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The Importance of Empowering Nurses

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Submitted By gharmonay
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EMPOWERING NURSES 2
Abstract
The author examines three published studies validating the concept that a supportive professional practice environment allows for an empowering and successful nursing practice. All but one of the studies, reference Rosabeth Moss Kanter's model of organizational empowerment and further outline how utilization of this model can be useful in creating meaningful work environments for professional nurses. Two studies discuss newly graduated nurses, their organizational commitment and reasons for possible burnout while the other study considers the empowerment needs of the advanced practice nurse. Generally defined, empowerment is a multidimensional social process that helps people gain control over their own lives. It is a process that encourages power (that is, the ability to influence) in people, for use in their own lives, their communities, and in their society, encouraging action on those issues that are found to be of importance. As stated by Chinn and Kramer (2011) it is the growing ability of individuals and groups to exercise their will to have their voices heard, and to claim their full human potential. The author acknowledges the importance of empowering professional nurses for successful practice and finds Kanter’s model an excellent tool to achieve positive outcomes.

EMPOWERING NURSES 3
The Importance of Empowering Nurses Imagine reporting to work and being informed that the supervisor has called for a registered nurse to respond to a different floor. You have volunteered twice this week and politely refuse when, one of your co-workers becomes irate, invading your space, becoming verbally hostile. When you try to walk away, she follows you, blocking the path in front of you, her hands clenched in fists. Last year this event was witnessed by the author and unfortunately for nurses, this

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