Nursin1; interventions tluit cnhnncc,w ma. ximi:,,c the competencies c,f the fnmily as thinker include mnking inform;-i Lion/data or knnwlt'dp,c· rl'mlily nv. i ilnuk· 1111d m·ccssiblc for ease nf and <'onfidcn..-c 111 t111dt'rst,111d111i n1rrcnt s1rur1tio11-. 1n health and illness. Oecisio11-mak mg 011 approrri:it e :H·t i1111-, t" t. ti-a :1 rt'. I I k C'wisl·. 1 ·nit. 111e·,1 I. I lt\'l' loping :ind maximizing th<' skills :111(1 cnmmu11k,11iu11 <'>n1petc11d,·, of thr 1':im1l~ as tlncr c11hancc confidence in carry111~ nut thl' 1\l'ed1<l i111cr.,111i1111..: tn lnitiatv.,nd s11-:1;1i11 1'111111gc for health promoti,111 ~md 111oi11t11u1m·<·. nnd acn,rnte di,L':i,-,·/pn>l,lc111 nrnni1J!1·1111 ·nt. As feeler. the family need~ l di. !, dop tr,-tr~t11llhcn its., rr..,,-1 "''-' 1·<>111 pd1·1wie'-i II onli!I' l<J appropriatel y acknn\\'lcdgc aml undcr:,tand c111uli11m, gcrwrall·d b~ family lifr nr henlth ;ind illness situations (e. ~.. fe,1r, nn),(cr, an:dcty. jc:1lrm J<y. guilt). By doing so $l1Ch emotions r:m he lrnnsrornwd into growth-promoting C'hohr t-, nnd actions. \'i11cn the family renli:,es that acknowll:tl J?,iniz fcdin)!..-: a11d all<n,;n~ lhcm lo guide understanding of lhc situation and tht J sci f. l lw cxpcricm. :c <. :. 111 al lain llw greatest freedom in moving into new pt1ssihili1ie:<. Bcnnl'r nml Wruhel (1989) succi111·1ly expl::;a. :. ;ir:. :. 1:... :----------------------------------.._ By acknowl~dgin~ thl! J1. v~II ng in It o<. 1. om;,1111I 111c11,""W,,1 our f,., !mg!. v,f. ! crn gain the skill lo rehe. :tr~r :ind return to po 1111, f~clrn" ~\I' h, ~ 10v. pr d. c;om!ort,1nd contentment... Sy remembering. ind rf! ll P"",,1:111 pc, 11111c t,elins, on r1 w oc CJJs,or\$, we are sometim Ps ""~bled to ch~n&e our co t ·xt Qi',;hr..t1m,t;,,n,,, to on~s th t fc~tc, those Feelings, see new poss1t:tilities for,tion 11th um:h. w ·cd cu cum t mce~. or-.,mply experience pleasure and see thln&s 11. i ro. _l r li"l11 ih,s pn~H\'e. 1b11ttv m'-1 pr<,,,cit n respite and offer perspecbve d 1r1ri11 a mn of n1; t,,, It,; l1n: ~u<:11 ii lu 1r or an,Je~y. Thls respite may be what one 112cd5, 10 fo,c nd und t!. tancl tl:n ourre of the ncg;nive feelln. gs (pp, 170-1711. Focus on Interventions to Help the Family Perform the Health Tasks The nurse needs to focus her choice of ialcrvcntion. s on helping the family minimize or eliminate the possible reasons for or t:auscs of Lhc family's inability to do the health tasks: 1. Help the Family Recognize U1e Prohlem. Examples of nursing interventions to enhance the fomily'i. ability tc, rccugniz. c its health needs and problt:ms i,u. :lutl!:!: (a) inc:rc. 1. sing I he fnmily's knowledge on the nature, magnitude and c. 1us P of the prnhlem ; (h) helping the family see the implications nf the :-in. 1iition, or the et Jn. sequcncel, of the condition; (c) relatin;,; hc..lth need:. to the !/,\Jali-: of the fa mil~ (both health ;111cl non­ health relatcu :;ual<;); (ti) cncouragin)!, posilh·e or,,·hole. some emotional attitude toward the prohlcm by affirmin)'!, the family's c-~1pabilities/ qualities/resources and providing information on a,·ailable options. 2. Guide the Family on Ho·w to Decide on Appropri ate Health Actions to Take. Tbii;: can he done through: {a) illcalifyi11g ur cxpl()ring with the family Lhe courses of action,1\'ailable a11d Lhc r~ources needed for each; (b) discussing the cc H1sc4u1mces of each course of nction nvaifoblc; and, (c) analy-1. ing with the fomil_\' the 1:011;,cq 11cmccs nf innction. '3-Develop the Fami. ly's Abi Jjty and Comm ib'nenl to Provide Nursing Care to its Men1bers. The nurse can increase the family's confidence in providing nursing care to its sick, disabled nnd dependent 8. 5 