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Expert Power In Healthcare

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Introduction There are numerous entities involved in making a healthcare facility run smoothly. The hospital administrator is responsible for overseeing services, programs, facilities, staff concerns, balancing budgets, and setting policies (Healthcare Management, 2016). The hospital board makes sure that the administrator is qualified and operating in the best interests of the hospital. Just to name a few of the behind the scenes hospital employees, there are those taking care of billing/finances, training/education, food services, security, registrars and those hired for caring for patients which include physicians and nurses, the numerous specialty services such as anesthesiologists, cardiologists, neurologists, and psychiatrists. Of …show more content…

A personal example of this type of power is when I was learning how to draw blood for the first time. I was nervous and unsure, but the nurse who was teaching me said you must have confidence in yourself and not to be afraid of failure. After working with her I could tell that she was good at what she was doing, and her reputation and credibility stood out among others. She also had the confidence to influence others to do their best and that repetition will make you better.
Expert Power
Expert power is the result of knowledge and skills one possesses that are needed by others (Yoder-Wise, 2015). When you are confident and have the expertise or skills to get things done. An example of someone with expert power is an experienced nurse who has years of expertise and through that experience they possess skills which others are trying to learn from and eventually …show more content…

Having someone, such as manager or supervisor, that is a step higher than you who has the authority or the ability to influence others. I have witnessed this through various nurse managers who took the time to teach student nurses various procedures while other floor nurses were busy answering calls due to full floors or an emergency. The nurse manager took the time out of her busy schedule to answer questions and provide information to me and my fellow students.
Perceived Power
Perceived power is the result of one’s reputation as a powerful person (Yoder-Wise, 2015). A person believing that they have power over someone because they outrank or have been in a position longer than the other. Witnessing nurses asking questions to certain fellow nurses is how I have seen this type of power in action. While nurses work as a team for the betterment of patients, I have seen nurses who have had more experience in this field and how they are the “go-to” person for answers and they are willing to take the time to answer questions or assist in situations, as needed.
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