NUR 4636 MDC Theoretical Basis for Promoting Family Health Case Study

Case StudyChapter 18: Theoretical Basis for Promoting
Family Health
At the community health care agency, the assigned
nurse reviews with the assigned student the conceptual
foundations and core functions of community health
practice that are integrated into the various roles and
settings of community health nursing. After working at
the agency for the day, the student has to prepare an
oral report to present to the class the next day.
1. Families share universal characteristics with every
other family. These characteristics provide an
important key to understanding each family’s
uniqueness. What are five of the most important
family characteristics that community health nurses
must recognize and consider in their practice?
2. The community health nurse is sitting in a living
room talking with a young mother about her new
infant. The community nurse finds it is difficult to
keep in mind that all the other family members are
present by way of their influence. Systems theory
offers some insights about how families operate as
social systems. Knowing the attributes of living
systems or open systems can
help strengthen understanding of family structure
and function. What are five attributes of open
systems that help explain how families function?
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3. The community health nurse is sitting in a living
room talking with a young mother about her new
infant. There are two broad stages in the family life
cycle. What are the two broad stages in the family
life cycle and what stage is this young mother with
a new infant?
4. In US society, certain social institutions help
perform some aspects of traditional family
functions. What are the six functions that are typical
of American families today and are essential for the
maintenance and promotion
of family health?
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