Political Activism in Nursing Organization

Objectives
Institute of Nursing Sciences KMU
At the end of the unit learners will be able to:
• Define Power and politics
• Describe sources of power
• Explain rules for using power
• Discuss political skills to influence policies
• Using Power and Politics For Nursing Future
 Power

• Power is the capacity of an individual to influence the

actions, beliefs, or conduct (behavior) of others.
• The term authority is often used for power that is
perceived as legitimate or socially approved by the
social structure.
• Power can be seen as evil or unfair; however, power can
also be seen as good and as something inherited or
given.
 Power

• Power is the ability to influence the behavior of others

to get what you want.
• Gerald Salancik and Jeffery Pfeffer agree that, “Power is
simply the ability to get things done the way one wants
them to be done.
• Using power without oppression is the concept "soft
power,“.
• Example: If you want a larger budget to open a new
store in a large city and you get the budget increase, you
have used your power to influence the decision.
 Types of Power
The 5 Types of
Power: 1) Legitimate
Power
2) Coercive power.
3) Reward power.
4) Expert power.
5) Referent power
 1: Legitimate Power

• Also called "positional power“.

• The power comes from a person’s formal right to issue
directives or commands because of their position in the
organization.
• when you use your position in the organization to
achieve compliance with your wishes.
 2: Coercive Power
Example: the CEO has the right to dictate the strategy.

• Coercive power is the application of negative influences.

• The ability and power of manager to force the employee
to follow orders by threating him.
• Coercive power is used to threaten people will be
punished or fired unless they achieve their objective.
 3: Reward Power
• It will be effective --- if worker is under your power and
surveillance.
• The ability and power that manager or leader to provide
rewards to achieve compliance according to their
wishes.
 4: Expert Power
• Examples of rewards include bonuses, pay increases,
training opportunities, or thank you or public
compliment.
• Expert power is --- individual's power.
• It deriving from the skills or expertise of the person and
the organization's needs for those skills and expertise.
 5: Referent Power
• Expert power is specific and limited toward --particular
area in which the expert is trained and qualified.

• Referent power is the power or ability of individuals to

attract others and build loyalty.
• It is based on the charisma and
interpersonal skills of the power
holder.
• The person under power desires to
identify with these personal
 Sources of Power
qualities, and gains satisfaction from being an accepted
follower.
• Nationalism and patriotism count towards referent
power.
1. Office or structural position Power (structural position
can provide a access to various bases of power.)
2. Individual Characteristics Power (relevant personal
characteristics may include verbal skills, the ability to
reason effectively for positions, or even physical
features)
3. Expertise power (Expertise refers to specific
information like education and skills).
 Politics
4. Opportunity power (Occur in informal organizations,
informal positions that are not officially recognized can
provide an important source of organizational power)
• The word politics is derived from the Greek word
"politics" which means a city or state.
• Originally Aristotle in 384 to 322 used this word in
his book Politics refers to Greek city or state
affairs.
 Politics
• According to Aristotle view, man is a political
human being that interacts with other or more
persons, creating a relationship called politics.
• Mason et al define politics as ‘the process of influencing
the allocation of rare resources’.

• Lass well (1958) describes that “success in politics is

judged by control over resources”.
• Sullivan (2004) argues that historical factors still impact
on nurses’ degree of influence in contemporary
healthcare, with values such as personal discipline, a
 Power and Politics
focus on service and obedience being seen by some as
fundamental characteristics of nurses.

if personal and professional goals are to be achieved. Sullivan (2004)

identifies some possible workplace strategies for developing influence,
including:
• Reciprocity with other workers (i.e. exchanging favors)
• Having a good understanding of the informal information that
circulates within the organization
• Avoiding confrontation
• Compromising when necessary to achieve a important goal.
• Networking
• Accepting responsibility for individual actions, both positive and
negative, and
• Finding a mentor.
• Power flows from upwards to downwards from higher
levels management to lower level.
• Power of superiors over subordinates.
 Rule of Power
• The treatment of power means that subordinates can also
exercise power.
• Power will be multidimensional.
• Multidimensional aspect --- give authority to subordinates
to operate the senior, to gain the most power from their
subordinates in form of role obligations.
• Experts influence the timing and location of your
bargaining efforts to achieve goals.
• Desirable bargaining strategy to hide your true interests
for as long as possible.
 Political Skills for Policies
• Initially shoot for the moon so that you can settle for less
– don't use this tactic for every person.
• Identify your weakness --- and work continuously on it.
• Make alliances – any of your common interest.
• Establish alliances with superiors, peers, and subordinates so
that when needed Be counted on your behalf.
• Select subordinates who are not only competent but reliable,
and loyal.
• if you are not knowledgeable in an area, secure your own
expert and take steps to establish that credibility.
 Political Skills for Policies
• Do not injure any other person in a position so that he couldn't
take revenge.
• If a proposal is developed – don't reject it immediately,
made refer to committee to wide bargaining area.
• In dealing with an opponent, try to leave the door open
• so that there is no communication is closed.
How Nurse can be Active in Political and power

• Political activity gives nurses an opportunity to represent and advance our

professional values. We can advocate for our patients.
• Encourage your friends to vote, too!
• Engage with a political party or organization on social media, and share
information with your followers.
• Actively participate in your nursing union or association.
• Join a protest or demonstration.
• Run for a political position or office- can be anything from your local
union chapter to a federal seat in parliament.
• Talk about politics with your coworkers, friends, and neighbors.
• Encourage them to get involved too, even if they have different
views.