wk 7 - 3514

Empowerment Definition

• process by which people, organizations, or groups become aware of power dynamics

• develop the skills and capacity to gain reasonable control over their lives

• exercise this control without infringing on the rights of others

• support the empowerment of others

Key Principle of Empowerment

Only an individual can truly empower themselves to make choices or speak out.

Empowerment and Power Relationships

individuals must understand existing power relationships and recognize the power they already possess.

Taking Power

Self-empowerment requires actively taking power rather than waiting for it to be given.

Choice in Empowerment

Individuals have the choice to take power or not take power

Three Dimensions of Empowerment

• personal level

• close relationships

• within a collective or group

Personal Empowerment level

• Taking control over one's own life

• set own agenda

• gain skills and insight

• build self confidence

• develop self reliance

• build self esteem

• recognize a sense of self

• realize what is in your reach + set path to get it

Empowerment in Close Relationships

• developing the ability to negotiate

• communicate

• seek support

• defend oneself

• maintain dignity

• Establish a sense of self within the relationship.

Collective Empowerment

• collective identity and agency

• group dignity

• shared identity

• self-organization

• interpersonal support

• negotiate as group

• positive interdependence

Strategies for Becoming Empowered

• ID key power brokers

• understand your circle of influence

• feel fear but act anyway

• breathe in courage and exhale fear

• take risks

• be present in important places

• express interest in participating because lack of invitation may simply mean others do not know you want to be involved.

organizational empowerment

• important precursor of employee’s positive relationships with their work

• improve job satisfaction

• enhance organizational commitment

Kanter’s 4 organizational empowerment structures

• access to information

• access to support

• access to resources needed to do the job

• opportunities to grow

Access to information - organizational empowerment structures

Employees require access to organizational knowledge and information to perform effectively.

Access to Support - organizational empowerment structures

Employees need support from colleagues, leaders, and the organization.

Access to Resources - organizational empowerment structures

Workers require adequate resources to complete their responsibilities successfully.

Opportunities to Learn and Grow - organizational empowerment structures

Organizations empower employees by providing opportunities for education, development, and advancement.

Importance of Power and Politics in Nursing

Workplace structures, opportunities, and limitations are direct outcomes of power and politics.

Dr. Judith Shamian's View on Power and Politics

Nurses need to understand workplace power and politics because what they can and cannot do is largely determined by these forces.

• CEO of VON/President of International Council of Nurses

Power and Nursing Units - power/politics in nursing

Effective nursing units are built upon understanding power structures and political dynamics.

Understanding Workplace Influence - power/politics in nursing

Nurses should observe who has influence, who is listened to, and how decisions are made in their workplace.

Strategic Influence - power/politics in nursing

Nurses should work purposefully and strategically with influential individuals to create change.

Power Definition

The ability or potential to exert actions that directly or indirectly cause changes in the behaviour and/or attitudes of another individual or group.

Power as Resource Mobilization

Power is the ability to use resources to achieve desired objectives or outcomes.

Power as Applied Knowledge

Power involves applying knowledge to exercise authority or influence.

Power Over vs Power With

"Power Over" focuses on control and dominance; "Power With" focuses on collaboration, shared influence, and collective action.

Mobilizing Resources

A key aspect of power is the ability to mobilize resources to accomplish goals.

5 Bases of Power

• reward power

• coercive power

• legitimate power

• referent power

• expert power

Reward Power

Influence based on providing rewards or benefits.

Coercive Power

Influence based on punishment or withholding rewards.

Legitimate Power

Influence derived from a formal position and the belief that the person has the right to exert influence and expect compliance.

Referent Power

Influence resulting from attractive personal qualities that make others want to be associated with the individual.

Expert Power

Influence resulting from perceived knowledge, expertise, or competence.

Nurses and Legitimate Power - nurses’ power

Nurses possess legitimate power because of their professional role and interactions with patients and families.

Nurses and Expert Power - nurses’ power

Nurses possess expert power through their knowledge and clinical expertise.

Nurses and Reward/Coercive Power - nurses’ power

Nurses may influence when and how care is delivered, and patients may feel reluctant to challenge them.

Nurses and Power With - nurses’ power

Nurses exercise "power with" when they collaborate, share information, and support others.

Nurses' Responsibility for Healthcare Systems - nurses’ power

Nurses have both the capacity and responsibility to influence present and future healthcare delivery systems.

Nursing and Referent Power - nurses’ power

High applications to nursing programs reflect nursing's referent power and attractiveness as a profession.

becoming anti-racist

• fear zone

  • deny problem

  • avoid hard questions

• learning zone

  • understand own privilege

  • educate self

• growth zone

  • correct peers/speak out

Reflection: Preventing Neglect Deaths

Healthcare professionals must consider actions that can prevent patient deaths caused by neglect.

Reflection: Addressing Workplace Racism

Organizations must identify and address racism within healthcare workplaces.

Reflection: Identifying Additional Issues

Nurses should continually identify and address emerging workplace and healthcare concerns.

peace and power

• energy from which human action/interaction arises

• ppl come into groups with personal experiences + learned the norms of behaviour that energize action and interaction in both groups

Peace and Power Assumption 1

All human relationships involve the use of power.

Peace and Power Assumption 2

Some individuals typically possess more relative power than others in a group.

