Topic Overview
The correct approach to family assistance lies in recognizing the causes that led to an unfavorable situation. In this case, the obstacle to treating the patient is her mother’s unwillingness to accept the diagnosis. The root cause of such behavior lies in the psychological denial of the traumatic and stressful factor. This reason is especially relevant, given the chronic nature of the diagnosed disease. The situation requires immediate intervention to implement an integrated approach that creates suitable conditions for maintaining stable treatment.
Reflecting on Diagnosis
The patient is 12 years old and has been living with diabetes for five years. As a result of this condition, the patient sometimes becomes ill and needs to visit a doctor. The diagnosis makes the patient feel different from other children and occasionally requires more care than peers. The patient lives in a family with two siblings who are healthy, which sometimes causes feelings of jealousy and a desire to live like a typical child.
The patient feels that the mother does not always believe them when they report feeling unwell and assumes that the symptoms are related to adolescence or a desire for attention. The patient would like the visiting nurse to explain to the mother that the symptoms are real and to encourage her to accompany the patient to the clinic. The patient also wants the siblings to be informed about the condition, as they become frightened when the patient feels unwell. Additionally, the patient plans to ask the nurse for guidance on how to prevent episodes in order to manage the condition more effectively.
Selecting Nursing Theory and Assessment Tool
A nurse practitioner must intervene in the family situation to alleviate the condition of the minor patient. The most appropriate method for this case is the Family Stress Theory. This theory can be used to develop an intervention strategy, as it examines the situation from a social, medical, and psychological perspective (Kaakinen et al., 2018).The central concept of this theory is that the whole family should be the object of intervention for significant improvements (Kaakinen et al., 2018). The illness of one of the children becomes a significant stress for the family.
From a social perspective, parents are concerned that they may not have sufficient funds to cover the cost of treatment. From a psychological perspective, the mother denies the problem as a defense mechanism (Lubit, 2019). She is not ready to believe that her child is chronically ill.
To apply the chosen theory in practice, it is necessary to use the tools of the Integrated Family Assessment and Intervention Model (IFAIM) and the Family System Stressor-Strength Inventory (FS3I). IFAIM is designed to support families navigating complex, multifaceted stress situations (Wright & Leahey, 2013). The approach is based on helping families identify their strengths and protect against negative situations (Wright & Leahey, 2013).
In this case, protection from adverse consequences will involve raising awareness within the family about the disease affecting one of the children. FS3I is designed to provide quick support, reducing family stress (Kaakinen et al., 2018). The advantage of this model lies in its consideration and minimization of various stressors that affect family situations (Kaakinen et al., 2018). In this case, the combined use of both tools is necessary.
IFAIM and FS3I are suitable for the family in question, as they aim to address multiple factors that contribute to their disadvantaged situation. It is necessary to identify all the reasons leading to the mother’s frivolous attitude towards her daughter’s illness and to address each of them with precision. The Family Stress Theory, which proposes an intervention, is appropriate for the family in question, as the primary reason for neglect stems from the mother’s psychological stress reaction. Solving this problem will lead to productive work on the patient’s treatment.
Conclusion
The described case requires the immediate intervention of a nurse practitioner to establish the right intra-family atmosphere that will contribute to the normal course of the identified chronic disease. The basis for the intervention is the Family Stress Theory, which is designed to consider each case from a medical, social, and psychological side. To successfully resolve an unfavorable situation, it is necessary to perceive a family with a chronically ill child as one whole. Increasing the awareness of family members about the disease and alleviating the trauma of this experience are the basis for resolving this case.
References
Kaakinen, J.R., Coehlo, D. P., Steele, R., & Robinson, M. (2018). Family health care nursing: Theory, practice, and research. F.A. Davis Company.
Lubit, R. (2019). Valid and invalid ways to assess the reason a child rejects a parent: The continued malignant role of “parental alienation syndrome”. Journal of Child Custody, 16(1), 42-66.
Wright. L. & Leahey, M. (2013). Nurses and families: A guide to family assessment and intervention. F.A. Davis Company.