STUDY OF THE CONCEPT OF EMPOWERMENT AMONG STAFF NURSES AND NURSE MANAGERS AT SHEBIN El-KOM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Abstract

Empowerment is a process of sharing power with employees, thereby enhancing their confidence in their ability to perform their jobs and their beliefs. It has been defined as giving responsibility and accountability to individual to complete tasks. Power is obtained from the ability to access and mobilize support, infonn:.1tion, n.:sourccs, and opportunities Jl•om one's position in the organization. Access to these empowerment structures 1s influenced by the degree of formal and informal power. Formal power IS obtained through having a job that affords flexibility, visibility, and that IS relevant to the organization process. Informal power is obtained through the extent of individual's networks and alliances with sponsors, peers and subordinates both within and outside the organization. Therefore, individuals have the ability to empower those around them, and thus create an effective work unit within the organiziltion.

The present study hi!cl the a1m of exilmining the nurse milnagers and

• staff nurses' perception .of empowerment through three objectives. The first was to assess nurse ll1 111agers and stall' nurses knowledge pertaining to the

meaning of the concept. The second was to examine the element of empowerment. The third was tn compare study subjects perception of the concept with related literature.

The study was conducted 111 diiTerent units of the University Hospital. There were two categories of subjects in this study. The first consisted of a sample of 116 staiT nurses working in the study settings. The second category consisted of 44 head nurses or nurse lll ln:1gcrs.