Question
This is not a formal paper, just need to answer the questions based off the 7 powers of of leaders identified here in the instructions.
7 powers of leaders”
Reward Power, Coercive Power,Legitimate Power, Expert Power, Referrent Power, Information Power, and Connection Power.
Please answer the following questions:
1. Name three ways that one could increase their power as a nurse.
2. How can one use that power as a professional RN to influence policy and politics for nursing’s future?
3. How can one use their power to promote collaborative teamwork?
Solution
Politics and Power Assignment
How to Increase One’s Power as a Nurse
Nurses can increase their powers in various ways. First, a nurse has expert power associated with one’s level of knowledge and expertise. A nurse can increase this power through continuous learning and evidence- based practice (EBP) (Polat and Sonmez, 2018). More education means that a nurse’s power will increase because they become better subject matter experts. It is the case with EBP because increased use of evidence results in a higher level of expertise for a nurse. A nurse can also increase their legitimate power that relates to the individual’s leadership position. The legitimate power of a nurse increases when one moves up to a higher position or sees an increase in their amount of responsibility. A nurse in such a case needs to position themselves to influence decision-making and to provide direction on practice matters and resource allocation. Another form of power that a nurse needs to consider is referent power that is associated with personal traits that inspire admiration from others. A nurse can increase this power by developing charisma and having an impeccable character as well as being compassionate and working in collaboration with others (Polat and Sonmez, 2018). Ultimately, a nurse has to be aware of the various ways in which they can grow their power.
Using Power to Influence Policy and Politics for Nursing’s Future
As a professionally registered nurse (RN), an individual should use their power to influence policy and politics for the future of nursing. First, the RN should input where necessary when there are decisions to be made about practice (Rezai Sepasi, Borhani and Abbaszadeh, 2017). Such decisions often involve resource allocation for nurses. The RN should thus voice the resource needs for nurses such as staffing and technology. The RN should also articulate other issues such as wages and working conditions for nurses since they have an impact on the care provided. Secondly, the RN must use their power to elevate the position of the nurse in the organization and to ensure that the voice of nurses is heard. They advocate for more opportunities for nurses’ professional development for the greater good of the nursing profession (Rezai Sepasi et al., 2017). Ultimately, a RN must use the power they possess to influence policy that will be of benefit to the nursing profession.
Using Power to Promote Collaborative Teamwork
Collaboration is critical in nursing, and a nurse must use their power to entrench and promote it. Those possessing legitimate power should lead their teams in collaborating among nurses as well as with other professionals in the care environment. A leader has to find ways of promoting collaborative teamwork because it leads to enhanced care outcomes. The teamwork model is especially important in addressing the changing care needs such as the increasing quest to provide patient and family centered care (PFCC) (Rezai Sepasi et al., 2017). A nurse leader also needs to rely on referent power to promote collaborative teamwork. The individual needs to have the ability to inspire others to work as a team and to collaborate. Referent power is important where there is a need for collaboration and influence as opposed to control. Apart from that, a leader who intends to promote teamwork must afford everyone an opportunity to be heard and to contribute to the team’s efforts (Rezai Sepasi et al., 2017). Possessing the attribute is key as it makes it easier for the rest of the team to follow the example of the leader. Therefore, a leader must possess attributes that help entrench collaborative teamwork.
References
Polat, S. and Sonmez, B., 2018. The Correlation between the Power Styles Used by Nurse Managers and Bullying Behaviour. International Journal of Organizational Leadership, 7(1), pp.84-98.
Rezai Sepasi, R., Borhani, F. and Abbaszadeh, A., 2017. Nurses’ perception of the strategies to gaining professional power: A qualitative study. Electronic Physician, 9(7), pp.4853-4861.
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