NSG 526 Exam 1 Actual Exam V3 | NSG 526 Family Nursing (NSG526
Exam 1) | Herzing University PDF
1. According to the Calgary Family Assessment Model (CFAM), which category includes the
evaluation of family boundaries, rank order, and subsystems?
A. Developmental assessment
B. Functional assessment
C. Contextual assessment
D. Structural assessment
Answer: D
Rationale: The structural assessment in the CFAM focuses on the internal and external
structure of the family. It specifically looks at the composition of the family, including
gender, sexual orientation, and subsystems. Understanding these boundaries helps the
nurse identify how the family is organized and how members interact.
2. When a nurse observes that a mother and daughter have such a close relationship that
their individual identities are blurred, which term from Family Systems Theory best describes
this?
A. Enmeshment
B. Triangulation
C. Differentiation of self
D. Disengagement
Answer: A
Rationale: Enmeshment occurs when boundaries between family members are diffuse and
individual autonomy is discouraged. This pattern often leads to a lack of privacy and
difficulty in developing a separate sense of self. It is a key concept in Minuchin’s Structural
Family Therapy and indicates high reactivity within the system.
3. A nurse is interviewing a family where the father recently lost his job. The nurse asks, ‘How
has your husband’s unemployment changed the way you all spend time together on
weekends?’ This is an example of what type of questioning?
A. Linear questioning
B. Strategic questioning
C. Circular questioning
D. Reflexive questioning
,Answer: C
Rationale: Circular questioning is intended to reveal the relationships and differences
between family members regarding a specific issue. It helps the family and the nurse
understand the impact of an event on the system’s dynamics. This technique encourages
family members to view their situation from a broader, systemic perspective.
4. In Duvall’s Family Life Cycle, which stage is characterized by the primary task of ‘balancing
freedom with responsibility’ as children move toward independence?
A. Families with preschoolers
B. Families with school-age children
C. Launching center families
D. Families with teenagers
Answer: D
Rationale: The stage of families with teenagers involves shifting the parent-child
relationship to allow the adolescent more autonomy while maintaining safety. Parents
must adapt to the growing need for independence while providing a supportive home base.
Successfully navigating this stage prepares the family for the eventual launching of the
young adult.
5. Which family assessment tool is most effective for visualizing the family’s social network
and their relationship with external systems like schools and healthcare providers?
A. Genogram
B. APGAR-S
C. Family APGAR
D. Ecomap
Answer: D
Rationale: An ecomap provides a visual representation of the family’s connections to the
larger social system. It identifies the flow of energy and resources between the family unit
and outside entities. This tool is essential for identifying sources of support or stress in the
family’s environment.
6. A 70-year-old caregiver for a spouse with advanced Alzheimer’s expresses feelings of
exhaustion and isolation. Which nursing intervention is the priority for this family?
A. Referring the spouse to a clinical trial for new medications
B. Teaching the caregiver how to perform basic physical therapy at home
C. Providing education on the pathophysiology of dementia
, D. Encouraging the caregiver to attend a support group and arrange respite care
Answer: D
Rationale: Caregiver burnout is a significant risk in chronic illness management, especially
with neurodegenerative diseases. Respite care provides the necessary break for the
caregiver to maintain their own health and well-being. Support groups offer emotional
validation and practical coping strategies from others in similar situations.
7. What is the primary goal of the ‘Functional Assessment’ within the Calgary Family
Assessment Model?
A. To identify genetic predispositions to illness
B. To determine the socioeconomic status of the household
C. To evaluate how family members interact and behave toward one another
D. To map out the family’s extended kinship network
Answer: C
Rationale: The functional assessment focuses on the everyday activities and interactions
of family members. This includes instrumental functioning, like activities of daily living, and
expressive functioning, such as communication and roles. It helps the nurse understand the
family’s internal dynamics and capacity for problem-solving.
8. When two family members who are in conflict involve a third member to reduce tension
and avoid dealing with the conflict directly, this is known as:
A. Triangulation
B. Reframing
C. Splitting
D. Boundary crossing
Answer: A
Rationale: Triangulation is a core concept in Bowen’s Family Systems Theory where a two-
person system under stress draws in a third person. While it temporarily stabilizes the
relationship by diverting tension, it prevents the original pair from resolving their issues.
Over time, this can lead to dysfunctional communication patterns across generations.
