Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Professional Nursing Practice Concepts and Perspectives Seventh Edition Chapter 12 The Nurse’s Role as Political Advocate
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 12.1 Discuss the role that power plays in nursing practice Discuss the relevance of political action to nursing Explain various strategies used to influence political decision making Identify skills that are essential to political action Identify ways in which nurses can participate in the political arena. Learning Objectives
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Hallmark Features A focus on foundational knowledge related to professional nursing –Includes nursing history, nursing theory, ethics, and legal aspects, etc. An overview of professional nursing roles, issues, and changes in the profession –Discusses nurses as healthcare providers, learners and teachers, and leaders
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Challenges and Opportunities Political power not traditionally associated with nursing Nursing has been seen as powerless Rise of senior administrative positions for nurses –Nurses elected to public office –Image changing
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Learning Objective 12.1 Discuss the role that power plays in nursing practice.
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved The Nurse’s Role as Political Advocate Four spheres of political action –Workplace –Government –Professional organizations –Community
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Power Potential capacity to influence events, cause change, initiate action, and control outcomes –Power – influence action and produce or prevent change –Influence – use of power, more subtle than power –Authority – assignment of power
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Empowerment Kanter’s theory of organizational empowerment –People react rationally to their situations –Situations structured to support employees’ feelings of empowerment result in benefit to the organization in effectiveness and employee attitude
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Empowerment Organizational structures that promote the growth of empowerment –Access to information –Receiving support –Access to resources necessary to do the job –Opportunity to learn and grow
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Empowerment Conger and Kanungo add that managers or leaders need to eliminate situations of powerlessness and use motivation strategies –Task accomplishment builds competence and self- determination –Attempts at empowerment without consideration of employee capability may not result in empowerment
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Sources of Power Legitimate (positional) Reward Coercive Information Referent (charismatic or personal) Connection (associative) Expert (knowledge)
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Caring Types of Power Six types of power that nurses can use when dealing with clients and significant others –Transformative –Integrative –Advocacy –Healing –Participative/affirmative –Problem-solving
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Laws of Power Universal experience and human attributes with five discernible natural laws –Power invariably fills any vacuum –Power is invariably personal –Power is based on a system of ideas and philosophy –Power is exercised through and depends on organizations –Power is invariably confronted with, and acts in the presence of, a field of responsibility
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Learning Objective 12.2 Discuss the relevance of political action to nursing.
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Politics Influencing – specifically influencing the allocation of scare resources Altering the outcome in decisions about how to divide resources among competing groups –Resources can be money or cherished assets such as Personnel Programs Time Status Power
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Politics Famous nurses involved in politics –Florence Nightingale –Lavinia Dock –Lillian Wald –Harriet Tubman –Margaret Sanger
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Politics Policy –Shaped by politics, the principles that govern actions directed toward given ends –Laws, guidelines, or regulations that govern behavior –Types of policies Public Social Institutional Organizational
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Learning Objective 12.3 Explain various strategies used to influence political decision making.
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Strategies to Influence Political Decisions Negotiation –Give-and-take process to work out differences of opinion to arrive at best solution –Two forms Problem-solving Trade-off
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Strategies to Influence Political Decisions Networking –When people with similar interests and goals communicate, share ideas and information, and support and direct each other
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Strategies to Influence Political Decisions Networking –Ways to develop networks Attend conferences Take classes Join alumni associations Join professional organizations Communicate with former teachers and coworkers Socialize with professional colleagues
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Strategies to Influence Political Decisions Networking –Functions of political networks Provide information about legislative activities Increase political action and awareness Promote issues through the legislative process
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Strategies to Influence Political Decisions Resolutions –Formal statements expressing the opinion, will, or intent of an individual or group
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Strategies to Influence Political Decisions Political action committees (PACs) –Endorse candidates for public office Communicate with legislators –Letters, calls, etc., to representatives Elements to communicate include Statement of request Brief rationale for request Factual data to support your viewpoint Closing statement Appropriate closing
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Strategies to Influence Political Decisions Coalitions –Alliances that distinct bodies, persons, or states form to achieve a common purpose
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Strategies to Influence Political Decisions Lobbying –A process to influence legislators to support or oppose particular legislation –May employ professional lobbyists –Lobbyists must follow legal guidelines
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Strategies to Influence Political Decisions Lobbying –Lobbying techniques include Negotiation Media Letter-writing campaigns Testifying Endorsements Donations
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Strategies to Influence Political Decisions Testifying –Presentation of information at a committee hearing
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Learning Objective 12.4 Identify skills that are essential to political action.
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Developing Political Astuteness and Skill Hatch Act of 1930s provides guidelines for government employees regarding political activity –Restrictions do not apply to the general public –Each state has its own version of the act –Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012 now allows most state or local government employees to run for partisan political office
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Developing Political Astuteness and Skill Key assumptions of when and where to engage in political action –Individuals who are deeply concerned about particular issue or cause are most likely to take action –Political action is best carried out by a group –Successful political action requires thoughtful application of change theory
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Developing Political Astuteness and Skill Ways to personally influence government –Register to vote –Join local political clubs –Work with elected officials –Accept political appointments –Participate in campaigns
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Learning Objective 12.5 Identify ways in which nurses can participate in the political arena.
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Seeking Opportunities for Political Action Nurses can influence policy in the workplace –Exerting expert, position, and economic power –Participating in standing committees, boards of trustees, task forces –Writing articles for newsletters –Developing a demonstration project
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Seeking Opportunities for Political Action Professional nursing organizations –Monitor and influence laws and regulations affecting nursing and health care –Monitor workplace matters and practice issues –Publish articles on legislative matters
Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Seeking Opportunities for Political Action Nurses can become politically active in local, state or provincial, and national organizations by –Participating in the activities of their associations –Serving as delegates at conventions –Becoming members of commissions –Supporting national association efforts Political involvement in community encompasses –Workplace –Professional organizations –Government