Family-Centred Nursing Education: A National Cross-Sectional Study

Research on family nursing education is gaining prominence, with a new study highlighting the importance of integrating family-centred care into undergraduate nursing programs. The study, conducted by Maria J. Campos and colleagues at Nursing School in Porto, Portugal, aimed to identify and describe the integration of family nursing knowledge within undergraduate nursing education nationally. The research used a cross-sectional study design, involving 18 undergraduate nursing programs in Portugal. The study revealed that family is taught in undergraduate nursing programs, mainly in clinical settings, with a focus on different approaches to family nursing, including 'family as a client', 'family as a system', and 'family as a component of society'.

Key Takeaways:

• The study found that family is a vital unit of care and support, and its dynamics both shape and are shaped by members' health, making it integral to nursing care.
• The nursing programs in the study revealed 256 courses that fulfilled the inclusion criteria, ranging from four to thirty-five courses per program.
• Seven categories were identified, including four predefined categories based on theoretical foundations: Theoretical Approach of Family, Individual and Family Health Experience, Skills for Family Care, and Approaches to Family Nursing.
• The study found that enhancing the learning process in undergraduate nursing education through a family-centred approach requires a deep understanding of existing Curricular Plans and the integration of pedagogical strategies that emphasize clinical practice.
• The research concludes that public data were used, and results can influence education policies and have an impact on future undergraduate nursing students.
• The study emphasizes the importance of exploring new strategies to teach family care, moving forward from a perspective of the family as a context to a perspective of the family as a client of care.

Statistics:

• 18 undergraduate nursing programs in Portugal participated in the study.
• 256 courses were identified that fulfilled the inclusion criteria, ranging from four to thirty-five courses per program.
• 7 categories were identified, with 4 predefined categories based on theoretical foundations.
• The study found that 75% of nursing programs in Portugal teach family care in clinical settings.

Sources:

• NewsRx. New Findings on Education from Nursing School Summarized (Mapping Family Nursing In Undergraduate Education At a National Level: a Cross-sectional Study). Health Insurance Week. October 19, 2025; p 466.
• Mapping Family Nursing In Undergraduate Education At a National Level: a Cross-sectional Study. Collegian, 2025;32(5):312-320.