Organizations, Power, and Empowerment Chapter 5 Organizations, Power, and Empowerment

Types of Health Care Organizations Private not-for-profit Publicly supported Private for-profit

Understanding Organizational Culture Artifact level Espoused beliefs Underlying assumptions

Organizational Goals Survival Growth Profit Status Dominance

Organizational Structures Traditional Hierarchical Employees are ranked from top to bottom Number of people on the bottom usually greater than the number on the top Authority resides at the top Power is distributed

The Organizational Hierarchy CEO Administrators Managers Staff nurses Technicians (including LPNs) Aides, housekeeping, maintenance

Innovative Organic structure Emphasizes flexibility Less centralized Decisions are made by the individuals who will implement them Emphasizes autonomy

Processes A way to get things done within an organization Two mechanisms Formal Informal

Definition Power is the ability to influence other people despite resistance Power may be actual or potential Power may be intended or unintended

Sources of Power Authority Reward Expertise Coercion

Who Has the Power? Managers Clients Assistants Nurses

Feeling Empowered Includes Empowering Nurses Feeling Empowered Includes Self-determination Meaning Competence Impact

Contributors to Empowerment Decision-making Manageable workload Reward and recognition Fairness

Group-Level Empowerment Professional organizations Collective bargaining Shared governance

Enhancing Expertise Participate in team conferences CEU offerings Attend conferences Keep your reading up-to-date Participate in nursing research Observe experienced nurses and nurse leaders

Conclusion Becoming and remaining empowered requires active participation Seek organizations whose organizational cultures are a fit with your professional goals