The term “family” is subject to diverse definitions and discussions across academic disciplines. Generally, perspectives on families encompass considerations of structure, function, roles, forces, relationships, systems, and culture/ethnology. Sociologist E. W. Burgess outlines several characteristics of families, including being joined by marriage, blood relations, or adoption, a recognition of belonging to a common household, interactions among family members with defined roles, and the presence of a unique family culture. However, contemporary families exhibit diverse images that go beyond these traditional characteristics.

Family nursing scholar M. M. Friedman defines a family as individuals who are emotionally connected and share close physical proximity. Another definition by family nursing scholar S. M. Harmon Hanson and colleagues describes a family as comprising two or more individuals who rely on each other for emotional, physical, and financial support.

In family nursing, families are perceived as entities that provide care for the patient, with the family itself also being a target for support. Unique nursing practices, rooted in the perspective of family nursing, continue to evolve, including the development of family assessment tools and nursing interventions tailored to families.

• Friedman, M. M. (1993). Family nursing: Theory and assessment (Nojima, S., Trans. Ed.). Herusu Publishing Co., Inc.
• Hanson, S. M. H., & Boyd, S. T. (2001). Family nursing: Theory, practice, and research (Murata, K., Tsuda, N., & Arakawa, Y., Trans.). Igaku-Shoin Ltd.
• Nojima, S., & Nakano, A. (Eds.). (2005). Nursing practice that brings family empowerment. Herusu Publishing Co., Inc.
• Suzuki, K., & Watanabe, Y. (2006). Family nursing: Theory and practice (3rd ed.). Japanese Nursing Association Press.