Date of Award

Spring 1987

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Nursing

Abstract

Power is a management tool which is critical to the success of the nursing administrator in today's complex health care organization. By viewing it as a positive and necessary force, the administrator is able to influence hospital policy, insure efficiency of the division of nursing within the institution, support the priority of optimum patient care and define and control the growth of professional practice in nursing. Parameters of this essay include an indepth exploration of the nature of power including extensive definition of the concept. A comprehensive review of both business and health care research findings and concepts provides a unique opportunity to compare and contrast the focus of power in the business organization and the hospital environment. Although power has traditionally been recognized as a dynamic element of human behavior in business, health care organizations are not immune to the interplay of the forces of power. This is apparent as skills and strategies necessary for the acquisition and utilization of power are explored and shared. Aspects of power are integrated from the perspectives of the nursing administrator and the business executive. Guidelines are formulated from extensive review of the literature for the use of power by the nursing administrator.

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