IFNA – International Family Nursing Association (IFNA)

Family nursing – why and what is it?

November 24, 2020November 24, 2020 by Simon Stones

Professor Alison Metcalfe PhD BSc RN PG Cert

For decades, nursing in all specialties in the UK has focused on improving and developing patient-centred or client-centred care. Highly laudable and imperative to providing care that recognises the patient / client as an individual, with their own values, beliefs, knowledge and experiences. However, some nurses are beginning to recognise that patient-centred care is only the tip of the iceberg in assisting patients / clients to recovery, healing or learning to live with long-term conditions or adjust to life changing events such as childbirth, death and bereavement. Patients or clients’ management of their health, illness and wellbeing is dependent on their most ‘significant others’, their families and friends or ‘relational care’.

Early beginnings

November 24, 2020November 24, 2020 by IFNA UK and Ireland Chapter

Dr Kit Chesla DNSc RN FAAN

The development of the International Family Nursing Association (IFNA) is a remarkable story of courage and commitment by a dedicated group of international nurses who were united by a goal to improve the health and wellbeing of families around the globe. My name is Dr. Kit Chesla and I am a Professor Emerita at University of California, San Francisco, Department of Family Health Care Nursing. I was a steering committee member who helped with the early formation of IFNA as a professional organisation (along with. Drs. Bell, Curry & Knafl).

The 15th International Family Nursing Conference is going virtual

November 24, 2020November 24, 2020 by Simon Stones

The IFNA Board of Directors, reposted from the IFNA website, published in July 2020

After thoughtful consideration of the continued influences of COVID-19 on persons, families, and institutions, the International Family Nursing Association Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to conduct the 15th International Family Nursing Conference (IFNC15) “Family Nursing Across the Life Course” virtually to keep all members safe and healthy.

The vital importance of family nursing and midwifery in the UK and Ireland

November 24, 2020November 24, 2020 by Veronica Swallow

Professor Veronica Swallow, Professor Alison Metcalfe and Professor Veronica Lambert, Chapter Co-leads, reposted from the Evidence-Based Nursing blog, published in March 2020

Nurses and midwives (nurses) play a major role in supporting people across the life-course. Within multi-disciplinary teams nurses support many patients/clients remotely, but patients/clients rely predominantly on family members for home-based support with self-management. Family nursing provides nursing care to the whole family and to individual family members with attention to relationships among members. When one person in a family has health support needs this can bring family role-changes that cause stress to the family unit, while individual family members may struggle to adapt to the altered circumstances.

A COVID-19 message from the IFNA President and President-elect

November 24, 2020November 24, 2020 by Simon Stones

IFNA President, Professor Sonja J. Meiers PhD RN PHN and IFNA President-elect, Professor Veronica Swallow PhD MMedSci BSc (Hons) RGN RSCN

Dear IFNA colleagues around the world, these COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) times are unprecedented and uncertain for nurses and midwives (hereafter referred to as nurses) caring for families in uncharted territory. The 2020 Year of the Nurse and Midwife initiative has taken on new meaning as nurses are on the frontlines ensuring access to safe and quality care. We receive messages each day from IFNA members telling stories of unfailing compassion with patients suffering from COVID-19 and its complications. In the context of COVID-19, nurses in hospitals are seeing the suffering that patients and clients (hereafter referred to as patients) experience without their families present due to restricted visiting. In addition, nurses in the community and other care facilities are seeing family members being separated because of local Quarantine and Self-isolation regulations that are designed to reduce the risk of cross-infection.

National Roundtable Debate

November 24, 2020November 24, 2020 by Simon Stones

Professor Veronica Swallow PhD MMedSci BSc (Hons) RGN RSCN

In January 2020, the UK and Ireland IFNA Chapter hosted a National Roundtable Debate at Sheffield Hallam University, UK, to discuss the question: Should nurses, midwives and health visitors use more family focused interventions to actively promote care of patients’ and clients’ families? Before the event, Professor Alison Metcalfe shared a blog to pave the way for the debate. The agenda for the event can be viewed here.