Keep the focus on the family

Children's nurses deal with the family on a daily basis. There are many theories about the family, and there is good supporting evidence focusing on the family as it interacts with healthcare professionals. Modern technology and the structure of today's society have influenced the way families function. This article considers some of the cornerstone theories about the family, looks at family stages, relates these to the healthcare setting and in particular examines the family under stress. Each family is (or has the potential to be) a unique dynamic, functional system of childrearing, care and support for its members. Children are often admitted to hospital for short periods or can be discharged home while still fairly dependent. This can mean a heavy family commitment, and how the family functions results in several issues for children's nurses to reflect on. It is too simplistic to state that standards of care depend on how the family copes under pressure, but undoubtedly this would have some influence. Children's nurses need to be able to assess the family in order to promote coping and to equip the family to deal with the stresses of extraordinary care demands, which can result in having a sick or dependent child at home. The aim should be to enable the family to find the caring experience a positive one and to be able to keep a balance and a quality to family life so that all the family members' needs are met.