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.
ANS: A
To assess the family structure, the nurse asks questions that determine the power structure and patterning of roles and tasks (e.g., "Who decides where to go on vacation?"). When focusing on family form, the nurse should begin the family assessment by determining the patient's definition of family. Family function is the ability of the family to provide emotional support and to cope with health problems or situations. The question asked above will not assess that. It is imperative to remember that categorical generalizations are misleading and should be avoided.
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