The purpose of writing a Family Assessment Paper is to gather one’s thoughts, ideas and insights from our various readings and discussions in order to analyze one family. The media may have given us the idea that a family consists of two parents (of opposite sexes), a stay-at-home Mom (Dad is the breadwinner) and two or three children (seldom adopted). Meeting with the families each of you chose may have provided a view very different from the “idealized” family of radio and television. Change has been part of the evolution of families from the first coming together of individuals in a shared group setting. The Family Assessment Paper will provide an opportunity to examine one family in light of the many aspects of family systems the textbook has brought to light. The paper also considers the energy exchange between the numerous environmental forces that come to bear on families. Placing the family in its community is thought provoking, as well.

You are required to choose a family (not your own) and meet with them for three sessions/visits during the semester in order to complete a thorough family nursing assessment. For your safety, meetings do not occur in person. They should be completed over-the-phone, via face-time or via Zoom or other on-line applications. In Appendix A of your textbook is the Family Systems Stressor-Strength Inventory which should be used to complete your assessment. Chapters 1, 3, 4 and 14 (pp.453-471), along with Appendix A & B in your textbook will assist you with your paper, assessment and evaluation. Please refer to your Family Assessment Grading Rubric

Make sure to address the following content in your assessment and paper:

1. Description of family as a whole and members
2. List the members of the family using initials and ages
3. Complete a genogram of at least three generations starting with parent/child dyad*
4. Complete an eco-map with energy going in both directions
5. Identify the subsystems of this family system by roles, interconnection and dimension including generation, sex, interests/abilities and function using Family Systems Theory
6. Evaluate the boundaries of this family system on a continuum ranging from open (1) to closed (10) including a score and rationale using Family Systems Theory
7. Identify the family members according to their formal/assigned roles and their informal/ascribed roles. Define the culture and evaluate cultural influence. Reference content on culture.
8. Consider if family roles are congruent with social norms of the community such as where they live or in the United States as a whole. Evaluate cultural influence.
9. Identify family’s life cycle stage and development task. Describe how this family is carrying out their developmental stage task. Describe changes in family that are required to proceed developmentally. Include theory used.
10. Identify strengths and stressors based upon results of all family members who completed the inventory (See textbook p.596). Describe impact of stressors.
11. Identify one Family diagnosis & related interventions

*The genogram can be completed using Microsoft Word tools or on-line at http://www.genopro.com/. No handwritten drawings are accepted. If you use the Genopro software program, you must save in an adobe or PDF file. If I can’t open it, I will not be able to grade it.*

Requirements:

• Word count to be a minimum of 1000 words
• Use APA (sixth edition) style of writingo
• Site at least 2 sources (one regarding content on culture)