title: Family nursing education and family nursing practice in Nigeria.
abstract: A survey of six Nigerian nursing program curricula was conducted to determine the extent to which family nursing theory was used as a reference for conceptualizing nursing care in Nigeria. In addition, 25 nurse clinicians were purposely selected from three levels of primary, secondary, and tertiary health care units in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and were interviewed to determine the extent to which nurses in practice reported using family assessment tools in their practice. The survey of the postgraduate curricula showed that master's and doctorally prepared nurses specializing in community health nursing have a theoretical base in family nursing theory. The limited focus on family nursing theory in basic, postbasic, and first-degree nursing curricula was deemed inadequate to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for all practicing nurses to embrace family-focused care in Nigeria. In nursing practice, families were seen to be involved in nursing care only to the extent of meeting financial and physical care needs of their family members. Findings from this study point to the need for a reorientation of the nursing curricula in Nigeria to include more family nursing theory. Specialized education of family nurse practitioners who would function at all levels of care also is a desirable goal to provide holistic health care to Nigerian families.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. omolola_oni@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Omolola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Irinoye
authors.forename: Adesola
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ogunfowokan
authors.forename: Adenike
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olaogun
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D022143:Family Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D009742:Nursing Theory; D012647:Self-Assessment