A patient is dismissed from the hospital and is receiving nursing care at home to help in the recovery from a serious illness and operation. The visiting nurse notes that the family is in a state of disarray and members are disorganized and not
communicating. The patient is trying to direct everyone's actions. The nurse calls a family meeting. What action by the nurse is best?
A.
Encourage family members to make "to do" lists and assign chores.
B.
Explain that changes in one person require changes in the others.
C.
Make a referral to a counselor or mental health nurse practitioner.
D.
Tell the family members that for the patient to recover, they have to assume his or her role.
ANS: B
Family systems theory recognizes that changes in one member of a family affect every other member of the family. In order for the family to function effectively, all members need to adapt to the major changes in one of the members. Making lists and assigning chores are simple tasks that might help with organization, but this does not go far enough in solving the problem. The family may or may not need a referral for counseling. Simply telling the family members a fact does not give them enough information to adapt.
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A) True B) False
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