Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Chapter 20 The Nursing Profession’s Historic Struggle to Increase Its Power Base

Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Factors Contributing to Powerlessness Oppression of nurses as group (see Box 20.1) –Patriarchal, male-dominated forces –Result in value confusion, low self-esteem Failure to align fully with feminist movement –Not keeping pace with progress of women in other areas –Women outnumber men in the discipline

Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Factors Contributing to Powerlessness (cont.) Limited collective representation Socialization to view power, politics negatively Inadequate recognition of nursing as educated professional with evidence-based practice –Nurses with highly developed skills and well- developed knowledge base, critical thinking ability, high organizational skills, ability to set priorities, well-defined communication and psychomotor skills, sophisticated leadership and management skills –Public image not the same

Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Factors Contributing to Powerlessness (cont.) Profession’s history of being reactive in national policy setting –Not proactive –Trend toward passivity

Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Question Is the following statement true or false? Nursing typically has been viewed as being proactive in national policy setting.

Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Answer False. Nursing has a history of being reactive rather than proactive in national policy setting.

Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Driving Forces to Increase Power Base Right timing (see Box 20.3) Size of nursing profession Nursing’s referent power (power when others identify with you or what you symbolize leading to admiration or respect) Increasing knowledge base, education Unique perspective Desire for change

Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Action Plan for the Future Place more nurses in positions influencing policy –Board Leadership Development program –Office of National Nurse; assistant to Surgeon General –National Nurse Act of 2011—National Nurse for Public Health (Chief Nurse Officer of the US Public Health Service) –Elected office

Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Action Plan for the Future (cont.) Stop acting like victims –Address issues; fulfill expectations –Potential to make a difference Become better informed about all health care policy efforts –Grass roots knowledge building, involvement –American Nurses Advocacy Institute –Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellows program –Direct and indirect involvement

Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Question Is the following statement true or false? Referent power for nurses is reflected in their emphasis on science and evidence.

Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Answer False. Referent power refers to power that arises when others identify with you or what you symbolize, which leads to admiration or respect.

Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Action Plan for the Future (cont.) Build coalitions inside, outside nursing –Networking: locally, nationally –Professional organization membership –National Nurses United, CANS; NOA Conduct more research –Evidence-based practice; nursing-sensitive outcomes

Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Action Plan for the Future (cont.) Support nursing leaders –Visionary change agents –Best advocates Mentor future nurse leaders, plan for leadership succession –Avoidance of “queen-bee” syndrome –Adequate empowering of young nurse leaders by older, more established nurse leaders

Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Question Is the following statement true or false? For nurses to become better informed about health care policy efforts, grass roots knowledge building and involvement are critical.

Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Answer True. Nurses must become better informed about all health care policy efforts, which requires grass roots knowledge building and involvement.

Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins End of Presentation