Chapter 9. Therapeutic Groups
Multiple Choice
1. During a therapeutic group, a client talks about personal accomplishments in an effort to
gain attention. Which group role, assumed by this client, should the nurse identify?
A. The task role of gatekeeper
B. The individual role of recognition seeker
C. The maintenance role of dominator
D. The task role of elaborator
ANS: B
The nurse should evaluate that the client is assuming the individual role of the recognition
seeker. Other individual roles include the aggressor, the blocker, the dominator, the help
seeker, the monopolizer, and the seducer.
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Processes: Nursing Process: Evaluation |
Client Need:
Psychosocial Integrity
2. During a therapeutic group, two clients engage in an angry verbal exchange. The nurse
leader interrupts the exchange and excuses both of the clients from the group. The nurse
has demonstrated which leadership style?
A. Autocratic B. Democratic C. Laissez-faire D. Bureaucratic ANS: A
The nurse who excuses clients from the group has demonstrated an autocratic leadership
style. An autocratic leadership style may be useful in certain situations that require structure
and limit-setting. Democratic leaders focus on the members of the group and group-
selected goals. Laissez-faire leaders provide no direction to group members.
, KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Processes: Nursing Process: Implementation |
Client Need:
Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
3. During a therapeutic group, which nursing action demonstrates a laissez-faire leadership
style? A. The nurse mandates that all group members reveal an embarrassing personal
situation.
B. The nurse asks for a show of hands to determine group topic preference.
C. The nurse sits silently as the group members stray from the assigned topic.
D. The nurse shuffles through papers to determine the facility policy on length of group.
ANS: C
The nurse leader who sits silently and allows group members to stray from the assigned
topic is demonstrating
a laissez-faire leadership style. This style allows group members to do as they please with
no direction from the leader. Group members often become frustrated and confused in
reaction to a laissez-faire leadership style.
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Processes: Nursing Process: Implementation |
Client Need:
Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
4. During a community meeting, a nurse encourages clients to present unit problems and
discuss possible solutions. Which type of leadership style is the nurse demonstrating?
A. Democratic
B. Autocratic
Multiple Choice
1. During a therapeutic group, a client talks about personal accomplishments in an effort to
gain attention. Which group role, assumed by this client, should the nurse identify?
A. The task role of gatekeeper
B. The individual role of recognition seeker
C. The maintenance role of dominator
D. The task role of elaborator
ANS: B
The nurse should evaluate that the client is assuming the individual role of the recognition
seeker. Other individual roles include the aggressor, the blocker, the dominator, the help
seeker, the monopolizer, and the seducer.
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Processes: Nursing Process: Evaluation |
Client Need:
Psychosocial Integrity
2. During a therapeutic group, two clients engage in an angry verbal exchange. The nurse
leader interrupts the exchange and excuses both of the clients from the group. The nurse
has demonstrated which leadership style?
A. Autocratic B. Democratic C. Laissez-faire D. Bureaucratic ANS: A
The nurse who excuses clients from the group has demonstrated an autocratic leadership
style. An autocratic leadership style may be useful in certain situations that require structure
and limit-setting. Democratic leaders focus on the members of the group and group-
selected goals. Laissez-faire leaders provide no direction to group members.
, KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Processes: Nursing Process: Implementation |
Client Need:
Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
3. During a therapeutic group, which nursing action demonstrates a laissez-faire leadership
style? A. The nurse mandates that all group members reveal an embarrassing personal
situation.
B. The nurse asks for a show of hands to determine group topic preference.
C. The nurse sits silently as the group members stray from the assigned topic.
D. The nurse shuffles through papers to determine the facility policy on length of group.
ANS: C
The nurse leader who sits silently and allows group members to stray from the assigned
topic is demonstrating
a laissez-faire leadership style. This style allows group members to do as they please with
no direction from the leader. Group members often become frustrated and confused in
reaction to a laissez-faire leadership style.
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Processes: Nursing Process: Implementation |
Client Need:
Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
4. During a community meeting, a nurse encourages clients to present unit problems and
discuss possible solutions. Which type of leadership style is the nurse demonstrating?
A. Democratic
B. Autocratic
