The Theory Of Community Empowerment

The purpose of this paper is to create a concept analysis and identify a nursing concept that is within a nursing theory. A concept analysis is a process where concepts and their characteristics are researched and clarified. The eight steps on conducting a concept analysis include selection of a concept used in a nursing theory, identification of the aims or purposes of the analysis, identification of possible use of the selected concept, determination of defining attributes, identification of model cases, identification of antecedents and consequences, and lastly definition of empirical referents (Walker & Avant, 2011). The nursing concept selected for this paper is “empowerment” within the nursing profession. The nursing theory from which the empowerment concept was obtained is Kanter’s Theory on Structural Empowerment. In order to empower someone, an individual needs the tools and resources to feel powered. According to Laschinger, Gilbert, Smith, & Leslie (2010), Kanter defines power as the ability to mobilize information, resources and support to get things done in an organization. The role of management is to provide employees with power tools that empower them to maximize their ability to accomplish their work in a meaningful way. Kanter goes on to describe two primary empowerment structures in organizations, first being the structure of opportunity and second the structure of power. The structure of opportunity relates to job conditions that provide

Empowerment always includes power, as it is absolutely necessary. In the field of social work, empowerment involves the partnership model in which power is developed “with and among”, rather than power “over” consumers. (Cox, et Al 2008) Wetzel and Inglehart demonstrated the Human-Empowerment model in which it is demonstrated empowerment is essential to democracy, because it is only effective if power is vested within the people. Empowerment in nursing stresses that in order for a nurse to empower their patients, they must also surrender power. (Gibson, 1991) Seen in all three disciplines, partnership is a process of enabling people to choose to take control over and make decisions about their lives and critical to empowerment. It is also a process which values all those involved. It is a democratic concept, fighting for the advancement of social justice and freedom of choice. Value of self and others is an important attribute in empowerment, and is essential for application of the concept. It is a very positive, proactive concept that requires effort from all sides of the relationship, whether that is nurse to patient, or teacher to student, or

In today’s healthcare system, effective leadership is essential to improving and reaching organizational outcomes. A leader is someone with the ability to influence others but, an effective leader uses positive strategies to inspire employees to work towards the same goal. Leadership in nursing requires a constant effort to motivate others to become part of the organizational transformation. This can be achieved using a transformational leadership style with a focus on communication, motivation, and empowerment.

Nurse leaders are the background to the nursing care. Effective nurse leaders can promote a positive workforce and a healthy work place for other nurses. Workplace dynamics is an essential part of how each nurse functions. Nurses, being mentally and physically stressed, need to have support and guidance from a nurse leader to feel confident about performance. The impact of nursing leaders can be a positive and guiding force for the younger or more inexperienced nurse. Having strong relationships with solid leaders can instill values in the beginning stages of a newer nurses’ career. Gaining insight and core concepts from a more experienced leader can make a world of difference in the way a new nurse performs, provides patient care, and sets future goals for themselves. A newer nurse with a positive role model and nurse leader can model themselves to become a leader for future nurses.

In the wake of many recent tragedies including both those created by nature as well as those caused by man, we have seen the number the human service organizations grow beyond leaps and bounds. However how these agencies interact with their clients can play a valuable role when these clients come in to receive services. In trying to meet the needs of all those in the wake of such tragedies, it is often hard to understand how someone can also empower others within the agency that is offering services. In the light of helping everyone, many agencies are now implementing services now geared or

The core of these promises is self- empowerment. Self- empowerment is a concept that every nurse entering the health field should have. It is something that can be found within each and every one of us. According to Tye and Schwab (2009), “no one can empower you but you, and once you’ve given yourself that power no one can take it away from you” (p. 105). We must truly understand our

Every day, a set team of nurses and nursing managers set out to ensure the health and well-being of their patients. To achieve this goal, a nurse manager must adhere to a specific style of nursing leadership. There are many different styles of leadership in the healthcare field. Bass and Barnes (1985) stated that the two most common are transformational and transactional (as cited in Frankel, 2008, p.24). This paper will define leadership, the two different styles, how each are executed, as well as pros and cons of each.

How might you apply empowerment in your community nursing practice? Reply to two colleagues' posts.

