Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

What do horizontal lines in a genogram represent?

1. Sibling relationships

2. Marriages

3. Divorces

4. Friendships

The correct answer is: Marriages

In a genogram, horizontal lines play a specific role in visualizing family relationships. They represent marriages or partnerships between individuals, illustrating the connection and formal relationship status between spouses or partners. The horizontal line denotes a union, indicating that these individuals are linked in a significant, typically long-term way, which can be crucial for understanding family dynamics and history. Marriages are often foundational elements in genograms, helping to clarify the structure of the family tree. This visual representation assists healthcare professionals, including registered practical nurses, in gathering essential familial information which can impact patient care and treatment plans. The other options refer to different types of relationships or statuses in familial contexts. Sibling relationships are usually shown with vertical lines connecting siblings to their parents, divorces are typically depicted with a slash through the horizontal line connecting the spouses, and friendships do not have a distinct symbol in a genogram. Understanding these differences is key for accurately interpreting and creating genograms in clinical practice.