Defining family is difficult because there are many different family structures prevalent in society today. According to Green (2018) “A traditional definition of a family is the parents and offspring living together as a societal or social unit with the same ancestry” (para. 2).

Defining family is difficult because there are many different family structures prevalent in society today. According to Green (2018) “A traditional definition of a family is the parents and offspring living together as a societal or social unit with the same ancestry” (para. 2). There are many family structures that are not considered to be traditional, so the traditional definition of family is no longer suitable for everyone. There are many family structures that are not considered traditional or nuclear families which include single parent, blended families, LGBTQ+, family members such as grandparents raising children, and families by choice (Green, 2018). Wright and Leahey (2013) defines family as “family is who they say they are” (p. 55). This definition of family is a great one because it encompasses the many different family structures that are prevalent today.

It is important to acknowledge the many different nontraditional family structures. To be able to provide the best care to a patient it is important for the nurse to understand the family structure so that the care and education provided can be tailored to the specific needs of the patient. Green (2018) states “Understanding what constitutes “family” for a particular societal unit aids the nurse in assessment and intervention for family health promotion” (para. 4). When assessing and identifying interventions to promote family health it is important to take into consideration the family structure.

The family systems theory can be used to better understand the interactions of everyone in a family unit. According to Green (2018) “Observing or understanding the complexity and emotions of the family system lends to understanding of the individual” (para. 6). Understanding the family system is vital in being able to understand as much as possible about the individual. Each individual within the family has a bearing on the other members of the family. By understanding each individual and the family as a unit makes it easier to understand how each person in the family is affected by the actions of others within the family.