Deck 10: Working With Groups of Patients

Question 1

The nurse asks members of a group for recovering alcoholics how they handle the urge to drink. Which communication technique is the nurse using?

A) Summarizing
B) Presenting reality
C) Encouraging comparison
D) Seeking consensual validation

Answer 1

Encouraging comparison

Question 2

A patient says, "I wish I could express my depressed feelings rather than keeping them inside." The nurse should schedule the patient to attend which type of group?

A) Social skills
B) Special problems
C) Reality orientation
D) Relapse prevention

Answer 2

Special problems

Question 3

Which comment would be most appropriate for the group leader to begin the discussion at the first meeting of a new group?

A) "Let's start by establishing some rules for our group."
B) "Let's begin with each person here defining his or her problem."
C) "I want each person to explain why he or she is attending this group."
D) "Talking to family about our group will help us achieve our goals."

Answer 3

"Let's start by establishing some rules for our group."

Question 4

A positive outcome achieved after attending a special-problems group is evidenced by which patient statement?

A) "You're a great group leader and kept things moving smoothly."
B) "This experience wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."
C) "I rely on the group to help me make decisions."
D) "I learned how my anger affects other people."

Question 5

Which patient would benefit most from a group that focuses on reality orientation?

A) Adolescent with mixed drug and alcohol abuse
B) Adult with undifferentiated schizophrenia
C) Older adult with depression
D) Young adult in crisis

Question 6

After attending a group, which statement by a patient shows evidence of benefits associated with universality?

A) "I've learned to identify my anxious feelings."
B) "The group really gave me the support to change."
C) "I've learned that I can be helpful to others."
D) "My problems are not unique. I'm not alone."

Question 7

A patient admitted to an inpatient unit after a suicide attempt says, "I feel so overwhelmed. There are so many issues I have to deal with." The nurse should schedule the patient to attend which type of group to meet their initial needs?

A) Social skills
B) Psychodrama
C) Problem-solving
D) Medication information

Question 8

Which type of group is a staff nurse with 2 months' psychiatric experience best qualified to conduct?

A) Social skills group
B) Family therapy group
C) Medication education group
D) Insight-oriented psychotherapy group

Question 9

Which comment made by a member of a support group, best contributes to group cohesiveness and effectiveness?

A) "Talking about my problems helps me think of ways to solve them. Let me explain them to everyone."
B) "We aren't making progress because our group leader has as many problems as we do."
C) "No one in this group wants to hear anything else about your financial problems."
D) "We started out talking about guilt, but we wandered off from that subject."

Question 10

A talkative member of a support group for patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder has monopolized the group discussion for 15 minutes. How should the nurse leading the group best intervene?

A) Maintaining silence. It is important for group members to give feedback to each other
B) Encouraging the patient to continue. Patients learn from each other in group sessions
C) Saying, "You must allow some of the other members of the group to talk. You cannot monopolize the conversation"
D) Addressing the patient by name and saying, "I'm glad you shared your thoughts with us. Let's hear what others think"

Question 11

Which comment should the leader of a newly formed group include in the initial meeting?

A) "It is important for everyone to arrive on time for our group."
B) "Talking to family members about our group will help us achieve our goals."
C) "Everyone is expected to share a personal experience at each group meeting."
D) "Groups provide more cost-effective treatment in this time of budget constraints."

Question 12

An anxious, withdrawn patient is experiencing auditory hallucinations. The nurse should arrange for the patient to be enrolled in which group?

A) Recreation
B) Insight-oriented
C) Reality orientation
D) Stress management

Question 13

During a support group meeting focusing on strategies to manage symptoms, a patient asks the nurse leader how to deal with angry outbursts from a supervisor. What response technique should the nurse discuss?

A) Answer the question, and then move on to another topic.
B) Offer to answer the question privately after the group session.
C) Inform the patient that only illness-related problems can be discussed in the group.
D) Matter-of-factly explain that the topic being discussed is the importance of medication.