Peace and Power Assumption 3

People seek spaces where cooperation, peace, and reduced power imbalances exist.

Peace and Power Assumption 4

Individuals with power can and often do impose their will on others.

Peace and Power Assumption 5

Conflict is inevitable in human relationships but can be managed constructively.

Peace and Power Assumption 6

Greater involvement in processes leads to greater satisfaction.

Energy Concept in Peace and Power

Power is viewed as energy from which human action and interaction arise.

Group Norms and Energy

Individuals enter groups with experiences and learned behaviours that influence interactions and actions

P.E.A.C.E - and power

• P = praxis

• E = empowerment

• A = awareness

• C = cooperation

• E = involvement

P in P.E.A.C.E. and Power

Praxis – engaging, applying, exercising, realizing, and practicing ideas.

E in P.E.A.C.E. and Power (Empowerment)

Growth of personal ability to enact one's will while respecting others.

A in P.E.A.C.E. and Power

Awareness – increasing knowledge of self and others.

C in P.E.A.C.E. and Power

Cooperation – commitment to group cohesion and integrity.

E in P.E.A.C.E. and Power (Evolvement)

Commitment to deliberate growth and change.

Power Over

A form of power based on dominance, control, and authority over others.

Power With

A collaborative form of power emphasizing shared influence, participation, and collective action.

Emergency Room Case Study (Power Over)

Patient waits in pain for hours and is told to sit down because sicker patients are prioritized; interaction reflects a more impersonal exercise of authority.

Emergency Room Case Study (Power With)

Triage nurse demonstrates empathy, provides support, arranges a wheelchair, and later collaborates with coworkers and management to address wait times through collective action.

Power With Outcome in Case Study

Staff collectively influence management and establish a team to analyze and improve emergency department wait times.

Power Relations in Organizations

Most organizations are interdependent, meaning individuals and departments rely on one another.

Barriers to Change in Organizations

Colleagues may stop, slow, or obstruct change, especially when decisions are imposed unilaterally.

Conflict in Organizations

Different ideas often create conflict, power struggles, and infighting.

Political Behaviours in Organizations

Negotiation, compromise, and alliance formation are common political tactics.

Leadership and Conflict Resolution

Strong leadership is necessary to resolve conflicts productively in diverse and interdependent organizations.

Politics Definition

Tactical activities or strategies used to influence the decisions or actions of others.

Politics and Influence

Politics involves choices, influence, and power dynamics.

Politics and Power Dynamics

Political behaviour is based on who has influence, resources, knowledge, or money.

Politics and Goal Achievement

Political strategies are used to achieve desired goals.

Political Behaviour

Strategies used to achieve goals when individuals or groups have differing interests and perspectives.

Politics in Organizations

Politics exist in every organization and understanding them is necessary for effective influence.

Political Power

The ability to develop and use power strategically to influence decisions and achieve goals.

5 P’s of political strategies

• push

• pull

• persuasion

• preventative

• preparatory

Push Strategies - political strategy

Influence tactics that pressure, threaten, force change, or block action through non-cooperation.

Pull Strategies - political strategy

Influence tactics using positive motivation, recognition, benefits, or satisfaction to encourage change.

Persuasion Strategies - political strategy

Influence tactics based on logic, reasoning, and convincing others.

Preventative Strategies - political strategy

Influence tactics designed to prevent issues from arising by avoiding topics, shifting focus, or excluding issues from agendas.

Preparatory Strategies - political strategy

Influence tactics that prepare conditions favourable to success, such as appearance, agenda organization, or information presentation.

Choosing Political Strategies

Effective strategy selection depends on the goals and the people or groups that must be influenced.

Power vs Politics: Power

The ability or potential to cause change in behaviour or attitudes.

Power vs Politics: Politics

The strategies used to achieve goals.

Policy Definition

A statement of direction resulting from a decision-making process that applies reason, evidence, and values in public or private settings.

Policy as Direction

Policies provide guidance toward an intended endpoint or outcome.

Policy and Decision-Making

Policies help determine what direction to take and how decisions should be made.

Policy Foundations

Policies are informed by reason, evidence, and values.

3 types of policy

• public

• health

• nursing

Public Policy

Directives documenting government decisions, usually expressed as regulations or laws.

Examples of Public Policy Affecting Health

Housing, social security, food industries, tobacco industries, and environmental policies.

Health Policy Definition

Principles, plans, and strategies guiding the behaviour of organizations, institutions, and professions involved in health and influencing healthcare systems.

Example of Health Policy

The Interim Federal Health Program.

Nursing Policy Sources

Public, organizational, and professional sources.

Public Sources of Nursing Policy

Government laws and funding decisions that affect nursing practice.

Example of Public Nursing Policy

Single classification of Nurse Practitioners effective July 1, 2026.

Organizational Sources of Nursing Policy

Policies developed by healthcare organizations that determine who can do what and how work is performed.

Professional Sources of Nursing Policy

Regulatory bodies, standards, and professional guidelines.

CNA and policy

If we think of health as something broadly defined and influenced, we begin to arrive at the inescapable conclusion that to be concerned with health is to be concerned with the social context, and that nursing is indeed a political act.

Health and Politics Connection

Because health is influenced by social context, nursing is inherently a political act (Canadian Nurses Association, 2000).

Health Issues and Policy

All health issues have the potential to influence health policy and nursing practice.