What is politics?
A neutral term
Influencing allocation of scarce
resources, events, decisions
Relationships within an organization
including norms, values & culture
A process by which one influences
the decisions of others and exerts
control over situations and events
(Mason, et. al.)
What is politics? -2
Associated with conflicting values
Necessary part of operating where
multiple interest groups are
competing for scarce resources of
money, time, supplies, personnel or
access to information.
Reasons why nurses should
know political strategies
* Influence the healthcare decisions/resources
* Change the image of nursing
* Replace distorted stereotypes, ie physician
handmaiden, cheap labor, self-sacrificing angel of
mercy, lewd sex object, vituperative harridan (abusive
worn-out horse).(Buresh and Gordon)
* Control the profession
* Bills to address the nursing shortage
* Mandatory Overtime
Political influence
Allocation of scarce resources
- resources include money, time, personnel,
and materials
Interpersonal endeavor
-involves skills of communication and persuasion
Collective activity
-requires the support and action of many people
to bring effective politics to bear on a situation or
issue.
Analysis and planning
-includes assessing the structure and functioning
of the sphere in which one is operating
Images
-Future ability to be politically effective may hinge
There is no political gain in
silence and submission
Political action framework
Politics in the workplace
Politics in government
Federal and state funding cuts
Political influence of nurses
Politics in financing
Influences provision of patient care
Changes in managed care
Politics in the organization
Organizational policy
Nursing organizations
Politics in the community
Power and leadership
Principle-centered power
Leadership power
Behaviors that activate
principle-centered leadership
Get to know people
Know your values and vision
Sharpen your IPR Competence
Use power to enable others
Enlarge the sphere of influence and
connectedness
Image as power
Individual nurses
Nursing Profession
“If the public or legislators see
the profession of nursing as
powerful, the profession's ability
to achieve its goals and agendas
is enhanced.”
Promoting Good Image as an
individual
Appropriate introduction of self
Appropriate attire
Convey positive and energetic attitude
Speak and Act appropriately
Use facts and figures to demonstrate your point
Know when to be at the right place at the right
time
Develop powerful partnerships
Make contact with “power brokers”
Know who holds the power.
Use power appropriately
What is power?
- The capacity to act
and make choices and
decisions
- The capacity to create
order and sustain
influence
Power and professional influence
Importance of power
Connection or network power
Informational power
Power-grabbing
Power plus vision
Increasing Power in Nursing
Unity
- through dynamic professional
organization
Networking
Significance of Power in
Nursing
“To advance to full professional
status, nursing must concentrate on
getting its unique expertise recognized
and valued by society; by doing so,
nursing can gain a monopoly over
services in which nurses alone possess
expertise. Gaining such recognition and
control is one way of acquiring a strong
power base.”
…Patricia Schwirian
Power Orientation
Regardless of the source, one may see power in
several ways:
Power is good
Power is resource-dependent
Power is an instinctive drive
Power is charisma
Power is political
Power is control and autonomy.
“The power base of people in combination with
their power orientation allows prediction of
how they will function and provides one with a
model to identify one’s own capacity and
style. It can also provide direction for what
people expect before they will give power.”
Application of power and politics to
managing nursing care
Politics of nursing care
Improving nursing's power
Seek opportunities
Increase knowledge
Use professional organizations to develop
skills
Develop a systems perspective
Covey's power rules
Impact of power and politics on
nursing's future
Why nurses should exercise
their political power?
They have the number
They have organizational structures in
place
Most nurses are informed, active, and
dedicated people
Covey’s Power Rules
Never make a promise you cannot
keep
Make meaningful promises only to do
better and better.
Consider promises as a measure of
your integrity and faith.
Personal integrity is a basis for
success with others.
