Family-  Cultural Assessment/Family Theory Paper

Choose a family from your practice, clinical site, or community. The family must be from a different cultural/ethnic background than you. Schedule an interview with the family and ask assigned questions compiled from sections of The Friedman Family Assessment Model-Short Form and Andrews/Boyle Transcultural Nursing Assessment Guide for Families, Groups, and Communities (see Appendix B in Andrews). Reference the information obtained in the interview as a personal communication. Refer to the APA Manual for the correct format for personal communication. The information must be written in paragraph format and can be summarized for requirements.

The family assessment findings should be utilized to select a theory and develop a diagnosis with plan (see Kaakinen Chapters 2 & 5 in Kaakinen). The theory should be utilized as guidance for a medical or nursing diagnosis and plan (Andrews Chapter 11). Scholarly resources within the last 5 years can also be used.

Do not identify the family\’s name, address, or place of employment; only use initials.

This is a scholarly paper that will be submitted through turnitin.com®. Only 1 submission to turnitin.com® is allowed. The page limit is 7 to 8 pages, not including the title page or reference pages. Refer to the grading criteria. Include headings in APA format that correspond to the headings in the grading criteria, with the exception of the introduction.

Family-Cultural Assessment/Family Theory Paper

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Family-  Cultural Assessment/Family Theory Paper

Introduction

Family is the basic unit of community or society, therefore, community or societal problems normally begin at the family level. A comprehensive family assessment is important since it may provide the information required to address the individual needs of all family members (Marilyn et al., 2019). In most cases, family assessment involves the completion of a tool designed to help in collecting appropriate information. Several models can be used to help conduct carry out family assessments. For example, the Friedman Family Assessment Model (short Form) is one of the most effective models for the job. Andrews/Boyle Transcultural Nursing Assessment Guide for Families is also another good one (Ackley et al., 2019). Interviews with family members are often the best sources of reliable information regarding the families. In that regard, the purpose of this paper is to use the two models above to conduct a family assessment and use the findings to select a theory and identify a diagnosis and plan of care.

Identifying Data

The JC family (initials of his name) has a nuclear structure consisting of a biological father, biological mother, and children. The family members said they are “two parents, two daughters, and one son” (J. Cohen, personal communication, July 7, 2022). JC (the father) is 59 years while Mrs. JC (the mother) is 50 years old. Their firstborn, TC, the secondborn, MC, and third born DC are 20 years, 17 years, and 14 years respectively. Both the father and the mother are Asian Americans. Despite them being of Asian origin, they are Christians attending a nearby Orthodox Church. They all go to church together as a family. It is a middle-class family as they can afford food, shelter, clothing, and other needs without financial constraints (Marilyn et al., 2019). The family is likely to maintain its social class due to a constant source of income.

Developmental Stage and History of Family

The family is in the child-rearing stage of the family lifecycle. Based on the parents’ age, DC is their last born. Mrs. JC gave birth to their last born at 36 years. Their first bone is 20 years old and is still considered to be under the care of her parents, “according to the U.S laws” (J. Cohen, personal communication, July 7, 2022). The parents are responsible people, providing the children with everything they need. The two daughters and one son get all basic needs including a good education. JC and Mrs. JC met almost 20 years ago in the United States. They were both in the same college where they were involved in an intimate relationship for about two years before marriage. They found their firstborn outside marriage and later decided to settle. According to JC, his parents moved to the States due to work, and “they decided to settle in the country” (J. Cohen, personal communication, July 7, 2022). He is not well conversant with his grandparents. According to Mrs. JC, she came to the States for studies and is still connected to her family back in their country of origin.

Environmental Data

JC and his family live in a single-family home situated near a community pack. They have a five-bedroom house with a big living room and every child has a bedroom. The house is well ventilated, making it a good place to live. They have a spacious compound and resting shades, which they termed “good living conditions” (T. Cohen, personal communication, July 7, 2022). They live in a peaceful neighborhood, with limited cases of crime. The community has a basketball and a football pitch where young people can play. Other recreational activities are also available. However, it is not an interactive community as everyone is busy with their own lives. Since Mrs. JC is a medic, she is frequently consulted for medical matters. The family said the community often gathers together “in case of a problem” (Mrs. J. Cohen, personal communication, July 7, 2022). The family is a member of a local family association called gracious community association, which assists families in case of problems and also offers mentorship programs.

Social Life and Networks

The family has some routines that are very important to them. For instance, they eat supper together at a round table every day. No one eats separately unless there is a valid reason to do so. They also have everyday evening prayers together as a family before everyone retires to sleep. The family goes through similar educational systems as the majority of the community members, which they termed “same high schools and universities” (T. Cohen, personal communication, July 7, 2022). They also have religious education programs. Social problems in this community include drug and alcohol abuse, health disparities, and a lack of proper emergency services. They also experience ethnic/racial discrimination from the majority population. JC agreed that there are groups that help in addressing drug abuse, poverty and homelessness, and emergency services. Many ethnic grocery stores, restaurants, and churches are located within the community.

Language and Traditions

The language barrier is a serious issue within the community. English is the main language spoken in health care settings. Professionals speaking minority languages are rare to get and most of them do not have translators. The family has an advantage because “they understand English” (J. Cohen, personal communication, July 7, 2022). They are well educated, hence, can write and read. The parents have been teaching their children their native Asian language to get them prepared for anything. The parents are university graduates. The firstborn is finishing her university course.

