Clinical support groups that work.
A support group for nurses who care for patients with AIDS has been meeting at a major teaching hospital in New York City for the past year. The authors believe its success has been determined by three components: the group's ability to first, express feelings; second, do a needs assessment and plan programs to meet those needs; and third, participate in the organizational development system of the hospital. Management recognizes the importance of the group, endorses it, and supports it verbally and behaviorally.