Professional Nursing Practice Concepts and Perspectives Seventh Edition

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

Learning Objectives 12. 1 Discuss the role that power plays in nursing practice. 12. 2 Discuss the relevance of political action to nursing. 12. 3 Explain various strategies used to influence political decision making. 12. 4 Identify skills that are essential to political action. 12. 5 Identify ways in which nurses can participate in the political arena. 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 selfdetermination – 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 ªPersonnel ªPrograms ªTime ªStatus ªPower 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 ªPublic ªSocial ªInstitutional ªOrganizational 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 ªProblem-solving ªTrade-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 ªAttend conferences ªTake classes ªJoin alumni associations ªJoin professional organizations ªCommunicate with former teachers and coworkers ªSocialize with professional colleagues Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Strategies to Influence Political Decisions • Networking – Functions of political networks ªProvide information about legislative activities ªIncrease political action and awareness ªPromote 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 ªElements 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 ªNegotiation ªMedia ªLetter-writing campaigns ªTestifying ªEndorsements ªDonations 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 1930 s 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 Copyright © 2016, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved