I asked her if there were many problems in her opinion with the communication between herself and FB. She stated, “no, but we do yell sometimes”.
The B’s show a possible dysfunction in family communication because there is not effective emotional communication between FB and MB (Friedman et al., 2003).
Family Member’s Responsibilities Within the Family and Community
MB stated FB and MB is going to try to help out with JB equally but she suspects she will have to, and want to spend more time with JB. She stated this was not FB’s fault, but FB’s job takes more time. MB said FB tries to act like the “bread winner”. He wants to make sure all necessities related to money are met. She said he also like to have material things.
The family member’s responsibilities creates a functional environment because MB knows her partner and what roles he tries to take on and each tries to pick up slack for the other without complaint in time of need.
Family Values
MB stated FB and her have the same values. Although he is a Jehovah witness, he is not practicing and goes with her to her Christian church each week. MB stated she believes in the basic Christian values, treating people right, educating my child, the father should help raise, and both parents should be heavily involved in the child’s upbringing.
The B’s values contribute to a functional family environment because parents believe in the same things. Conflicting values may cause dysfunction (Friedman et al., 2003).
Family’s Ability to Meet Affective Needs of the Members
MB stated that her emotional needs are met through FB. If she does have conflict with FB and needs to find support elsewhere, her family is there to comfort her with love and attention. She states that she tries to make times when their schedules get busy to just cuddle and talk to meet his emotional needs.
The ability of MB and FB to meet each other’s affective needs is a sign of a functional family because “through fulfillment of the affective function, the family enhances the qualities of humanness, the stabilization of personality and behavior, relatability, and self esteem of family members” (Friedman et al., 2003).
Family’s Ability to Meet Socialization Needs of the Members
MB states FB and her either go out on a date, stay home and watch movies, or go out dancing on the weekends. She stated they usually have at least one night where they can have a planned activity. She stated that this is enough social time to keep her happy, but of course, she would always like to go out more. MB did not know how much exactly having a kid would affect their social life, but she knew it would be significant
The B’s have a good possibility of becoming dysfunctional in the socialization needs because of their current level of social activity and the arrival of a new baby will deplete the amount of social time considerably (Friedman et al., 2003).
Family’s Ability to Meet Health-care Needs of the Members
Since MB and FB are not married, they do not fall under each other’s policies. However, they both have their own insurance through their work providers. MB stated her insurance is great and covers everything she has needed.
Having adequate health-care promotes a functional family because it meets the needs of the family if a person becomes sick. Also, it helps develop a family health history and family records, which is important for identifying risk factors (Friedman et al., 2003).
Family’s Ability to Cope With Stressors Within and External to the Family
MB stated FB and her do have the occasional fight. She said it usually ends up with both of them yelling and then both of the cooling off privately. She said once they have had their time to be alone, then they usually talk calmly for 10 minutes and everything is better.
MB stated if the stress is work or other family members, then FB will let her lie in his arms and talk to her which makes her feel safe and secure. She stated if it is FB who is stressed, then he usually likes to be left alone for a bit and then likes to be comforted.
MB said that they do not really cope with their stress without each other. They do occasionally go out with their own group of friends without one another, but that does not have to do with relieving stress.
The B’s have a possibility of developing a dysfunctional coping style because they deal with their stress in limited ways (Friedman et al., 2003).
Synthesis
Overall, the B’s are a functional family in the transition of developing into a new stage. The strengths of their family that will help them grow and keep their functionality are the adequacy of their home, responsibilities of the family members, family values, ability to meet affective needs of the members, and ability to meet health-care needs. These are strengths because the newborn baby will cause stress with FB and MB and the strengths will help eliminate possible stressors that could be associated with each area.
The weaknesses of their family that could progress them into a dysfunctional family are family communication patterns, socializational needs, and family’s ability to cope with stressors. These weaknesses could progress them into a dysfunctional family because they will have to change with the new baby. MB will not be able to yell at FB anymore. MB and FB will have to find new ways to socialize because of having to spend time with the baby. The family may have to find new ways to cope with stressors because having many ways of coping is better than only a few ways of coping (Friedman et al., 2003).
Nursing Diagnoses
- Family process alteration related to new member of the family as manifested by MB stating she knows her communication, patterns, and rituals are going to change.
- Risk for disturbed sleep pattern related to care of infant on a 24-hour basis
- Risk for caregiver role strain related to unexpected time and effort of taking care of an infant.
- Risk for compromised family coping related to risk factors such as minimal family coping strategies
- Risk for family crisis related to role changes
- Risk for deficit in self esteem related to feelings of inadequacy of being a new parent
- Risk for altered parent/infant attachment related to parenting skill or knowledge of child development issues
- Risk for ineffective family coping related to chronic or acute health care conditions of infant
- Risk for Parental role conflict related to differeing expectation s of caregiving functions
Family Care Plan
Nursing Diagnosis
Family process alteration related to new member of the family as manifested by MB stating she knows her communication, patterns, and rituals are going to change.
Long Term Expected Outcomes
- MB and FB will be able to express feelings of frustration without yelling within six months
- MB and FB will be able to recognize signs and symptoms of partners excessive stress within three months
- Family members will be able to help complete roles of the other members when needed within one week
Short Term Expected Outcomes
- Family will be able to find new ways to socialize within three weeks
- Family will keep and find new ways to meet each other’s emotional needs within one week
- Family will be able to find family support if issues arise within one week
- Family members will be able to be flexible with their roles within one week
Interventions
Evaluations For Long Term Outcomes
- MB and FB will not yell when frustrated
- MB and FB each will be able to name five things that stress their partner out and name three signs or symptoms of being “stressed out”
- MB and FB will state what roles they completed for their partner after one month
Evaluations For Short Term Outcomes
- Parents will be able to tell the nurse two new ways to socialize by discharge and six new ways by three weeks
- Parents will name two new ways to meet their partner’s needs after one week
- Parents will name where their list is and who they would call in two different situations after one week
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Parents will name two different ways they can be flexible with two of their roles after one week
Graphic A
References
Friedman, M. M., Bowden, V. R., & Jones, E. G. (2003). Family Nursing: Research, Theory, & Practice (5th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Lowdermilk, D. L., & Perry, S. E. (2003). Maternity Nursing (6th ed.). Missouri: Mosby.
