The Vermont Family Based Approach in Primary Care Pediatrics: Effects on Children's and Parents' Emotional and Behavioral Problems and Parents' Health-Related Quality of Life.

This randomized controlled trial tested the Vermont Family Based Approach (VFBA) in primary care pediatrics. The VFBA is a model of healthcare delivery that shifts the focus from the individual to the family, emphasizes emotional and behavioral health, and uses evidence-based health promotion/prevention along with the treatment of emotional and behavioral problems. Participants were 81 families of 3-15-year-olds. For children, the VFBA was associated with greater reductions than the Control condition on the Child Behavior Checklist Emotionally Reactive, Withdrawn, Sleep Problems, Aggressive Behavior and Total Problems scales. For parents, the VFBA was associated with greater reductions than the Control condition on the Adult Self-Report Anxious/Depressed, Rule-Breaking Behavior, Internalizing Problems and Total Problems scales. The VFBA was also associated with greater improvement than the Control condition in the parents' health-related quality of life, as indicated by all scales of the Medical Outcomes Study Health Survey.

Application of the Calgary Family Assessment and Intervention Models: Reflections on the Reciprocity Between the Personal and the Professional.

Much has been written about the global implementation of the Calgary Family Assessment and Intervention Models (CFAM/CFIM) and the application of these practice models in various clinical settings. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief update on the background of CFAM/CFIM, and the current applications of the models as evidenced in the English-language literature. Little has been written about the use of CFAM/CFIM in a personal context, however. As originators of the models, we offer our own narratives and reflections about the reciprocity between the personal and professional applications of our models and the ways that our personal experiences have extended our understanding about the utility of the models for clinical practice with families.

Integrating family nursing into a mental health urgent care practice framework: ladders for learning.

Integrating family nursing into a busy mental health urgent care setting is a challenge given the high acuity of patients and the demands of delivering service 7 days/week, 14 hours/day. In this article, the authors describe the development of a Mental Health Urgent Care Practice Framework that incorporates four elements: mental health/psychiatric assessment, physical health assessment, family nursing, and integrated behavioral health care. Sample family nursing skills and ladders for mental health urgent care practice are highlighted.The framework and ladders have implications for recruitment and hiring, orientation, peer mentoring, performance appraisals, and continuing education and supervision. A clinical vignette illustrates sample conceptual/ perceptual and executive skills used to apply the framework and ladders in practice. Family nursing is conceptualized as an integral component of nursing care provided to individual and families in this unique setting.

Implementing family nursing: how do we translate knowledge into clinical practice?

Health care systems worldwide are faced with the challenge of improving the quality of care, closing the knowledge-to-practice gap, and identifying the facilitators in these processes. Knowledge translation that promotes circularity between knowledge and practice is often overlooked. Knowledge transfer and translation are defined and briefly discussed in this article. Examples of knowledge translation in family nursing are provided, including knowledge creation research in pediatrics and adult pulmonary health at a University Hospital in Iceland. A second example focuses on the application of knowledge in mental health urgent care in a community health center in Calgary, Canada. Improving and speeding the circularity between knowledge translation and clinical practice reaps benefits for patients, families, health care providers, and the health care system. Conclusions about facilitating the implementation of family nursing knowledge into clinical practice are offered. The circularity between knowledge translation and practice is emphasized.

Integrating mental health into urgent care in a community health centre.

Competent, convenient mental health assessment and psychosocial intervention are seldom delivered in the right place, at the right time and by the right person. One solution to this problem is to have mental health services integrated into urgent care in a community health centre. Unfortunately, although there is literature on urgent care centres, mental health centres and psychiatric emergency rooms, there is scant information about the integration of mental health services into an urgent care centre.

The three most common errors in family nursing: how to avoid or sidestep.

In this article, the authors offer what they believe to be the three most common errors or mistakes in relational family nursing practice. Each error is described, followed by practical suggestions on how the mistake or error can be avoided. A clinical case vignette for each error is also given, with useful ideas of how the mistakes could have been avoided or sidestepped. By sidestepping and avoiding the most prevalent mistakes, nurses can not only sustain but also improve their nursing care of families and thus prevent unnecessary anguish and suffering of family members and possible shame, guilt, or embarrassment on the part of the nurse.

Findings from research on divorce: implications for professionals' skill development.

Results from research on divorce are synthesized, and practical implications for the development of conceptual, perceptual, and executive skills for educators, lawyers, mental health clinicians, health care professionals, social policy planners, and the media are presented. An interdisciplinary approach to intervention is proposed, and recommendations for future research on divorce are made.