs tension = stabilizing system
- doesn’t resolve conflict directly, doesn’t solve root problem
what is most common in poorly differentiated people
triangulation
bowen belived most important triangle is
one b/w you & your parents
nuclear family emotional process refers to
how families cope w/ increasing tension & anxiety based on their level of differentiation
4 patterns in nuclear family emotional process
- emotional distance b/w couple (avoid each other to avoid tension)
- dysfunction in one spouse (one spouse tries to control the other while other spouse gives in an accommodates)
- projection of parental anxiety onto one child
- marital conflict (couple take out their anxiety onto each other)
family projection process
primary way parents transmit their emotional fears and insecurities onto a child
3 ways of family projection process
- parent focuses on child out of fear that something is wrong with child
- parent interprets child’s behaviour as confirming fear
- parent treats child as if something is really wrong with child
multigenerational transmission process is
families repeat and pass on patterns through generation
people select mates with levels of differentiation similar to their own
in every generation the child who is most involved in the family’s fusion moves toward
lower level of differentiation of self
emotional cut off
extreme response to family projection process
complete separation from family of origin to reduce family tension
greater emotional fusion the greater likelihood of cut off
consequence of emotional cut off
ppl more likely to repeat the emotional and behavioural patterns they were taught in future relationships
sibling position
order you were born predicts certain characteristics
sibling position: characteristics you acquire due to the order you were born in:
- oldest tend to be more responsible, conscientious, become leaders
- youngest tend to be free spirited, creative, more extroverted
- middle child more social, peacemaker, care taker
bowen was interested in what with regard to siblings
impact on families when birth order traits don’t fit what is expected (youngest is leader, oldest dependent)
societal emotional process
- looks at societal factors influence family functioning
- bowen predicted society goes through periods of regression - ex: higher crime and divorce rates (creates anxiety for families)
what is a family life cycle
typical path most families go through related to the arrival and departure of family members through birth and death, couple unions and separations, and the raising and launching of children
transitions create stress which causes . .
disequilibruim
disequilibruim
occurs in the family as it transitions from one stage of development to the next
achieving family developmental tasks helps?
individual family members to realize their own individual tasks
variables that impact family life cycle
- adopted families (parents older, children need more care for longer, temperamental differences)
- low income families (extended family may be living in home, higher teen pregnancy)
- religion (beliefs about pre-marital sex)
- ethnicity (dicate what age children leave home & how they transition from childhood to adulthood)
- blended families (tend to have children of varying ages living at home, boundaries need to be very permeable, family members must deal with losses & new attachments)
divorce and the family life cycle
- accepting that the marriage was not successful
- working on issues like dividing assets, custody
- grieving loss of an intact family
- adapting to separate lives
- new tasks to add
- managing emotions
role of the nurse in the family life cycle
- first identify which stage the family is at
- using developmental tasks at each stage, nurse can anticipate the challenges they facing
- nurse see which tasks are not being accomplished
- recognize each family member has individual developmental goals, & family tasks at each stage
- help families adapt & adjust to each transition
olson’s circumplex model of family dynamics
- suggests that “balanced levels of cohesion and flexibility are most conductive to healthy family functioning”
2 aspects of the olson’s circumplex model of family dynamics
- flexibility / adaptability: degree to which the family can change and adapt to new situations or challenges
- cohesion: degree of emotional relational closeness among family member
flexibility/adaptability aspect of the circumplex model looks at
who makes the decisions and rules
dysfunctional families have less ability to adapt in response to changes
cohesion aspect of the circumplex model looks at
dysfunctional families are overly enmeshed and family loyalty is valued over individual autonomy
balanced families circumplex model
adaptability scale: structured or flexible
cohesion: separated or connected
unbalanced families circumplex model
adaptability: chaotic or rigid
cohesion: disengaged or enmeshed
what are the levels of flexibility in circumplex
chaotic, flexible, structured, rigid
what are the levels of cohesion in circumplex
