Final answer:
Nurses should focus on recognizing variations in family life, understanding the prevalence and unique characteristics of nontraditional family structures, discussing the social impact of changing family structures, and exploring family challenges and difficulties.
Step-by-step explanation:
When assessing family structure, nurses should focus on four principle areas of concern:
- Recognizing variations in family life, such as single parents, cohabitation, same-sex couples, and unmarried individuals.
- Understanding the prevalence and unique characteristics of these nontraditional family structures.
- Discussing the social impact of changing family structures.
- Exploring the challenges and difficulties faced by families and individuals, such as divorce, remarriage, and domestic abuse.
By addressing these areas, nurses can better understand the dynamics of a family and provide appropriate support and care.