POWER & POLITICS
__________________________________________
A Written Report Presented to
The School of Nursing
San Pedro College
Prof. Anna Socorro Suyko, RN, MN, RTRP
__________________________________________
In Partial Fulfillment of
The Requirements in NCM 219
Nursing Leadership and Management
Submitted by:
Vergara, Philip Lloyd L.
BSN 4C
September 30, 2023
CRITERIA FOR WRITTEN REPORT
SCORE
Promptness
10%
Content
60%
Neatness
10%
Format
10%
References
10%
TOTAL
100%
CRITERIA FOR ORAL REPORT
SCORE
Knowledge of the subject
matter
40%
Organization
20%
Delivery
10%
Appearance/Poise/Compo
sure
10%
Strategy/Methodology
20%
TOTAL
100%
I.
SESSION PLAN
NCM 219: Nursing Leadership and Management
Overview
Objectives
After 30 minutes of discussion, the BSN 4C students will be able to:
a. Understand the mechanics behind the six sources and bases of Power
b. Identify the five types of Power
c. Define the idea of Politics, its structure, mechanism, and practices.
d. Distinguish the differences and relationship of Power and Politics
e. Define empowerment through own understanding
f.
Methodology
Relate Power and Politics to career and day-to-day living
Lecture-discussion
Question and Answer
Situational Analysis
Estimated Time
Advance
Preparation
30 minutes
Laptop
Projector
Powerpoint presentation
TEACHING - LEARNING PROCESS
Topic/Time
Methods/Activities
Overview &
a. Introduce self to the class;
Objectives
b. provide a brief overview of the entire subject content;
(2 minutes)
c. cultivate critical thinking through situational analysis;
d. provide rationalization by introducing the topic;
e. expound the lessons further through discussions;
f.
Discussion of the
Content Proper
(20 minutes)
synthesize the totality of the topic.
Topic 1: Power
a. The sources and bases of power
b. The types of power effective leaders use
Topic 2: Politics
a. Relationship of Power and Politics
b. Influence in Nursing
Topic 3: Empowerment
a. Defining Empowerment
Exercise
(5 minutes)
Exercise 1: “Hula-oops!”
The game is purely inspired by blind-dating reality shows. The participants will try to pick and formulate
arguments of their chosen “blind” candidate, based on his accolades, achievements, and background. The
options for the candidates shall display essential information, giving the participants the chance to
determine the best leader for the selected scenario. A total of five scenarios will be given such as:
Philippine’ Presidency, SK Chairmanship, Local Government Leaders, Administrative Leaders, and
Nursing Clinical Instructors. Three (3) participants should be selected for every scenario presented.
Synthesis
Synthesize the totality of the topic all about Power and Politics, in the process of empowerment.
(3 minutes)
II.
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Power and politics play a significant role in nursing leadership management. Nurses may feel uncomfortable with
the concepts of power and politics because they equate them with dominance, coercion, and corruption, and they may
fear that power and politics are not compatible with caring. However, power can be an effective tool that can lead to
positive outcomes in organizations, and it refers to one's influence and authority over others to mobilize them to
accomplish a goal. Nursing leaders can use power and politics to improve their role as a nurse leader and accomplish
patient safety goals. They can formulate strategies to enhance the development of their personal power and political
skills. Nurses can exercise power in various ways, such as changing the behavior of colleagues, coaching nurses to
improve their performance, and serving as the chief nursing officer of a hospital.
Nurses possess power individually and collectively, and they can engage in political action to become more influential in
relation to matters that count. Influence exists through relationships and is more significant than authority, and it is
gained through position or respect for knowledge and skills. Nurses can develop assertive and satisfying
interdisciplinary relationships to be active in ensuring patient safety.
General objectives
After 30 minutes of discussion, the BSN 4C students will be able to:
a. Understand the mechanics behind the six sources and bases of Power
b. Identify the types of Power
c. Distinguish the differences and relationship of Power and Politics
d. Enumerate the types of influence used in politics
e. Define empowerment through own understanding
f. Relate Power and Politics to career and day-to-day living.
III.
CONTENT
Topic 1: Power
Sources and Bases of Power
Power is a complex concept that can be divided into different types or sources. The following are some of the sources and
bases of power in nursing leadership management:
In 1959, social psychologists John French and Bertran Raven studied the phenomenon of power. This study helped to
understand how and why some leaders influence our way of action and thinking, as well as help leaders develop the best
method to get production from people. They listed the first five bases as:
● Coercive power: This type of power is based on the ability to punish or threaten others. It is often used to enforce
rules and regulations and can be detrimental to relationships.
