Nurses' experiences of empowerment in the workplace: a qualitative study

The purpose of this qualitative research was to explore nurses' experiences of empowerment in acute care hospital settings. Twelve nurses, including chief nurse executives, nursing care coordinators, and staff nurses were interviewed. Transcriptions of the audiotaped interviews were analyzed for emerging themes. Empowerment emerged as a major factor in continuing growth in the practice of professional nursing within a nurturing and caring environment. A major barrier to empowerment was the hospitals' hierarchical, bureaucratic systems. Nurses, working collectively with clients, other health care providers, and legislators, can create caring systems that promote trust, freedom of practice, and quality health care. This work is both the obligation and the challenge of empowerment.