NSG 526 Final Exam Actual Exam V1 | NSG 526 Family Nursing
(NSG526 Final Exam) | Herzing University PDF
1. According to Bowen’s Family Systems Theory, what does the concept of ‘Differentiation of
Self’ primarily describe?
A. The process of cutting off all ties with family members to achieve total independence.
B. The physical distance a child maintains from their parents after reaching adulthood.
C. The ability of an individual to separate their emotional and intellectual functioning from
the family unit.
D. The development of unique personality traits that distinguish siblings from one another.
Answer: C
Rationale: Differentiation of self involves the capacity to maintain a balance between
emotional and intellectual processing. Highly differentiated individuals can stay calm and
rational under stress within the family system. This process is essential for preventing the
automatic transmission of anxiety across generations.
2. When using the Calgary Family Assessment Model (CFAM), which category includes the
assessment of ‘Expressive Functioning’?
A. Functional Assessment
B. Developmental Assessment
C. Structural Assessment
D. Environmental Assessment
Answer: A
Rationale: Expressive functioning is a subcategory of functional assessment in the CFAM
framework. It focuses on the emotional, verbal, nonverbal, and circular communication
styles within the family. Understanding these patterns helps the nurse identify how the
family manages internal and external challenges.
3. In the context of family nursing, a ‘Genogram’ is used primarily to:
A. Provide a visual map of internal family structures and health patterns over at least three
generations.
B. Identify the external social systems that support the family unit.
C. Assess the specific financial resources available to the family for healthcare.
D. Measure the spiritual beliefs and practices of individual family members.
,Answer: A
Rationale: A genogram provides a comprehensive visual representation of a family’s
history, including health issues and relationship dynamics. It typically spans at least three
generations to reveal recurring patterns of behavior or illness. This tool helps nurses and
families identify genetic risks and emotional legacies.
4. Which concept describes the process where a two-person relationship under stress
involves a third person to reduce anxiety?
A. Enmeshment
B. Subsystem formation
C. Triangulation
D. Circular Causality
Answer: C
Rationale: Triangulation occurs when a third party is brought into a conflict between two
people to stabilize the relationship. While it reduces immediate tension, it prevents the
original two people from resolving their issues directly. Advanced practice nurses must
identify triangulation to help families develop healthier dyadic communication.
5. Using Duvall’s Family Life Cycle stages, a family with a child who is 4 years old is
categorized as being in which stage?
A. Stage I: Beginning Families
B. Stage III: Families with Preschoolers
C. Stage II: Childbearing Families
D. Stage IV: Families with School-aged Children
Answer: B
Rationale: Stage III of Duvall’s model focuses on families where the oldest child is between
two and a half and six years old. The primary task of this stage is to adapt to the needs and
interests of preschool children in ways that promote growth. It also involves coping with
energy depletion and the lack of privacy for parents.
6. A family nurse practitioner notices a mother and daughter finishing each other’s sentences
and showing high levels of emotional reactivity. This is an example of:
A. Disengagement
B. Enmeshment
C. Effective communication
D. Boundary setting
, Answer: B
Rationale: Enmeshment refers to family boundaries that are overly permeable or blurred,
leading to a loss of individual autonomy. In enmeshed systems, family members are hyper-
sensitive to each other’s moods and thoughts. This often results in a lack of differentiation
and can hinder healthy individual development.
7. Which tool is most effective for visualizing the family’s relationship with external systems
like schools, employers, and social services?
A. Genogram
B. Ecomap
C. Family APGAR
D. Spiritual Assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: An ecomap is a diagram that shows the family’s interactions with their broader
social environment. It highlights the strength and quality of connections to external
support systems or stressors. Nurses use this to identify resources that can be leveraged or
gaps in the family’s support network.
8. According to the Calgary Family Intervention Model (CFIM), which domain of family
functioning is targeted when a nurse asks circular questions to change family perspectives?
A. Cognitive domain
B. Affective domain
C. Behavioral domain
D. Spiritual domain
Answer: A
Rationale: Circular questions are designed to elicit information about relationships and to
offer new ways of thinking about family problems. They primarily target the cognitive
domain by challenging the family’s current beliefs and perceptions. This cognitive shift can
lead to changes in emotional responses and behaviors.
9. The ‘ABC-X’ Model of Family Stress and Coping defines the ‘X’ factor as:
A. The crisis or state of equilibrium resulting from the event.
B. The family’s resources for meeting the demand.
C. The family’s perception of the event.
D. The stressor event itself.
Answer: A
(NSG526 Final Exam) | Herzing University PDF
1. According to Bowen’s Family Systems Theory, what does the concept of ‘Differentiation of
Self’ primarily describe?
