Fundamentals of Nursing: The Art and Science of Person-Centered Care Tenth, North American Edition - Theory, Research, and Evidence-Based Practice Related

Review Fundamentals of Nursing: The Art and Science of Person-Centered Care Tenth, North American Edition - Theory, Research, and Evidence-Based Practice related questions and content

A nurse is using general systems theory to assist a family of four develop healthier food choices. What statement best reflects a key point of this theory?

  • A. Food choices made by the parents will influence choices made by the children.
  • B. The children should avoid giving feedback on the family food choices.
  • C. Boundaries are closed between family members and their environments.
  • D. A change in one family member's behavior rarely affects other members.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: General systems theory defines a system as a set of interacting elements contributing to the overall goal of the system. A change in one element could affect other subsystems, as well as the whole. To survive, open systems maintain balance through feedback, in this case, family members. An open system allows energy, matter, and information to move freely between systems and boundaries, such as with members of the health care team, whereas a closed system does not allow input from or output.