Group resources anyone?

[Zen APRN]

Can some of you share what resources you are using for nursing group ideas? I have been using Life Skills but I just feel like there has to be other resources out there better suited for an adult acute population.

I would love to hear what everyone else is using.

Peace-

Zen

[Popwhizbangz, LPN]

I've done Medication Ed groups for about five years - I mostly do it without any materials, just question and answer and discussion (Improv, lots of fun), but i do have some materials I worked up along the way - they're all Psych related, and helped me when I was still new to it. Let me know it if sounds helpful at all, and I'll try and dig it up.

[AmbrospsychRN]

Good question!! I've joined a committee at my facility that is trying to improve our group materials. I've had a terrible time finding anything. We have lots of faded worksheets copied from unknown sources. Our educational videos are outdated. We have various brochures, but only 1 copy left on certain topics, and no information with how to obtain more.

Any websites or books that you use to get materials from would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks :)

[MissPiggy]

I have found drawings to be very powerful, e.g. draw your own illness as you see it to be, draw yourself, etc., with kids, draw your family etc., draw yourself as you feel on your meds. After the drawing is done, ask each member of the group to explain the drawing. It has worked great for me every time.

[Popwhizbangz, LPN]

I have found drawings to be very powerful, e.g. draw your own illness as you see it to be, draw yourself, etc., with kids, draw your family etc., draw yourself as you feel on your meds. After the drawing is done, ask each member of the group to explain the drawing. It has worked great for me every time.

Sounds interesting - we need ways to draw folks out, especially those trying to describe interior experiences that even the most talented writers struggle to portray, and even more so for folks who have limited ability and/or willingness to discuss important issues verbally. Thanks for the tip.

[Popwhizbangz, LPN]

Myself, I use no materials, found they got in the way. I just get folks talking, and draw valid teaching points (I usually do Medication Ed groups) from what they say, encourage them to think of themselves as important decision-makers on their own treatment teams - which of course they are, as my most frequent aim is to bolster treatment adherence.

For me, written materials were nice when I was new, but got to be a distraction - we were talking about the handouts and how to use them, instead of talking to each other about the topic at hand.