👥 Group Dynamics in Nursing

🔍 Definition

Group

A group may be defined as a number of individuals who join together to achieve a goal. People join groups to achieve
goals that cannot be achieved by them alone.

Johnson & Johnson (2006)

Group Dynamic

Group dynamics is the interaction that influence the attitude and behaviour of people when they are grouped with
others through either choice or accidental circumstances.

Group dynamics may be defined as the social process by which people interact face to face in small groups.

Group dynamics refers to the behavioural and psychological processes that occur within a group or between groups.
In nursing, it involves how nurses interact, communicate, influence each other, and function together as a team to
deliver quality patient care.

🔹 FEATURES OF GROUP DYNAMICS

 People in a group influence each other.

 Groups keep changing – new members may join, leaders may change.
 A group can work smoothly or have conflicts.
 A good group has cooperation, respect, and participation.
 The group adapts to solve problems and reduce tension

🧩 Importance of Group Dynamics in Nursing

1. Promotes Teamwork
o Encourages collaboration in patient care.
o Enhances interdisciplinary coordination (nurses, doctors, allied health).
2. Improves Communication
o Fosters open dialogue, reducing misunderstandings and conflicts.
o Encourages active listening and respect among team members.
3. Supports Conflict Resolution
o Helps address disagreements constructively.
o Encourages problem-solving and consensus building.
4. Enhances Decision Making
 o Multiple perspectives lead to better clinical decisions.
o Collective thinking improves care planning.
5. Boosts Morale and Motivation
o Builds a sense of belonging and mutual support.
o Recognition from peers improves job satisfaction.
6. Increases Productivity and Efficiency
o Delegation and cooperation lead to effective time and resource management.

PRINCIPLES OF GROUP DYNAMICS

 Members should feel they belong to the group.

 Leaders and team members must work together.
 Group should have clear goals.
 Everyone should participate equally.
 If one part changes, it affects the whole group.

👨‍⚕️Types of Groups in Nursing

Type Description
Formal Groups Formed by the organization (e.g., nursing units, committees).
Informal Groups Naturally formed by nurses (e.g., lunch groups, peer support).
Primary Groups Close-knit with frequent interaction (e.g., shift team).
Secondary Groups Goal-oriented with less emotional connection (e.g., training batch).

🔄 Stages of Group Development (Tuckman's Model)

1. Forming: A group of individuals standing together or shaking hands.

The first stage in the life of a group is concerned with forming a group. This stage is characterized by
members seeking either a work assignment (in a formal group) or other benefit, like status, affiliation, power,
etc. (in an informal group). Members at this stage either engage in busy type of activity or show apathy.

2. Storming: Lightning bolts or people debating, showing the clash of ideas.

The next stage in this group is marked by the formation of dyads and triads. Members seek out familiar or
similar individuals and begin a deeper sharing of self. Continued attention to the subgroup creates a
differentiation in the group and tensions across the dyads / triads may appear. Pairing is a common
phenomenon. There will be conflict about controlling the group.
3. Norming: Puzzle pieces fitting together or hands joined in teamwork.

The third stage of group development is marked by a more serious concern about task performance. The
dyads/triads begin to open up and seek out other members in the group. Efforts are made to establish various
norms for task performance.

Members begin to take greater responsibility for their own group and relationship while the authority figure
becomes relaxed. Once this stage is complete, a clear picture will emerge about hierarchy of leadership. The
norming stage is over with the solidification of the group structure and a sense of group identity and
camaraderie.

4. Performing: Flowing gears or a trophy symbolizing high performance.

This is a stage of a fully functional group where members see themselves as a group and get involved in the
task. Each person makes a contribution and the authority figure is also seen as a part of the group. Group
norms are followed and collective pressure is exerted to ensure the Process of Group effectiveness of the
group. The group may redefine its goals Development in the light of information from the outside
environment and show an autonomous will to pursue those goals

5. Adjourning: Parting paths, a waving hand, or a sunset, symbolizing closure.

In the case of temporary groups, like project team, task force, or any other such group, which have a limited
task at hand, also have a fifth stage, this is known as adjourning.
 The group decides to disband. Some members may feel happy over the performance, and some may be
unhappy over the stoppage of meeting with group members. Adjourning may also be referred to as mourning,
i.e. mourning the adjournment of the group.

📝 Example: A new ICU team goes through these stages as they adjust to roles and responsibilities.

TYPES OF GROUPS:

One way to classify the groups is by way of formality – formal and informal. While formal groups are established by
an organization to achieve its goals, informal groups merge spontaneously. Formal groups may take the form of
command
groups, task
groups, and
functional
groups.

⚖️
 1. FORMAL GROUP: The formal group are formed deliberately and consciously collectively to direct the
effort of group member’s especially the employees towards the accomplishment of organizational objective.
It is divided in three types:
a) Command group
b) Task group
c) Functional group
a) COMMAND GROUP: Command group are specified by the organizational chart and often consist of a
supervisor and the subordinates that report to that supervisor.
b) TASK GROUP: Task group consist of people who work together to achieve a common task member are
brought together to accomplish a narrow range of goals within a specified time period. task group are also
commonly referred to as task forces the organization appoints members and assigns the goals and task to be
accomplished.
Example of assigned task are the development of new product, the improvement of a production process,
or designing the syllabus under semester system.
c) FUNCTIONAL GROUP: A functional group is created by the organization to accomplish specific goals
within an unspecified time frame. Functional group remain in existence after achievement of current goals
and objectives.

