NUR 670 GC Week 4 Discussion: Exercising Authority

What is your given “authority” at your work place and/or professional life? Describe a time when you have exercised this authority in your journey as a professional nurse? How does your response compare to the secular view of power? How does your response compare to the secular view of authority? How does your response compare to the view of power according to servant leadership? How does your response compare to the view of authority according to servant leadership?

 

 

NUR 670 GC Week 5 Discussion Latest

Describe a time in your professional life when you felt used and manipulated. What were the circumstances? Did you feel valued by the leader? Based on the textbook, explain how the issue of purpose, in the servant-leader paradigm, could have yielded a more beneficial outcome for the leader and yourself.

 

 

NUR 670 GC Week 5 Assignment Leadership Journal: Authority

Details:

Journaling provides a valuable tool for recording, reflecting on, and reviewing your learning. This approach provides an opportunity for you to “connect the dots” and observe the relationships between and among activities, interactions, and outcomes.

Unlike a personal journal of thoughts and feelings, this Leadership Journal is a record of your activities, assessments, and learning related to this academic experience.

Journal entries should include a record of the number of hours spent with your nurse leader each week.

Write a journal entry of 750-1,500 words on the subject of authority, including the following:

1. Provide observations and thoughts on the activities in Weeks 3-4.
2. Explain your place of influence in your professional life.
3. Describe any opportunities you have had to help people be successful.
4. Identify actions you have taken to serve people and your relationship to those individuals.
5. Reflect on at least two things you learned from the “Issue of Authority” video.

APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

 

MORE INFO 

Exercising Authority in Nursing

Introduction

Exercising authority is a fundamental component of professional practice in nursing. In this article, we will explore the meaning of authority and its role in professional practice.

Definition

Authority is the power to make decisions. Authority is based on knowledge, experience and skills. People who have authority are trusted by others to make decisions on behalf of them. Authority can also change over time as you gain more experience or gain more knowledge about a situation. It’s not an entitlement; it’s something that must be earned by demonstrating competence in your role as leader or manager (or nurse).

Authority requires trust from those around you for their well-being and safety – both yours and theirs! The first step toward building trust with others is learning how to exercise your own authority responsibly so that they feel safe following your lead without question or hesitation

Exercising Authority

As a nurse, you are responsible for the quality of care delivered to your patients. As a leader, you must ensure that all members of your team understand this and act accordingly.

You are responsible for ensuring that the patient receives safe and appropriate care. This means that you must be vigilant about safety issues when caring for each patient and their family members or caregivers (if applicable). You also have an obligation to ensure that each person who comes into contact with them will receive appropriate treatment in accordance with established standards of practice by following best practices such as universal precautions (a set of guidelines developed by WHO which outline ways to protect against infection).

Characteristics of authority

• A friendly tone is used to build rapport. This can be done by speaking directly to the patient or by addressing an important point that you want him or her to understand. For example, if a patient is experiencing pain while taking care of his or her loved ones, you might say: “I know this must be difficult for you.” You have built trust in the relationship with this person by showing empathy and respect for their situation (you wouldn’t say “I know how much this hurts,” unless it was true).

• A friendly tone is used to build confidence in yourself as an authority figure who knows what’s best for patients without having any training in medicine yourself!

Types of authority

Authority is exercised in a friendly and helpful manner. It is also exercised in a way that is consistent with the principles of nursing, which include:

• The promotion of the health and comfort of patients.

• The observance of proper hygienic standards; cleanliness; safety; protection against infection and disease transmission.

• Careful attention to their nutritional needs (food, fluid intake) throughout their life cycle when they are incapable of self-care or have special needs such as immobility or disability that make it difficult for them to take care of themselves at home or elsewhere outside the hospital setting.

How is the professional practice setting defined?

Nursing practice is based on the nursing profession. The professional practice setting is defined by a number of factors, including:

• The profession’s code of ethics and standards of practice. These documents define what behaviors are acceptable for nurses to exhibit when providing care in the hospital setting or clinic environment, as well as how they should interact with patients, families and other members of their health care team.

• The characteristics that make up a good nurse (e.g., experience). Nurses must be careful not only about their own actions but also those around them so that they can provide safe care for others who may not fully understand what’s going on around them during an emergency situation such as an accident at work or home health care due to illness

Principles of Nursing Practice – Nursing Council of New Zealand (1994)

Exercising professional judgement is a responsibility for every nurse. It means that nurses must be able to exercise professional judgement in accordance with the principles of nursing practice, including:

• The Code of Conduct and Ethics for Nurses (2004)

• The New Zealand Nursing Council’s Principles of Nursing Practice (1994).

Criteria for exercising professional judgement, consistent with NCNZ 1994 Nurses Act s27(1-4).

• *Professional judgement is exercised when the nurse is aware of the legal and ethical implications of their actions.

• *Professional judgement is exercised when the nurse has knowledge of the patients situation and needs.

• *Professional judgement is exercised when the nurse has knowledge of their own competence.

Conclusion

The NCNZ 1994 Nurses Act describes the exercise of authority as: “The professional practice setting includes all aspects of the work undertaken by registered nurses, midwives and other health professionals.” This article explores how this definition can be applied in practice and discusses characteristics of authority in nursing.