Nurse's Pocket Guide

disabled family COPING
• Refer client to protective services as necessitated by risk of
physical harm. Removing client from home enhances individual
safety and may reduce stress on family to allow
opportunity for therapeutic intervention.
NURSING PRIORITY NO. 3. To promote wellness (Teaching/
Discharge Considerations):
• Assist family to identify coping skills being used and how these
skills are/are not helping them deal with current situation.
• Answer family’s questions patiently and honestly. Reinforce
information provided by other healthcare providers.
• Reframe negative expressions into positive, whenever possible.
(A positive frame contributes to supportive interactions
and can lead to better outcomes.)
• Respect family needs for withdrawal and intervene judiciously.
Situation may be overwhelming and time away can
be beneficial to continued participation.
• Encourage family to deal with the situation in small increments
rather than the whole picture at one time.
• Assist the family to identify familiar items that would be helpful
to the client (e.g., a family picture on the wall), especially
when hospitalized for long period of time, to reinforce/
maintain orientation.
• Refer family to appropriate resources, as needed (e.g., family
therapy, financial counseling, spiritual advisor).
• Refer to ND Grieving, as appropriate.
Documentation Focus
ASSESSMENT/REASSESSMENT
• Assessment findings, current/past behaviors, including family
members who are directly involved and support systems
available.
• Emotional response(s) to situation/stressors.
• Specific health/therapy challenges.
PLANNING
• Plan of care/interventions and who is involved in planning.
• Teaching plan.
IMPLEMENTATION/EVALUATION
• Responses of individuals to interventions/teaching and
actions performed.
• Attainment/progress toward desired outcome(s).
• Modifications to plan of care.
Information in brackets added by the authors to clarify and enhance
the use of nursing diagnoses.
226 Cultural Collaborative Community/Home Care