● Legitimate power: This power is based on the position or title held by the individual. It is often referred to as
positional power and is derived from the formal authority of the position.
● Reward power: This type of power is based on the ability to provide rewards or incentives to others. It can be used
to motivate and encourage individuals to achieve goals.
● Expert power: This power is based on the knowledge, skills, and expertise of the individual. It is often used to
influence others based on the individual's credibility and reputation.
● Referent power: This power is based on the personal relationships and connections that the individual has with
others. It is often used to influence others based on the individual's charisma, personality, and likeability.
Six years later, Bertran Raven added the sixth base knowingly known as:
● Informational power: This power is based on having control of information that others need or want, putting you in a
powerful position.
It was later categorized into two major groups, namely:
● Personal power: This power is based on the individual's personal relationships built through experience or age.
○ Expert, Referent powers
● Positional power: This power is based on the fact that the nurse is titled a manager or supervisor and therefore
must conceive this role.
○ Legitimate, Reward, Coercive, Informational powers
In nursing leadership management, it is important to use power wisely and constructively. Leaders must exercise judgment
to know when it's appropriate to use power and what form it should take. The best use of power is in the service of others,
and leaders should strive to empower their staff and colleagues.
Types of Power
Power is a complex concept that has been defined in various ways by different scholars. However, some essential
characteristics of power can be identified as:
Characteristics of Power:
● Power is relational: Power is not the property of a single person; at least two actors are necessary, one who wields
power and the other who is subjected to it. Power is an interpersonal interaction in which those who wield it are
empowered. They rely on and exist only as long as there are continuous streams of relationships.
● Power is a perception: Power is a perception in the sense that some people can have objective power, but still have
trouble influencing others. People who use power cues and act powerfully and proactively tend to be perceived as
powerful by others.
● Power is a bilateral concept: Power exists in relationships. The issue here is often how much relative power a
person has in comparison to one's partner. Partners in close and satisfying relationships often influence each other
at different times in various arenas.
● Power is resource-based: Power usually represents a struggle over resources. The more scarce and valued
resources are, the more intense and protracted are power struggles. The scarcity hypothesis indicates that people
have the most power when the resources they possess are hard to come by or are in high demand. However,
scarce resources lead to power only if it is valued within a relationship.
● Power is the ability to act effectively over people and things using means ranging from persuasion to coercion:
Power is the ability to make a state or person act/think in a way that is contrary to how they would have
acted/thought otherwise, and shape the behavior of others.
● Power is not necessarily legitimate: Unlike authority, which implies legitimacy, power can be exercised illegitimately.
Power can be grounded in a claim to legitimacy (authority, or Herrschaft) and exercises based on no such normative
claim.
● In summary, power is a complex and multifaceted concept that can be used to influence others and achieve goals. It
is relational, resource-based, and can be exercised legitimately or illegitimately.
Topic 2: Politics
Relationship of Power and Politics
Power and politics are integral aspects of organizational life that impact decision-making, resource allocation, and
interpersonal relationships.
a. Power refers to the ability to influence others;
b. while politics refers to the use of power to achieve personal or organizational goals.
Both power and politics can have positive and negative effects on organizational outcomes. Politics can be seen as a tool
for gaining and maintaining power in organizations, and it often involves coalitions, alliances, and negotiations between
individuals and groups seeking to further their own interests. However, politics can also lead to negative outcomes, such
as unethical behavior or the suppression of dissent.
One of the key challenges of power and politics in organizational life is balancing the needs of individuals and the
organization as a whole. Those with more power may be motivated by self-interest, rather than the interests of the
organization, leading to decisions that benefit themselves but harm the organization. Additionally, politics can lead to the
marginalization of certain groups or individuals, reducing the diversity of perspectives and limiting organizational
effectiveness.
In social science and politics, power is the social production of an effect that determines the capacities, actions, beliefs, or
conduct of actors. Power does not exist in a vacuum, but rather is a relationship between individuals or groups. The use of
power has evolved over centuries, and gaining prestige, honor, and reputation is one of the central motives for gaining
power in human nature. Power also relates to empathy gaps because it limits interpersonal relationships and compares
power differences. Having power or not having power can cause a number of psychological consequences.
