AA Observation Reflection

1. Describe what type of AA meeting you attended: group size, composition of the group
members. How did you feel when you entered into the meeting? What leadership style
did you identify in the group leader? How did the members of the group make you feel?
What additional information do you wish you had prior to attending the
meeting? (Minimum 1 paragraph.)

I attended an open AA meeting that had around 20 members. Many of the

members were older and have been sober for many years. The youngest
members appeared to be in their mid-forties. There were more men than women
who attended the meeting. When I first entered the meeting I was unsure of how
they would welcome into the group. I introduced myself, showed the group leader
my ID, and explained that I was a nursing student who wished to learn more
about AA to help my future patients. The group leader was a woman who
encouraged another member to lead the meeting for that particular evening. The
member who led that nights meeting was celebrating her 1-year being sober.
The group members made me feel very welcome and asked me to come back
any time. They offered me cake to join in the celebration of the members
continued sobriety. They had a great sense of humor and truly seemed to care
about each other and encouraged each other to maintain their sobriety.

2. Identify 2 Yalom's Curative factors utilized in the group meeting. How did the Yalom's
Curative factors influence the group meeting? Explain how the Yalom's Curative factors
may influence your care delivery in the future (Minimum 2 paragraphs.)

One of Yaloms Curative factors that was utilized in the group meeting was
Universality. Before adding their input to the discussion, each member would
state their name and state that they are an alcoholic. Each member was there
was there because they struggle with alcoholism. The member who was leading
the group for the evening asked for advice about something she was struggling
with and the members went around the room and offered information about
similar personal experiences. They were displaying both Altruism and
Interpersonal learning. Many of the group members said they could really relate
to what she said and that it allowed them to look at their previous experiences.

Yaloms Curative factors are beneficial to help me encourage and support my

future patients. I will encourage group therapy for patients who may need an
outside form of support. I will use the curative factors like guidance, altruism and
imparting information to help promote recovery in my patients. I want my patients
to know that I am their advocate. Support is a vital part of recovery and I want to
make sure my patients have all the tools they need in order to maintain their
recovery.

3. Description Step 1 in the Alcoholic Anonymous. Identify a NANDA that can be used in
your plan of care which correlates with step 1. List 3 interventions that can be
implemented in your plan of care related to the NANDA. (Minimum 1 paragraph.)
 Step one in Alcoholics Anonymous is admitting that you are powerless over your
addiction and acknowledging that your life has become unmanageable.
Powerlessness related to substance addition is a NANDA diagnosis that can be
used relating to AA. One intervention that can apply is assisting the patient to
recognize that the problem exists. Discuss in a caring, nonjudgmental manner
how alcohol has interfered with their life. Another intervention is to explore
support in peer group. Encourage sharing about alcohol hunger, situations that
increase the desire to indulge, and ways that substance has influenced life. The
last nursing intervention is providing ongoing treatment information (Vera, 2014).

4. Compare and contrast the utilization of the AA program related to patient outcomes with
an evidence-based nursing journal article from the Nursing Reference Center (NRC).
(Minimum 2 paragraphs.)

According to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, people who had

attended AA for a year to 18 months had a significantly higher abstinence rate
from alcohol than those who did not attend a 12-step program (2009). It was
previously thought that AA meetings did not have as much influence on a
patients abstinence as compared to receiving treatment prior to attending the
meetings. Alcoholics Anonymous supports recovery by implementing the use of a
sponsor to help encourage and keep members accountable for their actions. AA
meeting attendance for the 90 days prior to the 1-year follow-up, the dose
response curve looks almost linear, with more 12-step meetings associated with
higher rates of alcohol and drug abstinence (2009). It is clear that 12-step
programs like Alcoholics Anonymous are extremely beneficial to help aid in the
continual recovery of alcoholics.

Recovering from alcoholism can be even more difficult if the person is still
surrounded by alcohol and people who influence that behavior. Banduras social
learning theory adds to the psychodynamic perspective, saying that a large part
of the problem arises from social influences and from self-efficacy: if everyone
around you drinks, and if you dont think it is within your ability to not drink, you
will be unable to abstain (2009). One of the reasons why Alcoholics Anonymous
works so well is that the members are around people who are going through the
same struggle. Each member of the group is bonded by the fact that they all are
working to maintain their sobriety from alcohol. Patient outcomes are better
because they use AA as a support system and keep each other accountable.

5. Did you enjoy this experience? Why or why not? (Minimum 1 paragraph)

I really enjoyed my experience at the AA meeting. At first I wasnt sure how the
environment would be and how the members would accept me. They were very
welcoming and asked me questions about nursing school. They also told me how
much they appreciated me coming to learn more about AA. I really enjoyed how
supportive the environment was and how each of the members shared
something that has helped them with recovery. The feeling of encouragement
and hope seemed very contagious. After attending an AA meeting I definitely
believe that group therapy is a overwhelmingly important factor in each
individuals recovery.
 References
Kaskutas, L. E. (2009). Alcoholics anonymous effectiveness. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2746426/

Vera, M. (2014). 8 Substance dependence and abuse nursing care plans. Retrieved from
http://nurseslabs.com/8-substance-dependenceabuse-nursing-care-plans/