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Family assessment in an oncology setting.
1Clinical Nursing, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, New York 10032.
Cancer Nursing
|June 1, 1992
Summary
Oncology nurses can assess family stress using a family life-cycle framework. This model helps link illness and life cycles, guiding psychosocial interventions for better nursing care.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Family Systems Theory
- Psychosocial Oncology
Background:
- Oncology nursing involves unique challenges in managing patient and family stress.
- Family dynamics significantly impact the delivery of optimal nursing care in oncology settings.
- Nurse feelings of powerlessness can arise from family stress during patient illness.
Observation:
- Nurses observe families navigating the stressful experience of cancer.
- Family stress can present obstacles to effective nursing interventions.
- Assessing family coping mechanisms is crucial for holistic patient care.
Findings:
- A family life-cycle framework provides a structured approach to assessing oncology patient families.
- The centripetal and centrifugal modes concept integrates illness, individual, and family life cycles.
- This model facilitates a constructive link between the patient's illness trajectory and family functioning.
Implications:
- The proposed framework aids nurses in understanding and addressing family stress.
- It supports the development of targeted psychosocial interventions for families facing cancer.
- Utilizing this model can enhance nursing care quality and reduce nurse-perceived powerlessness.