Chapter 13: Working with Groups, Teams, and Partners Flashcards
- The ability to work with diverse groups is an important skill required in community health
nursing. What best defines cohesion, one of the core concepts of working in groups?
a. Cohesion is anything a member does that makes an intentional contribution to the
group’s purpose.
b. Cohesion is the perception of a definite move toward meeting the group’s goals
and tasks.
c. Cohesion is encouraging all members to describe the experiences in their families
and workplaces that they perceive as relevant.
d. Cohesion is a measure of attraction between individual members and the group.
ANS: D
Group cohesion is the attraction between individual members and the group, a sense of
togetherness often described as a sense of “we-ness.”
- What is the main influence on the effectiveness of a group’s work?
a. The general knowledge of group members
b. The group’s leadership
c. Group diversity
d. The group’s health behaviours
ANS: B
Leadership, an important and complex group concept, has a decided influence on the
effectiveness of the group’s work.
- Which one of the following options best defines the term aggregate?
a. An aggregate is a large group.
b. An aggregate is a collection of individuals and families.
c. An aggregate is a group within a population.
d. An aggregate is another name for a demographic group.
ANS: C
The term aggregate is defined as a group within a population. Examples of a subpopulation
(aggregate) within the population of a district are high-risk infants younger than 1 year,
unmarried pregnant adolescents, or individuals exposed to a certain harmful incident, such as
a chemical spill.
- A community health nurse (CHN) is the leader of a group that has the stated purpose of
improving cardiovascular fitness. Which leadership style can the CHN adopt to increase
member involvement and the group’s progress toward health goals?
a. Authoritarian
b. Democratic
c. Patriarchal
d. Paternal
ANS: B
Democratic leadership is cooperative and promotes and supports members’ involvement.
Patriarchal and paternal leadership styles are types of authoritarian leadership; these are not
effective leadership styles to achieve this type of goal because members may fail to learn how
to function independently, and they may be hindered in accomplishing health goals, especially
when a member or the leader leaves the group or if the group dissolves.
- Which example best illustrates task role behaviour within a group whose purpose is to prepare
partners for childbirth?
a. A specific group member arranges a comfortable setting that allows for adequate
space and is conducive to a positive experience.
b. A specific group member encourages other members who are talking about work
issues to focus on the purpose of the group.
c. A specific group member prepares the agenda for each meeting and guides
members through each item on the agenda.
d. A specific group member reminds other members not to bring their children to the
group meetings.
ANS: B
The task role focuses on or directs movement toward the main work of the group, which is
best illustrated by the group member who encourages other members to focus on the group’s
stated purpose. The other options are examples of group building and group maintenance
roles, rather than task role behaviour.
- The CHN is preparing to organize a small group with the purpose of sustaining weight loss in
obese individuals. What is the ideal number of members for this group?
a. 12 members
b. 18 members
c. 25 members
d. 30 members
ANS: A
Group size is important. Generally, an ideal number of people for a small group is 12
members.
- A group member who has exhibited an angry emotional outburst tearfully apologizes to the
group for being “hateful.” The group leader responds, “I believe I speak for all of us when I
say that you did not appear hateful. You just appeared to be passionate about your beliefs.” In
this scenario, which of the following behaviours is the group leader exhibiting?
a. Analyzing
b. Clarifying
c. Evaluating
d. Reflecting
ANS: D
Reflecting behaviour involves giving feedback on how an individual’s behaviour appears to
others.
- A group leader attempts to resolve conflict among members by asking questions to uncover
the meanings underlying their interactions and restating them for verification. This behaviour
would fall into which classification?
a. Advising
b. Analyzing
c. Clarifying
d. Confronting
ANS: C
In clarifying behaviour, the leader checks out meanings of interaction and communication by
asking questions and making restatements
- Which one of the following would be designated as a group in the community?
a. Clients in the emergency room (ER) waiting area
b. Shoppers in a mall elevator
c. Passengers waiting at a bus stop
d. Teens who socialize on weekends
ANS: D
A group is a collection of two or more individuals in face-to-face interactions with a common
purpose(s) and who are in an interdependent relationship. A random collection of individuals,
such as a number of persons standing at a bus stop, sitting in the ER, or sharing an elevator, is
not a group.
- What is an example of an intradisciplinary team?
a. A registered nurse, 4 licensed/registered practical nurses
b. Two registered nurses, a social worker, a physician
c. A physician, a dietitian, a registered nurse
d. A registered nurse, a licensed/registered practical nurse, a social worker
ANS: A
An intradisciplinary team refers to nurses working with other nurses. For example, an
intradisciplinary team could consist of several registered nurses and several registered
practical nurses.
- Which kind of team consists of members who work independently but come together to make
client-based decisions?
a. Intradisciplinary team
b. Multidisciplinary team
c. Interdisciplinary team
d. Interprofessional team
ANS: B
A multidisciplinary team contains members who have expertise from a variety of disciplines,
such as nurses, social workers, dietitians, physiotherapists, and physicians, who work
independently but come together to make client-based decisions.
- What is the correct definition of group involvement?
a. Group involvement is the degree of attraction and commitment of group members.
b. Group involvement is how the group works as a unit and how members interact.
c. Group involvement is how the group members connect and relate to each other.
d. Group involvement is the attraction between individual members and the group.
ANS: A
Group involvement is the degree of attraction and commitment of group members.
- What defines group process?
a. Group process is the degree of attraction and commitment of group members.
b. Group process is how the group works as a unit and how members interact.
c. Group process is how the group members connect and relate to each other.
d. Group process is the attraction between individual members and the group
ANS: B
Group process refers to how the group as a unit is working and how group members interact
with one another. Group involvement is the degree of attraction and commitment of group
members. Group interaction refers to how the group members connect and relate to each
other, whereas group cohesion is the attraction between individual members and the group.
- According to Tuckman and Jensen’s (1977) five stages of group development, a group is in
which stage when it is working on the task and related issues and some level of comfort has
been established?
a. Forming
b. Storming
c. Norming
d. Performing
ANS: B
Stage 2, storming, occurs as the group works on the task and related issues and some level
comfort is established.
- Which group-building and maintenance role describes the person who monitors group process
to ensure that the group stays focused and identifies departures from the group’s stated goals
or procedures?
a. Coordinator
b. Encourager
c. Orienter
d. Commentator
ANS: C
The orienter is the one who monitors so that the group stays focused and identifies departures
from goals and procedures and may make suggestions for improvements in group functioning.
