Nurses' perception of the strategies to gaining professional power: A qualitative study

Abstract

BackgroundPower in nursing is a broad concept that has a determining effect on the achievement of professional goals. Gaining power is essential for promoting the roles of nurses, improving their professional image and the consistent improvement of healthcare systems.ObjectivesThis study was conducted to identify and clarify strategies for gaining power in the nursing profession through the experiences of Iranian nurses.MethodsThe present qualitative grounded theory study was conducted on fifteen participants selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through individual, in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The data obtained were analyzed using the guidelines provided by Corbin and Strauss, (2008 edition). This study was carried out in Qazvin city of Iran and lasted fourteen months (2015–2016).ResultsThe analysis of the data were classified under the main theme of gaining human-professional power based on individual and organizational capacities, divided into four main categories, including respecting human values and ethical principles (with two subcategories, keeping the human symbols of power and commitment to moral obligations of power), promoting professional interactions (with two subcategories, paying attention to intraprofessional communication and paying attention to interprofessional communication), attempting professional endurance (with two subcategories, raising self-confidence and having professional commitment), and valuing potential capacities (with two subcategories, regard for individual capacities and regard for organizational capacities).ConclusionThe findings obtained suggest that success in gaining power in nursing, requires a cumulative focus on human, ethical, professional, individual and organizational capacities.

From twisting to settling down as a nurse in China: a qualitative study of the commitment to nursing as a career

“…This was related to the lack of autonomy of nursing as a legitimate career. In fact, lack of authority and autonomy has long been an obstacle preventing nursing from standing out as a full career [38,45]. There is a need for nursing scholars in China to work with those overseas to explore the boundary of nursing responsibilities and ways to gain authority and autonomy for nursing.…”

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“…No primeiro, as medidas de redução de custos, típicas em fases de crise, onde em particular os Enfermeiros são solicitados constantemente a fazer "mais com menos" (Robinson, 2012), encostando os Enfermeiros no limite da cidadania e da dignidade, mas que com a solidariedade e autonomia interpares, buscam incessante a procura de soluções para os problemas reais num conhecimento socialmente digno, coletivo e solidário. No segundo, obtendo a partilha de conhecimentos profissionais, métodos e habilidades entre pares, fortalecendo a solidariedade profissional, confiança, unidade, empatia, respeito e senso de poder, mais proficiente se numa equipa com uma atmosfera de solidariedade e confiança e apoiados na meritocracia (Sepasi, Borhani, & Abbaszadeh, 2017;Dan, et al, 2018).…”

Perceived interpersonal and institutional challenges to patient advocacy in clinical nursing practice: a qualitative study from Ghana / Interpersonelle und institutionelle Herausforderungen für die Rolle als Patientenfürsprecher/-in aus Sicht der Pflege: eine qualitative Studie aus Ghana

“…The performance of the role has been noted to have beneficial effects on patient outcomes by reducing medical errors (Choi et al, 2014). In addition, it helps nurses to achieve professional power and to enhance their selfconfidence (Sepasi et al, 2017). In Ghana, a nurse who advocates for patients is seen as a "Florence Nightingale" (Adu-Gyamfi et al, 2016), but the nurses are frequently faced with some challenges when performing this role.…”

“…Studies in the North America and Brazil have found that nurses often fail to succeed in their advocacy for patients because of this power imbalance; thus, they often remain silent and comply with medical directives rather than risk conflict with the physicians (Gerber, 2018;Tomaschewski-Barlem et al, 2016). Moreover, the historic submissiveness of nursing and its altruistic values have also become obstacles to patient advocacy and the professional empowerment of nurses today (Sepasi et al, 2017). Improving professional interactions and communication is important for gaining power in nursing.…”

“…Improving professional interactions and communication is important for gaining power in nursing. However, from the global perspective, attitude towards teamwork in healthcare settings is often weak (Oliveira et al, 2017;Sepasi et al, 2017) and conflicts arising during patient advocacy can lead to other team members tagging nurses negatively to discourage them (Gerber, 2018;Hanks et al, 2018). The hiring of medical and nurse practitioners has also been noted to be tightly controlled and constrained by inadequate budget allocations, especially in public hospitals, and this has led to a shortage of staff, leaving nurses with limited time for patient advocacy (Gerber, 2018;Jafree et al, 2015).…”