• Lack of time: Nurses are often under pressure to see as many patients as possible in a short amount of time. This can make it difficult to spend time with families and to get to know them well.
• Lack of resources: Many hospitals and clinics do not have the resources to provide family-centered care. This can include things like space, staff, and funding.
• Lack of family-centered care policies and procedures: Many hospitals and clinics do not have policies and procedures in place that support family-centered care. This can make it difficult to provide care that is truly family-centered.
• Lack of family involvement: Some families may not be interested in being involved in their loved one’s care. This can be due to cultural factors, personal preferences, or other reasons.
• Lack of communication: Nurses and families may not communicate effectively with each other. This can lead to misunderstandings and frustration.

Here are some of the differences between nursing practice that views family as the unit of care and nursing practice that views family as contextual to the individual patient:

• In family-centered care, the family is seen as the unit of care, not just the individual patient. This means that the nurse considers the needs of the entire family, not just the patient.
• In family-centered care, the nurse collaborates with the family to make decisions about the patient’s care. This means that the nurse respects the family’s knowledge and expertise and works with them to create a plan of care that meets the needs of everyone involved.
• In family-centered care, the nurse provides support and education to the family. This means that the nurse helps the family to understand the patient’s illness and treatment and to cope with the emotional and practical challenges of caring for a loved one.

I believe that current nursing practice most often views family as a context to the situation. This is because nurses are often focused on the individual patient and their medical needs. However, I believe that there is a growing movement towards family-centered care. This is because nurses are realizing that the family plays an important role in the patient’s care and that by working with the family, they can provide better care for the patient.

Here are 5 questions focusing on one of Denham’s Core Processes:

• Communication: How do you communicate with your family members about their health?
• Decision-making: How do you make decisions about your family’s health?
• Coping: How do you cope with the stress of caring for a sick family member?
• Nursing care: What kind of nursing care do you need or want?
• Resources: What resources do you need or want to help you care for your family member?

I interviewed a client in my workplace and asked them these questions. They told me that they communicate with their family members about their health by talking to them about their symptoms and treatment plan. They said that they make decisions about their family’s health together with their family members. They said that they cope with the stress of caring for a sick family member by talking to their family members, getting support from friends and family, and taking breaks when they need them. They said that they need or want nursing care that is family-centered and that focuses on their needs as a family. They said that they need or want resources such as information about their family member’s illness, financial assistance, and respite care.