The family as client: assessment and diagnosis : Introduction

Definition
Family: is two or more persons related by birth,
marriage, or adoption who reside together in a
household.

The following terms are often used to describe

deferent family configurations
- nuclear family
- Family of origin
- Family of procreation
- extended family
- blended family
 The family as client: assessment and diagnosis : Introduction

Forms of families
1. Legally married or traditionally married. It’s the only
form accepted culturally in our regions
2. Other forms may or may not accepted in our culture
an this include
- dual-career
- foster families
- childless by choice
- never married
- multiadult household
- extramarital
 The family as client: assessment and diagnosis : Introduction

Function of the family

a. Affection, love, care, an compassion
b. A sense of belonging and of history and place
c. Family rituals for rejoicing and grieving
d. Systems for earning money , supporting partners and
children
e. Sharing of labor, chores required to keep the family
running
 The family as client: assessment and diagnosis :

Family Environment
Community health nurse should be aware of family
environment in assessing the family, that consist:
A. Physical environment
B. Psychological environment
C. Social environment
 The family as client: assessment and diagnosis :

Physical environment
a. housing and the conditions inside, outside and
surrounding it
b. Any existing safety or environmental hazards
c. The amount and quality or services available
 The family as client: assessment and diagnosis :

Psychological environment
a. Family dynmics
b. Family strength and weakness
c. Communication skills
d. Family roles
e. Family members ability to cope with change or
physical or psychological distress
 The family as client: assessment and diagnosis :

Social environment
a. Religious
b. Race or ethnicity
c. Culture
d. Socioeconomic class
e. Resources available such as through school
mosque or community outlet
 The family as client: assessment and diagnosis :

Family assessment
For the CHN family assessment includes:

1. How family members function with one anther

2. How family relates to the larger community and
3. Identify family strength as well as weakness

Remember when assessing family

a. Families have different capacities and capabilities for coping with
stressful event
b. Vulnerable families are those physical and emotional resources are
insufficient to the point that functioning is threatened
 The family as client: assessment and diagnosis

Vulnerable families have coping mechanisms that tend to

distorted or ineffective and do not solve their
problems. In fact these mechanisms may further strain
their manger resources and let the families used the
dysfunctional coping mechanisms
a. Denying the problem
b. Family violence
c. Family myths
d. Triangulation