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Power in practice: a study of nursing authority and autonomy
Nursing Administration Quarterly
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Staff nurses and nurse leaders have differing views on nurse autonomy and authority. These disagreements can cause misunderstandings and power struggles, hindering efforts to provide quality patient care.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Healthcare Management
- Organizational Behavior
Background:
- Translating power and politics into practice requires developing authority and autonomy for staff nurses.
- Effective patient care delivery is influenced by the operationalization of nurse roles within healthcare systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and compare agreement and disagreement between nurse leaders and staff nurses regarding staff nurse authority and autonomy.
- To explore perceptions of autonomy and authority crucial for patient care delivery.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of perceptions between nurse leaders and staff nurses.
- Qualitative or quantitative assessment of views on authority and autonomy in patient care.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were found in staff nurses' and nurse leaders' perceptions of staff nurse autonomy.
- Discrepancies in the perceived importance of authority and autonomy were identified.
- Differences in understanding management support were highlighted as a key issue.
Conclusions:
- Divergent views on autonomy and authority can lead to misunderstandings and power struggles within nursing teams.
- Addressing these perceptual differences, particularly regarding management support, is crucial for successful healthcare restructuring.
- Resolving these conflicts is essential for improving the delivery of cost-effective, quality patient care.
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