PERCEIVED CONTROL OF NURSING PRACTICE IN NURSING HOMES: LEGITIMATE POWER DERIVED FROM ANA STANDARDS OF ORGANIZED NURSING SERVICES.
Contributors: Indiana University School of Nursing.
Published: 1986
Number of pages: 177
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: A study of the control of nursing practice was conducted using French and Raven's power theory to determine if directors of nursing, physicians, or administrators control nursing practice in nursing homes. An assumption was that if nurses perform the American Nurses' Association standards for organized nursing services, they control nursing practice.

A questionnaire was developed including demographic data and 40 questions related to performance of criteria listed under each of the seven ANA standards for organized nursing services. The response options relating to who performs or should perform specific nursing administration activities were derived from nursing literature, and were: director of nursing, nursing home administrator, and "other". The responses were derived from French and Raven's power theory, related to the use of coercive power, expert power, legitimate power, referent power, and reward power.

The questionnaire had a 39% rate of return from all directors of nursing in skilled nursing facilities in a midwestern state.

Data revealed that directors of nursing use and think they should use expert power in performing nursing administration functions. This is contrary to the legitimate power provided them by the ANA standards. All criteria under Standards III, IV, V, and VII of the ANA standards for organized nursing services were performed by at least 62.7% of the directors of nursing. Four criteria under Standards I, II, VI were performed by 27.1% to 49.3% of the directors of nursing. These criteria which were not performed by at least 51% of the subjects were related to communication and fiscal matters. At least 60% of directors of nursing think they should perform 18 of the 20 criteria. The two criteria which they think they should not perform are under Standards I and VI, and are also related to communication and fiscal matters. Activities not performed by directors of nursing are performed by administrators who are reported to use legitimate power.

Post hoc findings included reports by nurses that they should perform communication, personnel and fiscal functions being performed by the administrator. Functions which nurses believe the administrator should perform included recognition and compensation for performance and providing resources for staff to attend educational programs. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.).
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-11, Section: B, page: 3249.

Thesis (D.N.SC.)--INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING, 1986.

School code: 0815.