A patient,Mary,has talked constantly throughout the group therapy session.She has repeated the same material several times.Other members were initially attentive then became bored,inattentive,and finally sullen.Which intervention would be most effective for the nurse leader to take?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most effective action the nurse leader can take will be the one that encourages the group to solve its own problem.Pointing out changes in the group and asking members to respond to them lays the foundation for a discussion of group dynamics.Asking members to respond to Mary puts Mary in an awkward position,likely increasing her anxiety as others focus on Mary herself rather than the group process;as anxiety increases,monopolizing behavior tends to increase as well,so this response would be self-defeating.Asking members what is going on is a broader opening and might lead to responses unrelated to the issue that bears addressing;narrowing the focus to the group process more directly addresses what is occurring in the group.Focusing on Mary would be less effective and involves the leader addressing the issue instead of members first attempting to do so themselves (giving them a chance to practice skills such as assertive communication).

A Patient,Mary,has Talked Constantly Throughout the Group Therapy Session