Question 14

A psychiatric nurse clinician on an inpatient unit plans to lead a special-problems group for withdrawn patients. Which information will be of most assistance as the nurse prepares for this assignment?

A) Inpatient groups rarely have a lasting beneficial effect.
B) Inpatient groups have short-term, goal-oriented sessions.
C) Inpatient groups are helpful for patients with verbal skills.
D) Inpatient groups facilitate insight into deeply rooted life issues.

Question 15

A patient in a support group says, "I'm tired of being sick. Everyone always helps me, but I'll be glad when I can help someone else." This statement reflects what therapeutic factor?

A) Altruism
B) Universality
C) Cohesiveness
D) Corrective recapitulation

Question 16

Which intervention would be most appropriate for the nurse to implement when conducting a maintenance group?

A) Helping patients identify better coping strategies
B) Accepting, empathizing, and showing concern
C) Asking patients to identify topics for the group
D) Confronting ingrained behaviors and defenses

Question 17

What is a realistic outcome for group members of a psychoeducational group?

A) Discuss ways to manage their illness.
B) Develop a high level of trust and cohesiveness.
C) Understand unconscious motivation for behavior.
D) Demonstrate insight about development of their illness.

Question 18

After a patient's first group session, the nurse asks, "How was the experience of participating in group for you?" Which communication technique is the nurse using?

A) Summarizing
B) Seeking clarification
C) Making observations
D) Encouraging evaluation

Question 19

A patient in a detoxification unit asks, "What good will it do to go to Alcoholics Anonymous and talk to other people with the same problem?" The nurse's best response would be to explain that self-help groups such as AA provide opportunities for what beneficial experience?

A) Newly discharged alcoholics can learn about the disease of alcoholism.
B) People with common problems share their experiences with alcoholism and recovery.
C) Patients with alcoholism receive insight-oriented treatment about the etiology of their disease.
D) Professional counselors provide guidance to individuals recovering from alcoholism.

Question 20

What is the primary purpose of referring a patient to an activity group?

A) Assess the patient's social skills.
B) Provide cognitive and sensory stimulation.
C) Encourage socialization and communication.
D) Educate the patient about use of leisure time.

Question 21

A leader beginning the discussion at the first meeting of a new group can appropriately include what statement? (Select all that apply.)

A) "We use groups to provide treatment, because it's a more cost-effective use of staff in this time of budget constraints."
B) "When someone shares a personal experience, it's important to keep the information confidential."
C) "Talking to family members about our group discussions will help us achieve our goals."
D) "Everyone is expected to share a personal experience at each group meeting."
E) "It is important for everyone to arrive on time for our group."

Question 22

When a patient voices a delusion during a group session, how can the nurse effectively handle the situation? (Select all that apply.)

A) Demonstrating empathy
B) Presenting reality
C) Exploring the delusional content
D) Focusing on the underlying need expressed
E) Asking the group what they think about the delusion.

Question 23

As members disperse at the conclusion of a productive group meeting, one member says, "Let's have a big group hug." What is the leader's most appropriate response?

A) "Hugging is not permitted."
B) "I am glad you found the meeting so helpful."
C) "Thanks for that suggestion, but not everyone may be comfortable with hugs."
D) "The group is over now. Members may not have continued contact with each other."

Question 24

While a member of a group shares painful feelings of guilt, another member begins humming and tapping the side of the chair. Select the leader's best initial statement to best manage the disruptive patient.

A) To the speaking patient, "Please realize that not everyone is comfortable with what you are sharing."
B) To the entire group, "Humming and tapping can't be tolerated. It is disruptive to our group."
C) To the entire group, "Please leave the group now if you can't show empathy for the speaker."
D) To the disruptive member, "You seem uncomfortable with our discussion."

Question 25

When preparing to lead an anger management group, the nurse is demonstrating knowledge in what type of group?

A) Psychoeducational
B) Self-help
C) Activity
D) Support