Nursing diagnosis – READINESS FOR ENHANCED FAMILY PROCESSES
READINESS FOR ENHANCED
FAMILY PROCESSES
DEFINITION
A pattern of family functioning that is sufficient to support the well-
being of family members and can be strengthened
DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS
• Activities support the growth of family members
• Activities support the safety of family members
• Balance exists between autonomy and cohesiveness
• Boundaries of family members are maintained
• Energy level of family supports ADLs
• Family adapts to change
• Relationships are generally positive
• Respect for family members is positive
ASSESSMENT FOCUS (Refer to comprehensive assessment parameters.)
• Roles/relationship
• Coping
• Communication
• Values/beliefs
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Family members will
• Identify family goals and structured directions.
• Express enjoyment and satisfaction with their roles in the family.
• Express a willingness to enhance roles in family dynamics.
• Participate regularly in traditional family activities.
• Maintain open and positive communication.
• Maintain a safe home environment.
• Seek regular health screenings and immunizations.
• Identify and acknowledge family risk factors.
• Make plans to deal with life changes and events.
SUGGESTED NOC OUTCOMES
Family Coping; Family Functioning; Family Health Status; Family
Integrity; Family Normalization; Family Social Climate
INTERVENTIONS AND RATIONALES
Determine: Assess family composition, roles within the family,
communication patterns, family developmental stages, developmen-
tal tasks, health patterns, coping mechanisms, socioeconomics,
educational levels, ethnicity, and cultural and religious beliefs.
Assessment information helps identify appropriate interventions.
Perform: Establish an environment in which family members can
openly share their issues and concerns in comfort to reduce anxiety
and develop their ability to resolve problems.
Inform: Explain importance of setting goals as a method of estab-
lishing boundaries that will be respected by all family members.
Family functioning with structural direction will enhance the poten-
tial to meet physical, social, and psychological needs.
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Show family how to develop a Genogram to identify genetic risk
factors. Information from the Genogram will highlight things that
can modify a family’s health patterns, lead to early identification of
genetically related diseases, and may delay onset of disease.
Teach value of daily exercise, well-balanced diet, and use of
proven holistic strategies to improve health.
Provide family with information on recommended health screen-
ings and immunization schedules. It is essential to keep immuniza-
tions given according to schedule to prevent loss of immunity.
Attend: Encourage family members to identify individual and family
goals and a structured direction toward sound health habits for the
entire family. Developing a structured plan will assist in having
everyone work together toward goals set by the family for
themselves.
Involve family in planning and decision making. Having the abil-
ity to participate encourages greater compliance with the plan.
Encourage family to spend time together enjoying traditional
activities that everyone likes doing to promote a healthy lifestyle and
encourage strong family unity.
Manage: Refer, where requested, for follow-up for a family member
who needs exercise, weight management, diet assistance, health
screenings, and so forth. Providing referrals will help to provide
continuity of care for the patient.
SUGGESTED NIC INTERVENTIONS
Family Support; Family Integrity Promotion; Family Maintenance
Reference
Yanaka, L., et al. (2007, January–February). Barriers to screening for domestic
violence in the emergency departments. Journal of Continuing Education in
Nursing, 38(1), 37–45.