Group Leadership Skills for Nurses & Health Professionals

by Carolyn Chambers Clark EdD, ARNP,FAAN

Overview

"This is an excellent guide for key principles of leadership in managing group dynamics. Each chapter is well designed and supported with prominent research in the area which supports the theory development with current and historical evidence." Score: 97, 5 stars

--Doody's

Group Leadership Skills provides a solid foundation for using group concepts, theory, and research with a wide-variety of groups and group settings. The book teaches essential group process skills, including theories, differentiating content from process, working with tension and anxiety, conflict, apathy, and enhancing cohesiveness. Clark also presents strategies to improve effectiveness of group leaders, such as helping groups move to a working phase, solve problems, and build teams.

This updated edition is now newly expanded to apply to a highly diverse collection of groups. The strategies and techniques can be used with students, families, staff, older adults, codependency groups, groups for obesity and eating disorders, depression, rape and sexual abuse groups, domestic violence groups, and many more.

This updated edition:

• Contains descriptions, tables, and assessment forms that help learners understand and intervene in group situations
  
  
• Presents helpful, simulated group practice situations as well as convenient examples of how to record and analyze group process
  
  
• Includes new section entitled, "Group Leaders Speak"
  
  
• Includes new feature, "Clinical Leader Challenges," which helps group counselors lead formally and informally in clinical settings with staff, therapeutic, task, education, and support groups
  

;

"This book provides a comprehensive and insightful overview of group leadership skills, applicable to both therapeutic and work-related groups, alike."

Elizabeth McCay, RN, PD

Ryerson University

"[A] masterful guide that teaches us to gain the most from each group setting. Whether we are in our private practice or involved in a committee, this work gives us an excellent format to follow."

William S. Bezmen, PhD, RN, CS

Director, Pathways to Health,

Holistic Treatment and Education Center

"This is an excellent guide for key principles of leadership in managing group dynamics. Each chapter is well designed and supported with prominent research in the area which supports the theory development with current and historical evidence." Score: 97, 5 stars

--Doody's

Group Leadership Skills provides a solid foundation for using group concepts, theory, and research with a wide variety of groups and group settings. With this book, nurses and health professionals will learn the essential group process skills, including differentiating content from process, working with tension and anxiety, and enhancing cohesiveness. Clark presents practical strategies to improve the effectiveness of group leaders, such as helping groups solve problems and build teams.

This edition is now newly expanded to apply to a diverse collection of groups. The strategies and techniques can be used with students, families, staff, codependency groups, depression groups, rape and sexual abuse groups, domestic violence groups, and many more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826104595
Publisher:	Springer Publishing Company
Publication date:	12/02/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	376
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Carolyn Chambers Clark, ARNP, EdD, FAAN, AHNC, founded the Wellness Institute and now runs a website that provides continuing education materials, newsletters, seminars, and practice management consultation. As a certified advanced holistic nurse and mental health nurse practitioner, she has maintained a private practice with clients for more than 30 years, focusing on whole person wellness.

Read an Excerpt

chapter

Table of Contents

"

Part I: Learning Group Basics

1. INTRODUCING YOU TO GROUP WORK
2. USING BASIC GROUP CONCEPTS AND PROCESS
3. WORKING TO ACHIEVE GROUP GOALS

Part II: Beginning and Guiding Groups

4. BEGINNING, GUIDING, AND TERMINATING A GROUP
5. DEALING WITH SPECIAL GROUP PROBLEMS

Part III: Developing Group Leadership Skills

6. OBTAINING SUPERVISION AND WORKING WITH A COLEADER
7. USING BEHAVIORAL APPROACHES
8. RECORDING AND ANALYZING GROUP PROCESS

Part IV: Working with Different Types of Groups

9. WORKING WITH THE OLDER ADULT
10. WORKING WITH FOCAL GROUPS
11. WORKING WITH ORGANIZATIONS
12. WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES

Glossary

Index"

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Helen Ewing, DHSc, MN, RN (A. T. Still University)
Description: This book provides a basic and informative guide to learning and applying group leadership skills.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide readers the theory and skills needed to lead and participate in group activities. Group and committee work are essential components of most positions in healthcare, and learning more about how to best manage group interactions is a valuable skill and asset.
Audience: The ideal audience would be students who are learning how to develop their own leadership skills and interactivity in groups. This book also would be an excellent resource for new leaders or anyone else wanting to know more about the psychology and management of group interactions.
Features: Each chapter is well designed and supported with prominent research in the area which supports the theory development with current and historical evidence. Many important topics for team leaders or managers are addressed: how to form groups, how best to structure and delegate group tasks, how to deal with special groups, and useful leadership skills. The book is well designed with large print, good use of white space, and bulleting and bolding of headings to enhance navigability. Multiple highlighted group leader challenges are available throughout the book to promote reflection on the theory and encourage application of some of the principles. The book includes many useful tips on how to operate in groups and manage conflict, with wonderful simulation activities at the end of each chapter to sharpen learning in this area. The simulation activities are excellent resources for use in a workshop or teaching environment.
Assessment: This is an excellent guide for key principles of leadership in managing group dynamics. The author obviously is very skilled and knowledgeable about human and organizational behavior. A very good resource for leaders.

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