Chapter 10: Working With Groups of Patients
Steele: Keltner’s Psychiatric Nursing,
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. 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withdrawn patients.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.
ANS: B
Because inpatient stays are so short and accountability is a major treatment issue, inpatient
groups typically have short-term, goal-oriented sessions designed to teach patients more adaptive
strategies for coping with life‘s problems. Beneficial effects are often lasting. Patients with or
without verbal skills may be helped by selected types of groups.
Insight-oriented therapy is conducted on an outpatient basis and usually occurs over the long
term.
DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing TOP: Nursing process: Planning
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
2. 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
ANS: A
Altruism refers to the experience of being helpful or useful to others, a condition that the patient
anticipates will happen. The other options are also therapeutic factors identified by Yalom.
DIF: Cognitive level: Understanding TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
3. 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.‖
ANS: D
Learning more about one‘s behavior and its effects on others is an appropriate outcome for
group therapy. The other options do not reflect patient growth.
DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
, 4. 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.‖
ANS: D
Universality refers to patients‘ realization that they are not alone and unique, and that others
experience similar problems, feelings, and concerns. The remaining options do not reflect that
sense of belonging.
DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing TOP: Nursing process: Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. 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
ANS: B
Support means accepting, empathizing, and showing concern while listening and talking with
patients. The nurse‘s focus is on responding to patients‘ needs. Maintenance and support groups
have the purpose of reinforcing or maintaining existing strengths, rather than confronting or
changing behaviors, which makes identification of better coping strategies and confronting
ingrained behaviors and defenses less acceptable answers. Sessions are usually structured and
goal-oriented, so patients might not be offered the opportunity to talk about any topic of their
choice.
DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
Steele: Keltner’s Psychiatric Nursing,
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. 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.
ANS: B
Because inpatient stays are so short and accountability is a major treatment issue, inpatient
groups typically have short-term, goal-oriented sessions designed to teach patients more adaptive
strategies for coping with life‘s problems. Beneficial effects are often lasting. Patients with or
without verbal skills may be helped by selected types of groups.
Insight-oriented therapy is conducted on an outpatient basis and usually occurs over the long
term.
DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing TOP: Nursing process: Planning
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
2. 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
ANS: A
Altruism refers to the experience of being helpful or useful to others, a condition that the patient
anticipates will happen. The other options are also therapeutic factors identified by Yalom.
DIF: Cognitive level: Understanding TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
3. 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.‖
ANS: D
Learning more about one‘s behavior and its effects on others is an appropriate outcome for
group therapy. The other options do not reflect patient growth.
DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
, 4. 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.‖
ANS: D
Universality refers to patients‘ realization that they are not alone and unique, and that others
experience similar problems, feelings, and concerns. The remaining options do not reflect that
sense of belonging.
DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing TOP: Nursing process: Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. 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
ANS: B
Support means accepting, empathizing, and showing concern while listening and talking with
patients. The nurse‘s focus is on responding to patients‘ needs. Maintenance and support groups
have the purpose of reinforcing or maintaining existing strengths, rather than confronting or
changing behaviors, which makes identification of better coping strategies and confronting
ingrained behaviors and defenses less acceptable answers. Sessions are usually structured and
goal-oriented, so patients might not be offered the opportunity to talk about any topic of their
choice.
DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
