IndexThe Family as a SystemThe Family in Nursing PracticeNursing TheoryConclusionThe field of nursing is continually evolving to provide healthcare to an increasingly diverse global population. This evolution has brought not only changes in care and medical practice, but also the consideration of various inputs that previously went unnoticed. (Fawcett, 2005) One of these inputs is family. In recent decades, the nursing profession has begun to realize the importance of the family unit in patient recovery and overall mental and physical well-being. This essay will explore the importance of the family in relation to nursing practice and theory. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The Family as a System There are several ways in which families work to promote the health of all their members. When you become ill and/or need medical attention, the influence of family is especially important and there is certainly more than one dynamic that family will impact. (Fawcett, 2005) The family's goal during a time when one or more members are receiving medical care should be to restore that member's health. (Friedman, 2003) The family unit must work together to provide great emotional support to the individual. The family should be strongly connected and encourage the patient to also pursue healthy lifestyles. This can be as simple as helping the individual learn about the recovery process or it can be as involved as starting an intensive exercise regimen with the patient for support. The family should also be a place to which the patient can turn to deal with his problems. While the family's impact is usually in the form of emotional support, it can and does affect the patient's physical health as well. (Friedman, 2003) The family in nursing practice In my nursing practice, the most used concept of family is that of the family as an emotional support structure. During difficult and life-changing diagnoses, families are educated on how to properly address them and how to help provide support to the patient during this process. Families are often called by doctors and nurses to make sure the patient has someone to talk to and does not feel isolated. Additionally, families are sometimes relied upon as a catalyst for patient recovery. For example, when a patient appears to be reluctant to take medications, often the simplest and most effective course is to discuss the importance of taking the medication with the patient's family. Normally, the family will be able to convince the patient to take the medicine. There does not appear to be any concept of family care that can lay claim to being the most helpful. The various concepts of family in nursing practice take on different levels of importance in different situations. (Fawcett, 2005) For someone trying to lose weight, the concept of family congruence and togetherness where the entire family adopts healthy eating habits would be the most helpful. For an individual who has just been diagnosed with cancer, an emotional support system of love and care would be very helpful. (Fawcett, 2005) Nursing Theory The theory most conducive to my area of ​​practice is Roy's adaptation model. This model views the patient's overall health as a function of biological, social and psychological effects. (Fawcett, 2005) The family certainly plays an important role in this, obviously on a social level, but also on a psychological and biological level in terms of.