Chapter 13: Working with Groups, Teams, and Partners

Question 1

1. 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.

Answer 1

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.”

Question 2

2. 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

Answer 2

ANS: B
Leadership, an important and complex group concept, has a decided influence on the
effectiveness of the group’s work.

Question 3

3. 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.

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

4. 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

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

5. 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.

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

6. 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

Answer 6

ANS: A
Group size is important. Generally, an ideal number of people for a small group is 12
members.

Question 7

7. 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

Answer 7

ANS: D
Reflecting behaviour involves giving feedback on how an individual’s behaviour appears to
others.

Question 8

8. 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

Answer 8

ANS: C
In clarifying behaviour, the leader checks out meanings of interaction and communication by
asking questions and making restatements

Question 9

9. 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

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

10. 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

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

11. 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

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

12. 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.

Answer 12

ANS: A
Group involvement is the degree of attraction and commitment of group members.

Question 13

13. 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

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

14. 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

Answer 14

ANS: B
Stage 2, storming, occurs as the group works on the task and related issues and some level
comfort is established.

Question 15

16. 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

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

17. Which leadership style is most appropriate for the CHN to assume when he or she is involved
    in disaster management, for example, that of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
    outbreak?
    a. Autocratic
    b. Democratic
    c. Bureaucratic
    d. Transactional

Answer 16

ANS: A
The autocratic leadership style is best used in situations where decisions need to be made
quickly or when high productivity is needed. This style of leadership is best used, for
example, in emergency or crisis situations, such as CHNs involved in disaster management
circumstances like the SARS outbreak, or CHNs working on projects with short deadlines,
such as planning a vaccination program for the H1N1 immunizations.

Question 17

18. Conflict transformation draws upon which power when incorporating variety within the
    group, through sharing leadership and promoting communication skill development?
    a. The power of diversity
    b. The power of solidarity
    c. The power of shared responsibility
    d. The power of bilateral friction

Answer 17

ANS: B
By using the power of solidarity, which refers to incorporating variety within the group
through sharing of leadership and promoting communication skill development, conflict can
be transformed.

Question 18

19. Which type of conflict may be experienced when a CHN who does not personally support
    abortion is working with a group of teenagers to teach them about sexual health and
    pregnancy?
    a. Interpersonal conflict
    b. Intrapersonal conflict
    c. Intergroup conflict
    d. Interdisciplinary conflict

Answer 18

ANS: B
Intrapersonal conflict can arise when a CHN does not personally support abortion but must
work with a group of teenagers to teach them about sexual health and pregnancy. The CHN
may therefore experience internal conflict when providing information about this option and
about the available community clinics providing abortion.

Question 19

20. Which group conflict resolution strategy is most concerned with the self, or “I-ness”?
    a. Competing
    b. Avoidance
    c. Compromising
    d. Accommodating

Answer 19

ANS: B
Avoidance is the group conflict resolution strategy that is most concerned with the self. On a
horizontal continuum that displays “I-ness” (concern for the self) on the left and “we-ness”
(concern for the group) on the right, the conflict resolution strategies would appear in the
following order: avoidance, competing, compromising, accommodating, and collaborating.

Question 20

21. Which type of conflict may be experienced when a CHN supports a palliative care client’s
    decision to die at home but the family physician believes that the client should be in a
    hospital?
    a. Interpersonal conflict
    b. Intrapersonal conflict
    c. Intergroup conflict
    d. Interdisciplinary conflict

Answer 20

ANS: A
Interpersonal conflict refers to conflict between two or more people who have different values
and beliefs. This scenario, in which the CHN supports a palliative care client’s decision to die
at home but the family physician believes that the client should be hospitalized, is an example
of interpersonal conflict.

Question 21

22. According to the five stages of group development outlined by Tuckman and Jensen (1977),
    which stage of group development is a group in when it focuses on the group work with a
    sharing of ideas in a supportive group environment?
    a. Forming
    b. Storming
    c. Norming
    d. Performing

Answer 21

ANS: D
According to Tuckman and Jensen’s (1977) theory, stage 4, performing, occurs when the
group members focus on the group work with the sharing of ideas in a supportive group
environment

Question 22

23. What is an example of a nonfunctional group role?
    a. Opinion giver
    b. Recognition seeker
    c. Follower
    d. Feasibility tester

Answer 22

ANS: B
The recognition seeker is an example of a nonfunctional group role; this person’s interest is in
focusing attention on him- or herself and not on meeting the stated goals of the group. The
opinion giver and feasibility tester are examples of task roles, and the follower is an example
of a group-building and maintenance role.

Question 23

24. What would be considered an effective group norm?
    a. Group meetings generally do not start on time, but they do end on time.
    b. Group members share positive and negative feelings about what is happening.
    c. Group members often have hidden agendas to meet other purposes.
    d. The group leader makes most of the group decisions.

Answer 23

ANS: B
Group norms are the rules and standards that set the stage for how the group will make
decisions, how work is assigned, and what is acceptable group behaviour. The sharing of
positive and negative feelings about what is happening in the group is an example of an
effective group norm. Other effective group norms include starting and ending meetings on
time, avoiding hidden agendas, and ensuring shared decision making.