A. The process of cutting off all ties with family members to achieve total independence.
B. The physical distance a child maintains from their parents after reaching adulthood.
C. The ability of an individual to separate their emotional and intellectual functioning from
the family unit.
D. The development of unique personality traits that distinguish siblings from one another.
Answer: C
Rationale: Differentiation of self involves the capacity to maintain a balance between
emotional and intellectual processing. Highly differentiated individuals can stay calm and
rational under stress within the family system. This process is essential for preventing the
automatic transmission of anxiety across generations.
2. When using the Calgary Family Assessment Model (CFAM), which category includes the
assessment of ‘Expressive Functioning’?
A. Functional Assessment
B. Developmental Assessment
C. Structural Assessment
D. Environmental Assessment
Answer: A
Rationale: Expressive functioning is a subcategory of functional assessment in the CFAM
framework. It focuses on the emotional, verbal, nonverbal, and circular communication
styles within the family. Understanding these patterns helps the nurse identify how the
family manages internal and external challenges.
3. In the context of family nursing, a ‘Genogram’ is used primarily to:
A. Provide a visual map of internal family structures and health patterns over at least three
generations.
B. Identify the external social systems that support the family unit.
C. Assess the specific financial resources available to the family for healthcare.
D. Measure the spiritual beliefs and practices of individual family members.
,Answer: A
Rationale: A genogram provides a comprehensive visual representation of a family’s
history, including health issues and relationship dynamics. It typically spans at least three
generations to reveal recurring patterns of behavior or illness. This tool helps nurses and
families identify genetic risks and emotional legacies.
4. Which concept describes the process where a two-person relationship under stress
involves a third person to reduce anxiety?
A. Enmeshment
B. Subsystem formation
C. Triangulation
D. Circular Causality
Answer: C
Rationale: Triangulation occurs when a third party is brought into a conflict between two
people to stabilize the relationship. While it reduces immediate tension, it prevents the
original two people from resolving their issues directly. Advanced practice nurses must
identify triangulation to help families develop healthier dyadic communication.
5. Using Duvall’s Family Life Cycle stages, a family with a child who is 4 years old is
categorized as being in which stage?
A. Stage I: Beginning Families
B. Stage III: Families with Preschoolers
C. Stage II: Childbearing Families
D. Stage IV: Families with School-aged Children
Answer: B
Rationale: Stage III of Duvall’s model focuses on families where the oldest child is between
two and a half and six years old. The primary task of this stage is to adapt to the needs and
interests of preschool children in ways that promote growth. It also involves coping with
energy depletion and the lack of privacy for parents.
6. A family nurse practitioner notices a mother and daughter finishing each other’s sentences
and showing high levels of emotional reactivity. This is an example of:
A. Disengagement
B. Enmeshment
C. Effective communication
D. Boundary setting
, Answer: B
Rationale: Enmeshment refers to family boundaries that are overly permeable or blurred,
leading to a loss of individual autonomy. In enmeshed systems, family members are hyper-
sensitive to each other’s moods and thoughts. This often results in a lack of differentiation
and can hinder healthy individual development.
7. Which tool is most effective for visualizing the family’s relationship with external systems
like schools, employers, and social services?
A. Genogram
B. Ecomap
C. Family APGAR
D. Spiritual Assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: An ecomap is a diagram that shows the family’s interactions with their broader
social environment. It highlights the strength and quality of connections to external
support systems or stressors. Nurses use this to identify resources that can be leveraged or
gaps in the family’s support network.
8. According to the Calgary Family Intervention Model (CFIM), which domain of family
functioning is targeted when a nurse asks circular questions to change family perspectives?
A. Cognitive domain
B. Affective domain
C. Behavioral domain
D. Spiritual domain
Answer: A
Rationale: Circular questions are designed to elicit information about relationships and to
offer new ways of thinking about family problems. They primarily target the cognitive
domain by challenging the family’s current beliefs and perceptions. This cognitive shift can
lead to changes in emotional responses and behaviors.
9. The ‘ABC-X’ Model of Family Stress and Coping defines the ‘X’ factor as:
A. The crisis or state of equilibrium resulting from the event.
B. The family’s resources for meeting the demand.
C. The family’s perception of the event.
D. The stressor event itself.
Answer: A
