Nursing Unit 5 Notes

1. INTRODUCTION To cope with problems, in addition to personal resources (personality and learning characteristics), it is necessary to have and use other types of external resources, called “social support systems”. A support system supposes a set of personal contacts through which individuals maintain their social identity; they receive personal support, material help, information and services, and establish new social contacts. Kaplan (1974) define social support in terms of enduring ties that play an important role in the psychological and physical integration of a person. Barrier (1986) worked on the concept, referring to it as the connections that people establish with other members that are meaningful to them because they provide help in times of need, allowing them to face stressful situations. For Gottlieb (1998), it is verbal and non-verbal information, tangible help or accessibility by others or inferred by its presence and that has beneficial behavioral and emotional effects on the receiver. Wethington and Kessler:Hypothetical perception that a person has about the social resources available to be advised and helped if needed (Functional social support). 2. TYPES OF SUPPORT NETWORKS Natural support networks: • • • • The family (economic, structural, medical, emotional, etc.) Coworkers Friends, neighbors Organized support networks: • • • Institutional Volunteering (Cáritas, Red Cross) Self-help groups and voluntary associations Professional help • Formal governmental THE FAMILY AS A NATURAL SUPPORT SYSTEM • The family is the greatest source of social support that people can have throughout the life cycle. • • It has been shown to be effective in stressful situations or vital crises. It is a type of continuous and generally mutual support between the members that compose it. • The family influences the orientation to its members of the appropriate values, beliefs, feelings and behaviors. POSITIVE ELEMENTS IN THE FAMILY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD: • • • • • Healthy family dynamics (effective communication, participation and help among members, ability to cope with problems). Appropriate discipline methods, that establish limits but at the same time admit individual freedom. Supportive emotional climate, acceptance and respect for the needs of the person. Sufficient financial resourcesto lead a minimally adaptive life. Time and money management skills to maximize well-being. INCORRECT ATTITUDES IN THE FAMILY (GALLAR, 2006): • • • • • • • Permanently refusing to accept the reality of the patient Discontinue all recreational or play activities Falling into servility as a way of living with the sick Adopt a passive attitude Overloading the responsibilities of a family member Social isolation Unrest. ORGANIZED SUPPORT NETWORKS • • • Institutional volunteering: organizations created to help people in need (Red Cross, Caritas). Professional help systems: they provide support according to the skill set and services available. Self-help groups and associations: formed by individuals with common ends, whose membership is freely decided by them. They have the purpose of sociability of the members, of support and support, directed towards external objectives (to influence public administrations), of participation in the change and development of society. 3. FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS • Social company: carrying out joint activities or simply feeling together with others. • Emotional Support: exchanges characterized by a positive emotional attitude, understanding, sympathy, empathy, and encouragement. It is to be able to count on the emotional commitment and goodwill of the other, in which love, affection and understanding are at stake, among other emotions. • Cognitive guidance and advice: interactions that are intended to share personal or social information, clarify expectations, and provide role-playing models. • Regulation or social control:interactions that recall and reaffirm social prescriptions, corresponding to different roles. They neutralize the deviations of behaviors that deviate from the norm, favoring the resolution of conflicts. • Material and service assistance:It refers to specific collaboration on the basis of expert knowledge or physical help. Within this area are health services. ASSESSMENT OF SUPPORT SYSTEMS • • Help the patient to identify significant people who can be of support to him as well as the conflicts that arise with these people and how to resolve or reduce them. Once the sources of social support have been identified, the patient will decide to take concrete actions to maintain or increase the relationships that provide emotional and material support. 4. THE CARE PROCESS.OBJECTIVE OF CARE • • • Help family members identify support needs and the resources available for this purpose. Help the family learn to request and provide help, in order to increase the support networks of family members. Help the family to use natural support and organized networks. 5. NURSING INTERVENTION • Inform about support systems available in the community. Teaching of aspects related to: 1) How to identify significant people in one's life and those who can be potential providers of support. 2) Recommend starting relationships with like-minded people in values, problems and interests. 3) How to properly use the different resources available. • Family support: a) emotional support to family members, using empathy, acceptance, availability and listening. b) Support to people who are part of the social network, offering frequent help.