disengaged, separated, connected, enmeshed
levels of flexibility circumplex: chaotic
- lack of leadership
- dramatic role shifts
- erratic discipline
- too much change
levels of flexibility circumplex: flexible
- shared leadership
- democratic discipline
- role sharing change
- change when necessary
levels of flexibility circumplex: structured
- leadership sometimes shared
- somewhat democratic discipline
- roles are stable
- change when demanded
levels of flexibility circumplex: rigid
- authoritarian leadership
- strict discipline
- roles seldom change
- too little change
levels of cohesion circumplex: disengaged
- i/we balance: i
- closeness: little closeness
- loyalty: little loyalty
- independence/dependence: high independence
levels of cohesion aspects
i/we balance
closeness
loyalty
independence/dependence
levels of cohesion circumplex: separated
- i/we balance: i/we
- closeness: low-moderate
- loyalty: some
- interdependent (more independence than dependence)
levels of cohesion circumplex: connected
- i/we balance: i/we
- closeness: moderate-high
- loyalty: high
- interdependence (more dependent than independence)
levels of cohesion circumplex: enmeshed
- i/we balance: we
- closeness: very high
- loyalty: very high
- high dependency
key points of family life cycle
- families move/shift in levels during crisis
- balanced families would have resources/skills to shift system o cope more effectively w/ crisis
- includes cultural variances = enmeshment may be cultural norm
- positive communication skills help families move towards more balanced place
goal of therapy using the circumplex model would be
move families to a place of balance within each domain by improving communication skills (listening, expressing, feelings, giving feedback)
during assessment, what does the nurse do
- decide what data to collect and its relevance
- elicit the family story & be open to unusual or different responses
- analysis of family data helps to identify patterns & recognize families needs
obstacles to working with families
- lack of time
- lack of engagement
- imposter syndrome (new nurses)
- negative labelling by HC team of family behaviours
- ignoring cultural diversity
- different values/beliefs
- doesn’t support treatment plan
- not present or available
- exhibits fear and distrust of HC system
- hostile, upset or angry
things to avoid when working through assessment with families
- failure to create a TR (without creating safety & connection, families may not be receptive)
- taking sides (give all family members equal “air time” & be curious & open to all perspectives)
- giving advice prematurely (establish strong understanding of goals & needs before advice & empower family first)
how do we gather data for the assessment
- observe family/patient
- consult w/ other HC professionals
- review previous records & forms
- interview members separately
- ask questions & remain curious
- listen w/o judgment
why must clinicians be self-aware
not impose their own values and beliefs onto clients
be aware of transference/counter
professional boundaries
understand client’s reality not try to convince them of ours
CFAM looks at
reciprocity within relationships
3 main categories in CFAM
structural, developmental, functional assessment
what does the structural assessment looks at
structural component of the family
what are the 3 subcategories that are in structural
internal, external, context
what aspects are in the internal subcategory
- family composition
- gender
- sexual orientation
- rank order
- subsystems
- boundaries
what aspects are in the external subcategory
- extended family
- larger systems
what aspects are in the context subcategory
- ethnicity
- race
- social class
-religion - environment
what 3 subcategories come from developmental
stages, tasks, attachments
what does development assessment look at
explains the family’s developmental life cycle
what 2 subcategories come from functional
instrumental & expressive
functional assessment looks at
deals with how the individuals in the family deal with one another, known as interactions
what aspects are in the instrumental subcategory
activities of daily living
what aspects are in the expressive subcategory
- emotional communication
- verbal communication
- nonverbal communication
- circular communication
- problem-solving
- roles
- influence/power
- beliefs
- alliances/coalitions
family composition
anyone the members feel is part of their family, not just those who live in the home
gender (CFAM)
ask about the members beliefs about male/female identity, behaviour
rank order
position of children in terms of gender and birth order
sexual orientation
be aware of personal bias towards members of the LGBTQ+
subsystemm
identifies all the different subsystems each member may belong to
can highlight family’s level of differentiation
boundary
what separates the family/individual from those outside the family system
rolland’s conceptual framework
chronic illnesses can be categorized by 4 key dimensions: onset, course, outcome, and degree of incapacitation
