What term describes a family that includes the paternal grandmother, parents, and two minor children?

• A. Nuclear family
• B. Single-parent family
• C. Extended family
• D. Binuclear family

Answer: (C)

Family structure terminology in pediatric nursing describes who counts as part of the family beyond the immediate parents and children. When a household includes a grandparent along with the parents and children, it reflects a multigenerational network, which is described as an extended family. The nuclear family would be just the parents and their children living together. A single-parent family would have only one parent in the household. A binuclear family refers to two separate parental households that the child maintains ties with, typically after a separation. Therefore, the inclusion of the paternal grandmother with the parents and two children makes it an extended family, recognizing the wider support system and potential caregiving roles within that unit.