(Behavioral & Metal Health Nursing).Alcoholics’ Anonymous (AA) Journal Guide
Attend an open meeting. Be honest about being a nursing student attending to learn more about community resources.
Submit 1.5 to 2 page paper typed in paragraph form.
Briefly describe your experience at an open AA meeting, including the following points:
Name, time, location of the meeting
Document your first impressions
Who did you attend with?
Describe the meeting: people, setting, format of the meeting
Did you hear any of the following terms used and what is your understanding of them? Big Book, 12-steps, 12 Traditions, higher power, sponsor, 90 in 90
How is the meeting funded?
Discuss anything specific about the meeting that you think was important.
Do you think AA is helpful for people with alcoholism? If so, how is it likely to help? If not, why not?
Could you see referring clients to AA?
Do you have concerns about AA?
What type of interaction did you have with any of the participants?
What was your emotional response to the meeting you attended?
NOTE: Do not interview participants in order to address all of the above points. Listen and think and ask a few questions if someone asks if you have any. You do not have to address all of the above points, only those that you learned about. Some of you may learn about more of the specific points than others; however, you each should have a personal experience.