NURS 436 Family Health Promotion Assignment 4 Conference Participation
NEW UPDATE Athabasca University
Conference Participation
Faculty of Health Sciences, Athabasca
University NURS 436: Family Health Promotion
Assignment 4 Professor: Lisa-Anne Barrett
, Unit 1
Sense of Family
In rendering a pictorial representation of my family, I would include my parents,
siblings, a sister from another mother, my husband, and my son, who collectively make
up my dependable support system, reciprocally relying on one another. My
conceptualization of family aligns with the notion that families, as asserted by Yulfa and
Herawati (2017), are defined by their members' claims and constitute groups reliant on
one another for financial, emotional, and physical support. The criterion that individuals
must have a longstanding presence in my life and contribute to our mutual support
system to be considered part of my family is essential to my understanding.
Religious and cultural influences have significantly shaped my view of what
defines family. Rooted in a close-knit church community during my upbringing, where
support was extended among members regardless of blood relations, my
understanding of family transcends biological ties. This cultural backdrop, combined
with my traditional family structure of father, mother, and children, wherein my
childhood was mainly spent with cousins, aunties, uncles, and grandparents,
contributed significantly to my nuanced perspective. However, our nanny looked after
us while our parents cared for our business. My background and all of these early
experiences shaped my family's view.
Family Nursing Theories
The required nursing textbook discussed many nursing theories, among which
Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory and Nightingale's environmental theory particularly
struck me. I was raised in a household with a profound connection to cultural
heritage, and it is of utmost significance to acquire and adhere to this cultural
framework.
, Orem's self-care deficit hypothesis has particular significance for me due to its
recognition of the family as a crucial social unit in which individuals acquire knowledge
about cultural norms, responsibilities, and commitments (Robinson et al., 2022). For
example, family members learn about appropriate responses to a family member's
illness. The development of self-care behaviours within the family is influenced by their
interpersonal relationships, communication patterns, and adherence to cultural norms
(Robinson et al., 2022). The theory is characterized by its relative simplicity but can be
applied to diverse patients. Nurses may use this tool to provide guidance, enhance their
practice, and identify areas of self-care deficiency.
Furthermore, it aids in establishing the responsibilities of patients and nurses in
addressing self- care requirements.
I was born in a developing country characterized by limited access to primary
resources such as clean water, which, therefore, gives rise to various illnesses and
health complications.
Nightingale's environmental theory is particularly compelling because of its emphasis
on the significance of attending to the patient's surroundings to achieve health
objectives and remedy ailments. According to Gilbert (2020), the theory highlights
many environmental elements that impact health, including fresh air, clear water,
enough food resources, adequate drainage, cleanliness of both the patient and the
surroundings, and adequate exposure to light, especially direct sunshine. Based on the
theoretical framework, the nurse is responsible for modifying the patient's surroundings
to progressively set up an ideal milieu that facilitates the innate healing capacity of the
patient's body (Gilbert, 2020). In some instances, this might entail limited auditory
disturbances; in other cases, it may need adherence to a particular dietary regimen.
Environmental elements affect patients depending on their specific conditions and
diseases. Nurses need to handle these aspects in a customized manner, taking into