In conclusion, power and politics are integral aspects of organizational life that can impact organizational outcomes both
positively and negatively. By promoting transparency and fairness, and balancing the needs of individuals and the
organization as a whole, organizations can mitigate the negative effects of power and politics and promote positive
outcomes.
Influence used in Politics
One can change another person's behavior or thoughts provided that you have influence over them. Influence is important
in how we engage with people since we all have a natural desire to fit in with the group. There are several various kinds of
impact, just like there are.
Compliance - Compliance only requires that others comply with the person influencing them, not necessarily that they
personally concur with them. For instance, even though you did not want to, did not enjoy it, or did not think it was
necessary as an employee, you might have complied with your boss’s demands that you make a cup of coffee. You did as
your boss asked, that much is true.
Identification - A person can comply with a request in this sort of persuasion if they respect or like the person making it.
They hold that power over their followers because people have gotten to know them and like what they have to offer. A
fairly contemporary comparison would be to social media "influencers." Because they are familiar with, fond of, and
respectful of the influencer, followers will subsequently purchase the goods or adopt the lifestyle that is promoted.
Internalization - is the most basic type of persuasion. When a concept or course of action is widely accepted, people might
become internally affected. If a belief is internalized, it indicates that both publicly and privately, the adherents sincerely
hold it to be true. In reality, there are plenty of internalized religious ideas subject to heavy influence.
Topic 3: Empowerment
Possessing the ability and opportunity to act effectively makes one feel empowered. The empowerment process or
methodology tries to alter the nature and distribution of power in a certain situation. Nurses encourage patients to seek out
and adopt healthy lifestyles, and organizations in the nursing sector work to empower nurses. In a similar way, nursing
managers and administrators take action to give nurses the tools they need to practice effectively, happily, and
competently. Three key characteristics are required for nurses to participate in policy formulation. The first is a deeper
comprehension of the political, social, and economic realities surrounding their situation, setting, or culture. They are
aware of the need for policy as a result of cultural diversity, gender, racial, and class prejudices, biases, and discrimination.
A strong feeling of self and self-efficacy in terms of their ability to effect or support change is the second characteristic of
empowered nurses. They possess a sense of value and the ability to speak up and make a difference. For instance, they
can pinpoint conditions within a certain institution that restrict professional practice, deteriorate care quality, squander
resources, and cause a wide range of other problems. The growth of skills that allow for active involvement in change
processes is the third crucial attribute. Empowered nurses are skilled at leveraging politics and power structures to their
advantage.
IV.
SYNTHESIS
Nurses have a significant amount of power in the current political environment, as they are deeply involved in supporting
the healthy and caring for the sick, whether directly or indirectly, wherever they work. When nurses choose to become a
nurse, they agree to the responsibilities and standards that come with holding that highly responsible and highly regarded
position. Every nurse possesses a degree of power due to their expertise in health, illness, and the healthcare system.
Simply having the ability to share or withhold information gives nurses an advantage over the people and/or communities
they work with. Knowledge is power, and it enables nurses to embrace chances to creatively apply their knowledge and
abilities. A powerful nurse can also strengthen power between patients and clients, which will improve health results and
have a beneficial effect on patients' feelings of empowerment. Laws ensure the safety of nurses and patients. Nurses who
lack political skills are at a disadvantage when trying to use social networks to get access to resources, power, and
knowledge. Politics and laws have an impact on the care of the nurses provided. Being politically involved is vital because
it allows nurses to advocate for patients since social justice is a fundamental value of the nursing profession. With the help
of political decisions, healthcare access for vulnerable people can be protected with the aid of nurses.
V.
LIST OF REFERENCE
Deng, B. (2022, May 11). Home. MindTools. https://www.mindtools.com/abwzix3/french-and-ravens-five-forms-of-power
French, J.R.P. and Raven, B. (1959). 'The Bases of Social Power.' In 'Studies in Social Power, Cartwright, D.,' pp.150-167.
Ann Arbor, MI: Institute for Social Research.
Hurstney,
A.
(2022,
February
18).
Power
and
influence?
yes,
nurses
have
them.
NurseTogether.
https://www.nursetogether.com/power-and-influence-yes-nurses-have-them/
Zaleznik,
A.
(2019,
August
1).
Power
and
politics
in
Organizational
https://hbr.org/1970/05/power-and-politics-in-organizational-life
Life.
Harvard
Business
Review.