An extended family is experiencing a crisis. Excessive work demands have caused the primary parents to work longer hours, but the grandmother who usually watches the children after school is recovering from hip replacement surgery. What can the nurse suggest to help this family through this period of time?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A positive aspect of the extended family is the availability of many people for child care and support. The family needs to call on this strength and ask another family member to help with the child support until the grandmother recovers. One negative aspect of the extended family is reduced resources because of fewer wage earners. This is not the case because both primary parents are working. Asking for one parent to reduce work hours would be a negative suggestion. Having the children go to the grandmother's home after school would negatively impact the grandmother's healing and is an inappropriate suggestion to make at this time. Recommending the children learn independence and stay at home alone could be a safety issue and would be an inappropriate suggestion at this time.

An Extended Family Is Experiencing a Crisis