Chapter 12 Flashcards
While reading an article on power, a nurse would most likely hypothesize that power can be described as which of the following?
a. Authority and influence
b. Accountability and responsibility
c. Personal and professional approaches to life
d. Ability to create, get, and use resources to achieve one’s goals
D: Power is the ability to create, get, and use resources to achieve one’s goals. Power can occur at various levels, including personal, professional, and organizational. Authority, influence, accountability, and responsibility may result from power; however, these terms do not define power. DEFINITIONS OF POWER
One day a colleague asked you, “What made you choose nursing as a profession?” You replied that your mother and teachers encouraged you to choose this profession. Your colleague would most likely hypothesize that your mother and teachers possessed personal power because they:
a. perceived themselves as having personal power.
b. were individuals who could influence others and events.
c. had extensive buying power or wealth.
d. were individuals in powerful positions.
B: Power, regardless of level, comes from the ability to influence others and events. Personal power derives from characteristics in the individual; for example, parents and teachers are often seen as personally powerful because of the knowledge they possess and trust they generate. DEFINITIONS OF POWER
Your supervisor comments that you have a great deal of personal power. The supervisor’s comment is most likely related to which of your assets?
a. Decision-making ability c. Charisma when speaking to people
b. Connections to other nurses d. Expertise as a nurse
A: The personal power of nurses is evident in the decisions they make. Nurses’ sense of power is greater when they can influence events through personal effort. Connection is ultimately about building personal and professional relationships. People who are strongly connected to others experience a degree of intimacy and a level of commitment that empowers them and others. Nurses who are trusted and respected by others and are most able to exert influence over others tend to be charismatic. The knowledge and skills nurses possess is referred to as expert power. DEFINITIONS OF POWER
As a nurse you possess professional power. This type of power is that which:
a. comes from one’s position in a hierarchy.
b. comes from a person’s buying power or wealth.
c. is perceived by a person with extensive knowledge.
d. is conferred on members of a profession.
D: Professional power is that which is conferred on members of a profession by one another and the larger society to which they belong. DEFINITIONS OF POWER
As the nurse manager, you have organizational power that:
a. comes from one’s position in a hierarchy.
b. comes from a person’s buying power or wealth.
c. is perceived by a person with extensive knowledge.
d. is conferred on members of a profession.
A: Organizational power comes from one’s position in an organizational hierarchy, as well as from understanding the organizational structure and function and from being authorized to function powerfully within an organizational culture. DEFINITIONS OF POWER
As a new employee, you can wield influence as an expert nurse by doing which of the following?
a. Demonstrating nursing skills c. Achieving position status
b. Proclaiming yourself an expert d. Networking with expert nurses
A: There are two ways to wield the influence of an expert. One way is the demonstration of nursing skills based on one’s knowledge, skills, and abilities that one consistently demonstrates in practice settings. Second is to be introduced and promoted to a group as an expert, thus validating one’s expertise. The position a nurse holds in a group is called legitimate power. The extent to which nurses network and are connected with others having power is called connection power. DEFINITIONS OF POWER
Your agency hires a nurse consultant who is certified in wound care. The consultant is scheduled to work with staff nurses on methods to promote wound healing. Which type of power does the nurse consultant possess?
a. Legitimate power c. Referent power
b. Expert power d. Reward/coercion power
B: The knowledge and skills nurses possess are referred to as expert power. Since the consultant is certified in wound care, the consultant would possess expert power. SOURCES OF POWER
You have been appointed president of your state’s local nursing association. The power derived from this appointment is referred to as which of the following?
a. Legitimate power c. Referent power
b. Expert power d. Reward/coercion power
A: Legitimate power is power derived from the position a nurse holds in a group. As the president of the nursing association, you have legitimate power and the authority over the actions of the association. SOURCES OF POWER
One of the nurses on your unit serves as a member of the hospital’s budget committee. Each month the nurse updates the unit staff on issues that may affect them. This nurse possesses which type of power?
a. Expert power c. Information power
b. Connection power d. Legitimate power
C: Power is based on the information that any person can provide to the group. The extent to which nurses are connected with others having power is called connection power. The knowledge and skills nurses possess is referred to as expert power. Legitimate power is power derived from the position a nurse holds in a group, and it indicates the degree of authority. SOURCES OF POWER
Visible reciprocal acknowledgement of expertise among group members:
a. maintains productivity. c. balances power.
b. enhances power. d. decreases productivity.
C: Visible reciprocal acknowledgment of expertise among group members balances power and enhances productivity, while lack of reciprocal acknowledge has the opposite effect. SOURCES OF POWER
Reward power and coercive power are commonly used to influence others. The effective use of rewards for staff nurses is all of the following except:
a. increased salary for obtaining the next rung on the clinical ladder.
b. formal recognition before one’s nursing peers at an awards ceremony.
c. one additional paid day off for each year you are with the organization.
d. increased workload for displaying excellence in patient care outcomes.
D: Meaningful rewards exist beyond monetary ones; for example, formal and personal recognition of loyalty and commitment to the organization with more paid time off. Increased workload is not seen as a reward in most instances. SOURCES OF POWER
A staff nurse requests that the nurse manager promote her from the position of RN-I to RN-II. The nurse manager explains to the staff nurse that, according to hospital policy, additional experience and time on the job must be achieved before being promoted to that position. In an attempt to circumvent the manager’s power, the staff nurse approaches the Director of Nursing and requests a promotion to RN-II. Circumvention of the nurse manager’s power can cause which of the following?
a. Respect c. Knowledge
b. Tension and conflict d. Positive image
B: Circumvention of power causes tension and conflict. Circumvention of a person’s authority or position is likely to be perceived as an indication of disrespect or ignorance. Bypassing the person who is directly responsible for a situation, or who has formal access to the person who is directly responsible, reflects negatively on nurses who take their concerns to a higher level of authority without working to resolve issues at a more appropriate level. SOURCES OF POWER
One of the nurses recently attended a conference on best practices for nurses. Upon returning to work, the nurse shares the information with the other staff nurses. Which of the following would be a result of sharing the information from the conference?
a. Foster unsubstantiated rumors
b. Decrease organizational effectiveness
c. Weaken one’s professional connections
d. Foster improvement in overall patient care
D: Information sharing can improve patient care, increase collegiality, enhance organizational effectiveness, and strengthen one’s professional connections. SOURCES OF POWER
Which of the following is predominantly an intrapersonal characteristic?
a. Affiliation c. Achievement
b. Power d. Empowerment
C: The need for achievement is predominantly an intrapersonal characteristic and is motivated by one’s personal conviction of capability and competence. Affiliation, power, and empowerment are predominantly interpersonal characteristics. DEFINITIONS OF POWER
Nurses are empowered by:
a. the media’s recognizing them as a powerful group.
b. others perceiving them as being powerful.
c. their collective gender force.
d. self-decision making.
B: At the most basic level, nurses are empowered because they are perceived as having individual, group, and/or organizational power. Empowered nurses are likely to manifest a high level of self-awareness and self-confidence. DEFINITIONS OF POWER