2. INFORMAL GROUP:
The informal group are those group that get created
spontaneously as soon as individual start interacting with each other.
The informal group are formed by the individuals to satisfy their social needs of affiliation,
and they emerge on their own and hence not created by the management of the organization.
a) INTEREST:
Interest group is a group of individuals that share a common interest in a specific subject
and work jointly to influence public policy in its favor.

b) FRIENDSHIP GROUP:
Friendship group are formed by members who enjoy similar social activity
political belief, religious value or other common bonds, members enjoy each other’s company and often
meet after work to participate in these activities. For examples a group of employees who form a friendship
 group may have a yoga group.
c) EEFERENCE GROUP:
A reference group is a type of group that people use to evaluate themselves. The
main objectives of reference groups are to seek social validation and social comparison. Social validation
allows individuals to justify their attitudes and values while social comparison helps individuals evaluate
their own actions by comparing themselves to others. Reference groups have a strong influence on
members’ behavior. Such groups are formed voluntarily. Family, friends, and religious affiliations are
strong reference groups for most individuals.

ELEMENTS OF GROUP BEHAVIOUR: The major elements of group behavior are:

1. ACTIVITY: When a person does something (e.g. talks, run., manipulates machinery) he is said to
perform some activity.

2. INTERACTION: By interaction we mean a communication or contact between two or more person so

that the activity of one respond to the activity of the other. Every conversation is an interaction. It is usually
important to note by whom they are initiated and whether two or more person are simultaneously involved.

3. BELIEFS: A belief of feeling which an employee must have in order to perform the assigned task is
called required sentiment, the belief of feeling which an employee brings with him into a group because
of his life outside it and his personal background is known as given sentiments. When given sentiment pertain
to ideals and aspiration which are desirable they are called values. Thus value is an ultimate idea of which
is desirable such as belief in fair treatment, good pay or freedom from being pushed around.
4. NORMS: in contrast to a value, a norm is a limited idea of what is desirable, it can be fully released.
Norm is particular kind of emergent namely, an idea or belief about what the activities, sentiments or
interaction in a particular group should be,
5. SENTIMENTAL: Sentiments can be defined as an idea, belief, feeling about the work and the others
involved in it.

TYPES OF HEALTH CARE GROUPS:

Common types of health care groups include task groups, self-help group, self-awareness or growth group. Therapy
group.
1. TEACHING GROUP: The major purpose of teaching group is to impart information to the participants.
Example of teaching group include group continuing education and client health care group. Numerous subjects are
often handled via the group teaching format. Child birth technique,
2. birth control method effective parenting nutrition, instruction to family members about follow up care. A nurse who
leads group in which the primary purpose is to teach or learn must be skilled in the teaching learning process.
3. SELF HELP GROUP: A self-help group is a small, voluntary organization composed of individual who share similar
 health, social, daily living problem. These group are based on the helper therapy principle those who help are helped
most.
4. SELF AWARENESS OR GROWTH GROUP: The purpose of self-awareness or growth group is to develop or use
interpersonal strength the overall aim is to improve the perception of member or to improve the functioning of the group
to which they return whether job, family or community.
5. THERAPY GROUP: Therapy groups are clearly defined to do the work of therapy members work towards self-
understanding, more satisfactory way of relating or handing stress and changing pattern of behavior towards health.

GROUP DYNAMICS IN NURSING:

•Group dynamics in nursing management:

 The nature of nursing is such that most of nurses works in groups and are continually interacting with
colleagues, patients and members of community. Despite the importance of this interaction insufficient
emphasis has been given to group dynamics in nursing.
 All the organizations have objectives and these objectives can be attained by activities and decision of the
groups that administer organization. A hospital service is such an organization and it is the responsibility of
nurse manager to influence group processes to attain the administration’s objectives
 The nurse manager can act as a facilitator by exercising a constructive influence on group. In this way
individual and group performance can be enhanced by leadership behaviour
 Group dynamics helps the leader to develop and nurture cultural bond within the group despite of all the
diversities
 Group dynamics enable the nurse manager to be confident and secure in herself so that she operates from a
secure and stable psychological base before asking hers staff to make changes

Group dynamics in nursing service

 Historically, nurses have used groups and group processes in hospitals and other health care settings.
 Nursing profession progressed from functional assignments to the team nursing approach.
 Psychiatric nursing field specifically explored the use of groups as a teaching method, a therapeutic tool, and a
form of peer supervision.

Group dynamics in nursing education

Group dynamics can play a significant role in nursing education and learning in groups, for
 Case discussions
 Group discussions
 Case presentations
 Skill learning and practice sessions
 Ward rounds with clinical instructor
 It helps in developing critical thinking
 Better development of skills
  Enhances interpersonal relations and communication skills
 Helps clarifying doubts
 Increase socialization

Factors Influencing Group Dynamics in Nursing

 Leadership style
 Communication patterns
 Individual personalities
 Organizational culture
 Clarity of goals
 Conflict management strategies

🧠 Nurse Manager’s Role in Group Dynamics

 Acts as a facilitator and mediator.

 Promotes positive interaction and team cohesion.
 Monitors group functioning and addresses dysfunctions.
 Encourages participation and shared decision-making.