Health in Partnership: Family Nursing Practice for People With Breathing Difficulties

Abstract

Reorienting the focus of health systems to incorporate a multifaceted approach that allows for comprehensive and humane health care is pending. Using the participatory paradigm approach, we describe a study of a partnership-based family nursing practice for people with breathing difficulties. We generated data through nine conversations with eight patients accompanied by a close family member ( n = 6) and one wife, 15 conversations between the authors, and through a reflective journal. Narrative data analysis was conducted. Results that reveal the meaning and experience of the family nursing practice are presented in four interlacing descriptive statements: (a) surfacing and contextualizing health problems, (b) responsiveness of services, (c) security—stability—self-direction, and (d) unified family efforts— transformation. We conclude that the conceptual framework of partnership is a useful approach to nursing practice within a nurse clinic for people with advanced breathing difficulties and their families.