Question

Initially, the nurse should begin by doing what in completing a client's family assessment?

1. Collecting health data from all the family members
2. Testing the family's ability to cope with normal stressors
3. Evaluating the family's interpersonal communication patterns
4. Determining the client's definition of familiar structure and attitudes

Answer 1

The nurse should initially determine the client's definition of family structure and attitudes as part of a family assessment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Initially, in completing a client's family assessment, the nurse should begin by determining the client's definition of family structure and attitudes. This foundational step is crucial for understanding the family's unique dynamics, which can influence health behaviors, communication patterns, and the coping mechanisms they employ in response to stress. Subsequent steps would involve collecting health data from family members, evaluating communication patterns, and testing the family's ability to cope with normal stressors, all of which contribute to building a comprehensive family assessment. An awareness of cultural differences and a focus on the individual's perception underlie the importance of these initial steps in family assessment, including considerations for variations in family life such as single parents, cohabitation, same-sex couples, and the roles of fictive kin.