Zerwekh's family caregiving model incorporates holistic care concepts as intervention strategies for vulnerable families. It is a model that can be taught to nurses when the practice arena involves family care. The article describes the use of Zerwekh’s family caregiving competencies by novice nurses (ie, 13 final semester nursing students) in their home visits to migrant farm worker families. A qualitative analysis of data derived through written narratives focuses on Zerwekh’s three basic competencies of locating families, building trust, and building strength and on the encompassing competencies of timing and detecting. © 1995 Aspen Publishers, Inc.

Public health nursing model Family interventions Clinical education Home visitation migrant farm workers

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