Article Critique: Preparing modern practitioners for postmodern families - Essay Example

Family Nursing Running Head: FAMILY NURSING Article Critique: Preparing modern practitioners for postmodern families in APA Style Name of Student Name of School or CollegeFamily Nursing 2 The experience of suffering from an illness can be alleviated by those who play a role in the lives of the one suffering. These individuals are the ones whom the patient is connected with. We often consider the ones who are connected to the person with the illness as close family members and friends. However, this article focuses on others (such a doctors and nurses, particularly family nurses who can play a big role in alleviating the patient's suffering.

The reason they play a big role is because the person with the illness, or the patient, has close ties to the nurse (medical practitioner) as he or she depends on the nurse for medical care on a regular basis. Some patients and family members (this includes friends) may not realize it but the nurse also provides more than medical care such as emotional and mental encouragement, strength, hope, and so on. Or the nurse can offer the opposite and place more fear and discouragement upon the patient and family members.

There is much stress when dealing with one who is suffering from illness. Not only is there stress for the patient and family members but stress for the medical staff. All humans need the support of others. "There is a human need to share the impact of any major life event with an understanding fried, associate, or spouse. There is a considerable body of research that supports the notion that the impact of a major stressor is modified by social support," reports Rock (1992). The nurse and family interact with each other and converse with each other in this trying time and it is the knowledge, understanding, and relieving of the suffering from this type of interaction that gives the family strength and resilience during a time of family crisis.

The way a nurse thinks,Family Nursing 3the languages he or she uses, the questions he or she asks, and the values that are placed on relationships can create family strengths and resiliency in the midst of suffering. "Illness is a family affair" and the medical staff members are part of the family. (Bell, J., 1992, pp. 244-246.) Resiliency is the "ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyancy," as defined by resiliency. (n.d.). Resiliency is the ability to bounce back after a down time especially a time of crisis.

Suffering from an illness is definitely a time of crisis for the family. Families know quite well the experience of suffering and as nurses (and medical practitioners) work in the environment of suffering due to medical illnesses. "Both the family and the nurse bring specialized knowledge and expertise to (their) relationship. Family members are expert in their experiences of suffering with illness; the nurse has expert knowledge about managing illness and alleviating suffering," reports Bell, 1992, as the author quotes Write, Watson, and Bell, in press.

As each person is individual, his or her beliefs are diverse. The author of the article states that their approach to advanced practice focuses not just on the beliefs of the family members but also on the connection, or intersection, between ill person's beliefs, the beliefs of the family members, and also the beliefs of each health care professional. Healing begins at this intersection where clinical problems/issues (dilemmas) emerge and suffering can best be understood. It is the accepting of others' different perspectives and beliefs that helps strengthens and creates resilience in the crisis tim of suffering.

Family Nursing 4I believe that this article was well-written with lots of credible sources. I agree with the writings of the author as not only has she persuaded me with such an excellent research and writing, I have also held these points of view. The responsibilities of nurse and medical practitioners extend further than they used to. It no longer is an age where the nurse just helps solve medical problems and cares for the physical ailment. They are an extension of the family and a link/connection to the family's ability to handle and overcome the experiences of suffering.

Family Nursing 5ReferencesBell, J. (1992). Advanced Practice in Family Nursing: One View. Nursing facts: Advanced practice nursing: A new range in health care, pp.244-246. Washington, DC: Author. Wright, L.; Watson, M.; and Bell, J.M. (1990). The Family Nursing Unit: A unique integration of research, education, and clinical practice. In J.M. Bell, W.L. Watson & L.M. Wright (Eds.). The cutting edge of family nursing (pp.95-112). Calgary, Alberta: Family Nursing Unit Publications.

resiliency. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 02, 2006, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/resiliencyRock, W. (1992). Physician support groups in a multispecialty group practice setting - Interpersonal Relations. Physician Executive, March-April 1992. Thomas Gale.