Pillar 4: Empowerment
Empowerment is defined as "the authority or power given to someone to do something" (www.dictionary.com).
Empowerment in nursing can involve the empowerment of patients. We, as nurses, can teach our patients to be empowered in their care. Nurses teach patients that they have the ability to direct their health and be in charge of their path within the healthcare system. The patients must be told that they have this authority or power to do something. For example, a patient with CHF can be empowered to manage their disease and employ the use of self care modalities, such as the maintenance of a fluid restriction and the performance of daily weights as part of their CHF care.
However, I do not see empowerment just as patient empowerment. Rather, I see student empowerment as encompassing acting prudently in the clinical areas, as well as, the ability to make good choices as students and then as future professional nurses.
The students are held accountable for their decisions according to the school’s policies, procedures and the student handbook. Empowerment is not another word for allowing bad behavior by the students. Rather, it is a positive activity to be reinforced when appropriate by faculty, staff, and administration.
In addition to holding students accountable, we need to teach students prudence in empowerment. As a faculty member, and administrator, I need students to understand their role in this realm. It is one thing to have the authority or power to do something, but it is quite another to act prudently with this newfound power. I definitely believe that empowerment is intertwined with accountability.
Finally, I say this tag line to my students all of the time, "Part of professionalism is accountability, accountability to your actions and the outcomes of those actions".
Do others agree with my thoughts about empowerment and accountability? As always, I invite others to express their thoughts. Thank you.
Empowerment in nursing can involve the empowerment of patients. We, as nurses, can teach our patients to be empowered in their care. Nurses teach patients that they have the ability to direct their health and be in charge of their path within the healthcare system. The patients must be told that they have this authority or power to do something. For example, a patient with CHF can be empowered to manage their disease and employ the use of self care modalities, such as the maintenance of a fluid restriction and the performance of daily weights as part of their CHF care.
However, I do not see empowerment just as patient empowerment. Rather, I see student empowerment as encompassing acting prudently in the clinical areas, as well as, the ability to make good choices as students and then as future professional nurses.
The students are held accountable for their decisions according to the school’s policies, procedures and the student handbook. Empowerment is not another word for allowing bad behavior by the students. Rather, it is a positive activity to be reinforced when appropriate by faculty, staff, and administration.
In addition to holding students accountable, we need to teach students prudence in empowerment. As a faculty member, and administrator, I need students to understand their role in this realm. It is one thing to have the authority or power to do something, but it is quite another to act prudently with this newfound power. I definitely believe that empowerment is intertwined with accountability.
Finally, I say this tag line to my students all of the time, "Part of professionalism is accountability, accountability to your actions and the outcomes of those actions".
Do others agree with my thoughts about empowerment and accountability? As always, I invite others to express their thoughts. Thank you.
Comments
Post a Comment