Religious Beliefs and Practices

According to this family, Christianity is the major religious group in the community. Religion has a positive influence on their life. The family, like the majority of the community members, believes in western medicine to improve their health status. Asian culture promotes proper nutrition and care to mothers and their newborns (Marilyn et al., 2019). They also pray and make offerings to thank God and pray for the protection of the newborn. The family conforms to the Christian tradition of marriage that involves wedding celebrations. The family sees death as the beginning of new life. They follow Christian beliefs and practices of grief and mourning.

Health Beliefs and Practices

The family has a positive attitude and beliefs regarding health care. JC stated that illness is bad and should be fought against by all means. They seek care from conventional care facilities rather than indigenous practitioners. The family has faith in the modern health care processes because they are evidence-based. JC, the father, seems to be making most decisions in this family. He decides the hospital they should visit based on his judgments. He also encourages other family members to seek medical attention whenever they are unwell. JC is overweight and is afraid of becoming obese. He says he might become obese and develop complicated illnesses such as obesity. The family expressed various health concerns, which they said were “unhealthy eating habits” (J. Cohen, personal communication, July 7, 2022). The family agreed to eat too much-processed food and unbalanced eating that exceeds body requirements. Another health concern is lack of physical exercise in the filmily due to lack of interest. JC stated that there are ethnic stories in the neighborhoods selling medicinal herbs and he has been thinking of getting one.

Health Care Systems

The community has just five facilities out of more than 30 hospitals that provide interpreters. In all the facilities, the educational materials are offered in English. However, one can request a translated version if they do not understand English. JC and other family members agreed that health care facilities are in accessible locations. Healthcare facilities should be accessible to everyone to improve community health. There are a few hospitals in the community referring people to yoga and acupuncture. Mrs. JC states that they do so only “if the patients’ faith is connected to them and they have requested for referral” (Mrs. J. Cohen, personal communication, July 7, 2022). JC has a family health cover, therefore, everyone has access to health care. The family has a personal car that they use to the hospital. Most facilities operate 24 hours a day, therefore, JC and his family are not worried about what time to visit.

Economic Factors

JC’s family does not have a family-owned clinic although the wife is a medic. Mrs. JC, however, expressed her interest in starting a clinic soon in their neighborhood. The family pays for health care through a health coverage insurance plan. JC says he ensures “the subscription remains active throughout the year” (J. Cohen, personal communication, July 7, 2022). Health insurance coverage reduces the burden of care by paying bills when the subscriber falls sick. The family agrees that out-of-pocket payment of hospital bills is too expensive for them to afford.

Theory

The nursing theory that relates to the selected family is the Nightingales Environmental theory. It focuses on the environment to improve health. The key concepts of the theory include nursing, human beings, environment, and health. This theory applies to improving the health of family members (Smith & Gullett, 2020). For instance, the family lives in a good environment such as a well-ventilated house. The theory also takes care of the personal well-being of every family member such as good nutrition, physical activity, social considerations, and others. The concepts of the theory can be applied by the family to improve their overall health. According to the theory, nursing care gives much attention to environmental factors to improve health (Smith & Gullett, 2020). The environment does not only mean the hospital environment but also the entire community. Family physical, psychological, and emotional health are significantly impacted by their surroundings.

Nursing or Medical Diagnoses for the Family

Based on the results of the interview, there were various areas to consider when prioritizing nursing diagnosis. The first diagnosis for this family is poor eating habits and nutritional balance that led to JC being overweight. With this health concern, the other family members too are at great risk of becoming overweight or obese, as well as developing other related diseases (Kelishadi, 2022). During the interview, the family expressed their concern about eating much-processed food. They also do a lot of snacking and feel like this might affect them badly. The second diagnosis is a lack of physical exercise in the family. Based on the family lifestyle and eating behavior, physical activity would be helpful to help them maintain a healthy weight and overall health (Kelishadi, 2022). The two health issues are the major diagnosis for this family. Therefore, a good plan of care is needed to address the problems.

Plan of care

Regarding unhealthy habits (including eating less healthy foods such as vegetables), patient education involving all the family members will be designed to improve their knowledge. According to Kelishadi (2022). providing people with the necessary skills and improving their awareness of healthy eating habits can help them make better food choices. The educational program should inform them of a variety of nutritious foods and beverages (Marilyn et al., 2019). It should also inform them how to reduce the amount of food to ensure they only eat the right amount.

Regarding physical activity, the care plan will also involve patient education regarding the benefits of physical exercise. The education should include proper strategies to help every member of the family engage in physical activity (Kelishadi, 2022). Additionally, a family mentor will be provided to motivate members to engage in the activity. A good plan will be provided with various forms of physical exercise to ensure it becomes a routine in the life of those individuals.

Conclusion

Family assessment is essential to identify the weaknesses and strengths of family members. It also helps in identifying family health concerns. The selected family is called the JC family. It is a nuclear family consisting of a father, a mother, and three children. They live in a good environment and neighborhood. There is cohesion in this family. They are Christians and often pray together. Some of the health concerns for this family include lack of physical exercise and an unhealthy eating diet. Patient education involving all family members is a common intervention in both cases. This paper answered all the questions required for the completion of this assignment.

References

Ackley, B. J., Ladwig, G. B., Makic, M. B. F., Martinez-Kratz, M., & Zanotti, M. (2019). Nursing diagnosis handbook: An evidence-based guide to planning care. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Smith, M. C., & In Gullett, D. L. (2020). Nursing theories and nursing practice. F.A. Davis Company.

Marilyn, R., Friedman, B., & Vicky, R. J. (2019). Family nursing: Research, theory, and practice. Pearson.

Kelishadi, R. (2022). Healthy lifestyle: From pediatrics to geriatrics. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.

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