different boundary styles
open (diffuse), closed (rigid), semi permeable (ideal)
rigid boundaries
lead to disengagement and social isolation
diffuse boundaries
poor differentiation within the family
- parent usually has bad boundaries with child, creates chaos because individual needs are not met
common traits in rigid boundaries
- avoids intimacy & close relationships
- unlikely to ask for help
- has few close relationships
- very protective of personal info
- seem detached
- keeps others at distance to avoid the possibility of rejection
common traits in porous boundaries
- overshares personal info
- difficulty saying “no” to requests
- overinvolved with others problems
- dependent on the opinions of others
- accepting of abuse or disrespect
- fears rejection if they don’t comply
common traits in healthy boundaries
- values own opinions
- doesn’t compromise values of others
- shares personal info in an appropriate way
- knows personal wants & needs and communicate them
- accepting when others say “no” to them
CFAM: external family
ask about the significance of the family of origin
CFAM: larger systems
refers to the larger social system and community outside of family system
DC conceptual framework: sociocultural variable
- ability to relate to people outside & within the person’s sociocultural group
- economic and educational expectations or norms related to person’s culture
- distinctive family roles characteristic of the person’s culture
- norms: family participates in care
- language & communication patterns associated w/ sociocultural group
subculture
norms and values that differ from the dominant culture
genograms are
- visual representations of the members of the family unit, their ages, and relationships and attachment with each others
genograms depicit
- multigenerational patterns, health conditions, & help the clinicians engage with the family and form TR
ecomaps
visual represtation of the family’s relationships with others outside of the immediate family system
uses symbols to express the strength of the connections and possible support b/w family and the larger system/community
circular communication
reciprocal communication b/w family members where each person influences the behaviour of the other
formal family roles
what you do on a daily basis to help get the work of the family done (parent, shopper, housekeeper)
informal family roles
people’s personality but still help family to function (cook, artist)
nurses can help families adapt to changes in roles by
helping families access outside resources, providing education and assisting in problem solving
role strain
occurs when family members are put in situations where they lack role knowledge or experience
role conflict
occurs when there are conflicting demands/expectations b/w 2 roles held by the same person
performance of one role impacts the performance of the other (attending daughters ballet performance or taking your elderly mom to her doc’s appointment
role overload
when one person has too many roles and they lack resources, time and energy to meet those demands
family resilience
capacity of the family system to withstand and rebound from adversity, strengthened and more resourceful
qualities of positive coping
- positive outlook
- flexibility
- healthy communication
- financial management
- time together
- mutual recreational interests
- routines
- social supports
assessing family strengths/resilience
- ability to perform family roles flexibly
- ability to be sensitive to the needs of all members
- ability to communicate thoughts and feelings effectively and respectfully
- ability to meet physical, emotional, and spiritual needs
- ability to use a crisis experience as a means for growth
- ability to accept help when needed
nursing interventions purpose
help to regain equilibrium by:
- removing barriers to needed services/resources
- providing education about illness/treatment
- facilitating therapeutic conversations about impact of illness on members
- empowering members by recognizing & building on strengths and promoting resilience
promoting resilience in families
create
ensure
teach
encourage
help
recognize
mental illness
refers to our ability to cope with life’s challenges and to solve problems when they arise
recovery
not meant to imply a cure, but rather refers to a return to full or partial functioning in most aspects of one’s life
4 concepts of recovery
- finding & maintaining hope
- finding a new identity with a positive sense of self
- taking responsibility for one’s life
- finding meaning in life despite illness
common themes for families living with mental illness
- feelings of grief/loss
- anxiety/feat about ill members ability to cope
- fear & confusion about how to manage their loved one’s behaviours
- lack of hope for future
- lack of knowledge about illness (role strain)
- social isolation/stigma
- lack of access to resources or fear of using them
- role changes within family (role overload)
- lack of control around decisions surrounding the ill member