9. In the context of Family Nursing, the ‘Family as System’ approach focuses on:
A. The individual patient as the primary focus
B. The interactions and relationships between all family members
C. The family as a background for the individual’s illness
D. The family’s relationship with the community only
Exam 1) | Herzing University PDF
1. According to the Calgary Family Assessment Model (CFAM), which category includes the
evaluation of family boundaries, rank order, and subsystems?
A. Developmental assessment
B. Functional assessment
C. Contextual assessment
D. Structural assessment
Answer: D
Rationale: The structural assessment in the CFAM focuses on the internal and external
structure of the family. It specifically looks at the composition of the family, including
gender, sexual orientation, and subsystems. Understanding these boundaries helps the
nurse identify how the family is organized and how members interact.
2. When a nurse observes that a mother and daughter have such a close relationship that
their individual identities are blurred, which term from Family Systems Theory best describes
this?
A. Enmeshment
B. Triangulation
C. Differentiation of self
D. Disengagement
Answer: A
Rationale: Enmeshment occurs when boundaries between family members are diffuse and
individual autonomy is discouraged. This pattern often leads to a lack of privacy and
difficulty in developing a separate sense of self. It is a key concept in Minuchin’s Structural
Family Therapy and indicates high reactivity within the system.
3. A nurse is interviewing a family where the father recently lost his job. The nurse asks, ‘How
has your husband’s unemployment changed the way you all spend time together on
weekends?’ This is an example of what type of questioning?
A. Linear questioning
B. Strategic questioning
C. Circular questioning
D. Reflexive questioning
,Answer: C
Rationale: Circular questioning is intended to reveal the relationships and differences
between family members regarding a specific issue. It helps the family and the nurse
understand the impact of an event on the system’s dynamics. This technique encourages
family members to view their situation from a broader, systemic perspective.
4. In Duvall’s Family Life Cycle, which stage is characterized by the primary task of ‘balancing
freedom with responsibility’ as children move toward independence?
A. Families with preschoolers
B. Families with school-age children
C. Launching center families
D. Families with teenagers
Answer: D
Rationale: The stage of families with teenagers involves shifting the parent-child
relationship to allow the adolescent more autonomy while maintaining safety. Parents
must adapt to the growing need for independence while providing a supportive home base.
Successfully navigating this stage prepares the family for the eventual launching of the
young adult.
5. Which family assessment tool is most effective for visualizing the family’s social network
and their relationship with external systems like schools and healthcare providers?
A. Genogram
B. APGAR-S
C. Family APGAR
D. Ecomap
Answer: D
Rationale: An ecomap provides a visual representation of the family’s connections to the
larger social system. It identifies the flow of energy and resources between the family unit
and outside entities. This tool is essential for identifying sources of support or stress in the
family’s environment.
6. A 70-year-old caregiver for a spouse with advanced Alzheimer’s expresses feelings of
exhaustion and isolation. Which nursing intervention is the priority for this family?
A. Referring the spouse to a clinical trial for new medications
B. Teaching the caregiver how to perform basic physical therapy at home
C. Providing education on the pathophysiology of dementia
, D. Encouraging the caregiver to attend a support group and arrange respite care
Answer: D
Rationale: Caregiver burnout is a significant risk in chronic illness management, especially
with neurodegenerative diseases. Respite care provides the necessary break for the
caregiver to maintain their own health and well-being. Support groups offer emotional
validation and practical coping strategies from others in similar situations.
7. What is the primary goal of the ‘Functional Assessment’ within the Calgary Family
Assessment Model?
A. To identify genetic predispositions to illness
B. To determine the socioeconomic status of the household
C. To evaluate how family members interact and behave toward one another
D. To map out the family’s extended kinship network
Answer: C
Rationale: The functional assessment focuses on the everyday activities and interactions
of family members. This includes instrumental functioning, like activities of daily living, and
expressive functioning, such as communication and roles. It helps the nurse understand the
family’s internal dynamics and capacity for problem-solving.
8. When two family members who are in conflict involve a third member to reduce tension
and avoid dealing with the conflict directly, this is known as:
A. Triangulation
B. Reframing
C. Splitting
D. Boundary crossing
Answer: A
Rationale: Triangulation is a core concept in Bowen’s Family Systems Theory where a two-
person system under stress draws in a third person. While it temporarily stabilizes the
relationship by diverting tension, it prevents the original pair from resolving their issues.
Over time, this can lead to dysfunctional communication patterns across generations.
9. In the context of Family Nursing, the ‘Family as System’ approach focuses on:
A. The individual patient as the primary focus
B. The interactions and relationships between all family members
C. The family as a background for the individual’s illness
D. The family’s relationship with the community only
