Family Assessment for Health Promotion: Strategies and Theories

Running head: FAMILY ASSESSMENT1
Family assessment
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

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Introduction:
Nurses have a critical role in health promotion of client as they can support nurse to
achieve positive health outcome and increase patient’s knowledge in self-management. Nurse’s
decision making in relation of health promotion and behavioural change of patient is shaped by
their values and beliefs. These values help to understand the approach needed to respond to
patient’s health problem and negative health behaviour (Kemppainen, Tossavainen & Turunen,
2013). Through this reflective journal, personal values and beliefs related to family nursing and
health promotion will be explored and justification will be given regarding decision making for
three patients.
Selection of patients and the decision making process for each patient:
Based on my experience and knowledge regarding family nursing and health promotion,
the three patients that I would choose from the list of bios include Alex Abraham, Bernetta Bold
and Charlie Heron. The following is the details of the decision making process for each patient:
Patient 1: Alex Abraham
Factors influencing the decision making process:
The first patient that I have chosen is Alex Abraham who is a 42 year old man with type
II diabetes. He has a work shift of 12 hours and stays away from two weeks a time. He is having
difficulty in accepting his diagnosis. The factors that made me choose this patient included my
skills in therapeutic communication process and professional values of empathy towards the
client. This is because Alex mainly requires positive reinforcement to accept his diagnosis.

FAMILY ASSESSMENT3
Hence, through empathetic communication style, I will help him deal with his diagnosis and
learn self-management techniques to effectively manage his diabetes.
Key assumptions about the patient and the family:
Based on the description of the scenario, I have the assumption that currently Alex lacks
knowledge regarding the disease and the way to control and manage his diabetes. I assume that
he has no self-management knowledge related to diabetes.
Strategies to proceed with Family nursing assessment and family health promotion
To proceed with the family nursing assessment, my first strategy will be to assess
patient’s knowledge about the disease and his perception related to the impact of the new
diagnosis on him and his family members. This will to understand immediate needs of patient
and family in relation to health promotion and understand the type of health education to be
given to promote positive health (Moghaddasian, Dizaji & Mahmoudi, 2013).
After the above assessment, empathetic communication style will be used to educate
patient about the disease and develop his self-management skills. The significance of using
empathetic style is that it will support establishing working alliance with patient and addressing
ambivalence of patient regarding rigorous treatment or change in lifestyle following diagnosis.
Another significance of prioritizing effective communication style during patient education is
that interpersonal communication in decision making is more valued by patient rather than
passive delivery of education (Jones et al., 2016).
Patient 2: Bernetta Bold
Factors influencing the decision making process:

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I have chosen Bernetta Bold because she suffers from social isolation issues and based on
my skills in social support, I am confident that I can give her the right support needed to address
social isolation.
Key assumptions about the patient and the family:
I have the assumption that lack of family member presence is a major issue for her that
has affected her current health. How far, Bernetta’s children is involved in her care needs to be
analysed.
Strategies to proceed with Family nursing assessment and family health promotion:
I will start the family nursing assessment by involving Bernetta’s children in the family
assessment interview. The significance of family assessment is that it will help to collect data
about family structure and relationships and understand its impact on current symptoms of client.
This will guide in identifying how Bernetta’s family can provide social support and address her
withdrawal symptoms. In family nursing, family involvement is critical to make family member
active participant of the care process and get proper data related to health experience of patient
(Santos et al., 2017). In addition, as Bernetta has been referred for home care, I will use
humanitarian principles like respect and dignity to establish appropriate relationship with
Bernetta and provide her social support.
Patient 3: Charlie Heron
Factors influencing the decision making process: