Nursing Care of the family and child with a chronic or complex condition
Assessment
Affecting of factors affecting family adjustment
| Factors Affecting Adjustment | Assessment Question |
| Available Support System | |
| Status of marital relationship | To whom do you talk when you have something on your mind? (If answer is not the spouse, ask for the reason.) |
| Alternate support systems | When something is worrying you, what do you do? |
| What helps you most when you are upset? | |
| Ability to communicate | Does talking seem to help when you feel upset? |
| Perception of the Illness or Disability | |
| Previous knowledge of disorder | Have you ever heard the word (name of diagnosis) before? Tell me about it (if answer is yes). |
| Imagined cause of disorder | What are your thoughts about the causes of the disorder? |
| Effects of illness or disability on family | How has your child’s illness or disability affected you and your family? |
| How has your lifestyle changed? | |
| Coping Mechanisms | |
| Reactions to previous crises | Tell me one time you’ve had another crisis (problem, bad time) in your family. How did you solve that problem? |
| Reactions to the child | Do you find yourself being a little more cautious with this child than with your other children? |
| Childrearing practices | Do you feel as comfortable disciplining this child as your other children? |
| Influence of religion | Has your religion or faith been of help to you? Tell me how (if answer is yes). |
| Attitudes | How is this child different from the siblings or other children of similar age? |
| Describe your child’s personality. Is it easy, difficult, or in between? | |
| When you think of your child’s future, what thoughts come to mind? | |
| Available Resources | |
| What parts of your child’s care are causing the most difficulty for you or your family? | |
| What services are available to help? | |
| What services do you need that currently are not available? | |
| Concurrent Stresses | |
| What other problems are you facing now? (Be specific; ask about financial, marital, sibling, and extended family or friends concerns.) | |
