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 when to come to the hospital?" What is the rationale for the nurse's action?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

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 by the nurse will not assess that. Nurses do not assess family generalization.

The Nurse Is Interviewing a Patient Who Is Being Admitted