1
NURSING 4412
FAMILY ASSESSMENT PAPER GUIDELINES
Purpose
Purpose: To provide the student with an opportunity to 1) assess the health status and
functioning of a family and 2) formulate a family nursing diagnosis and develop
interventions based on the need/problem of the family.
Guidelines
1. This paper will be a case study of a family (minimum of 2 people) portrayed in a
full-length, English- speaking film. The assignment gives the student an
opportunity to analyze family data that may otherwise be collected through
making home visits.
2. Students will pick a movie of their choice. A small selection of family movies is
available for check-out in the Nursing Skills Lab. The family must have a
physical or mental health problem where a nurse could identify and implement
appropriate nursing interventions. No more than two students can use the same
movie. No animated or science fiction movies will be approved.
3. Students can select the movie to use for their family when posted in D2L and
must make a movie selection by the deadline date specified in the calendar and on
D2L. Permission from the course coordinator is required if a student wants to
change their movie selection after the deadline. Only select one movie. If more
than one movie is selected, the course coordinator will eliminate all choices and
the student will be required to re-start the selection process.
4. The student will apply a family theoretical/conceptual framework to assess the
family in the paper and to create an appropriate family nursing diagnosis and
interventions for the family.
5. The paper is to be formatted and documented according to A.P.A., 6th edition.
Quick Reference APA Paper Guideline documents have been provided on D2L.
However, students are strongly encouraged to use the official manual to avoid
loss of points.
6. Maximum number of content pages is 15. Note: this does not include the cover
page, reference list, or appendices. If you feel your paper needs to be longer,
please discuss this with your clinical faculty prior to the due date.
7. The narrative of the paper should be supported by using a minimum of three (3)
peer reviewed, professional articles that are less than five years old. A family
theory book must be used to support the family theory. Allender, Rector, and
Warner cannot be used as a family theory
2
8. The Family Assessment Tool should be used to collect data. This assessment tool
is for your use in assessing the family but will not be turned in with the paper.
Instead the assessment will be summarized in the paper. An electronic version of
the tool is posted in D2L.
9. See course calendar for the due date. The papers are due on the date and time
designated on the calendar. Papers received after that date and time are considered
late. Late papers will have 10 points deducted from the total grade for every 24
hours late or fraction thereof.
10. Your clinical instructor will not be grading your paper. Papers will be randomly
distributed among the 4412 faculty for grading. Faculty members are available to
answer questions about writing the paper, but will not proofread papers.
11. There is a dropbox on D2L where your paper will be submitted. In the dropbox
entitled Family Paper, submit your paper in its entirety. Include cover page,
narrative, reference list, and ecomap. Submit it as one document. Label the file
again using your last name, first name and complete. For example, Blake Barbara
Complete.
IMPORTANT: This D2L dropbox will use turnitin.com to check the paper for
plagiarism. The course coordinator will examine the report and make a
determination regarding originality of the work.
12. One hard copy of the family paper including title page, narrative, reference page,
ecomap, and grading worksheet will be turned in on the designated date in the
course calendar. A penalty of 10 points will be imposed on the final paper grade
for failure to adhere to this requirement.