In healthcare it is very important to have strong leaders, especially in the nursing profession. A nurse leader typically uses several styles of leadership depending on the situation presented; this is known as situational leadership. It is important that the professional nurse choose the right style of leadership for any given situation to ensure their employees are performing at their highest potential. Depending on which leadership style a nurse leader uses, it can affect staff retention and the morale of the employees as well as nurse job satisfaction (Azaare & Gross, 2011.) “Nursing leaders have the responsibility to create and maintain a work environment which not only promotes positive patient outcomes but also

Nurses can play a fundamental role in transforming the health care system. The IOM report already recognizes nurses as patients’ advocates and now must move forward to advocate for the entire care delivery system by speaking as a policy. The situations should be viewed as something they can shape and develop, rather than something that merely happens to them. In the old style of leadership, leaders give orders and expect them to be followed. In the call for a new style of leadership, this is not relevant. The IOM sets up “a style of leadership that involves working with others as full partners in a context of mutual respect and collaboration.” It sites that studies show that this style of leadership is associated with better patient outcomes, fewer medical errors, and greater staff satisfaction. However, it recognizes that transforming the current healthcare hierarchy into something more equitable won’t be easy. Group consultations, self-assessment, mentorship, and evaluation are essential parts to developing leadership. These will translate strategic vision into action, and implement managing and organizational

Changes are the only constant that is happening in healthcare leadership. Leaders are motivated to transform their organization to be more patient centered amid the complexity of regulations and policies that our health care leaders encounter (Rice, February 13, 2016). Our healthcare industry caters to a very diverse culture and ethnicity, whether in the C-suite or management position, the clients that we have in the hospital setting or in our community. I work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU); our leadership changed so much in the last two years. Nurses now are empowered to suggest changes on how we deliver and take care of our patients. Not only the physicians and management make the decision. Furthermore, we created a culture that everyone is involved and all parties give a better service to our patients and

In the healthcare field, nursing leaders and managers face consistent issues in their respective practices that force them to alter the way they work and the way they think. In taking on a role as a leader within the field, nursing leaders and managers also take on the role of ensuring that work within an organization runs smoothly regardless of new issues that may arise in the healthcare arena. For instance, in today's healthcare environment, the issues of nurse shortage and nurse turnover have the capacity to alter the healthcare field and many of its respective branches and organizations should these problems not be managed properly by the leaders in the field. In viewing the issue at hand and in discovering how nursing leaders and managers are expected to act, and do act, in order to approach this issues, along with pinpointing the best approach possible to aid this issue, one can better understand which leadership styles are necessary for leaders to function.

The main focus of the theory is motivation, inspiration and empowerment to create changes. It is based on the idea of empowering others to facilitate overall goal. Bennis and Nanus (1985) describe this new leader as a leader who “commits people to action, who converts leaders into leaders, and who converts leaders into agents of change” (p.3).177. According to processes to engage and motivate staff article “Transformational leadership is important for high quality care delivery, and behaviors that nurse leaders inspire, role model and reinforce are instrumental in creating work practice that deliver optimum care”.

Transformational leadership is an emerging type of leadership that is more adaptable the changing environment within healthcare and has the ability to guide and empower staff to embrace the changes (Finkelman, 2012). This type of leadership is especially important today with many nurses felling unsatisfied, or unappreciated. In order to have a successful organization, it must first have the ability to retain nurses through job satisfaction. Transformational leaders have the ability to encourage staff members to embrace the changes to come, by promoting such things as team work, and recognition of hard work done by staff members (Smith, 2011). Having the ability to recognize staffing needs along with the compassion to try and meet those needs while maintaining the functionality of the organization, is the key to future

Without competent leadership change can have negative impact on both the employees and the patients. According to Wright (2010), lack of leadership in change management could lead to adverse outcomes such as resentment, rebellious attitudes, and could end up damaging the same people it intended to make better (p.20). Therefore, experts warned that it is very important to have competent leadership at the helm of change management (p.20). As the focus of providing leadership shifts to nurse administrators who are often in the frontline of change management, nurse administrator should use essential tools such as the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) five domain of competence as a framework in change management.