Use of Power and Political Acumen in the Organization - Term Paper Example

Use of power and political acumen in health organizations Use of power and political acumen in health organizations It is imperativefor employees to follow and respect the contributions of their managers and other individuals in management positions. In other words, it is the obligation of managers to influence their subordinates in their endeavors through the employment of relevant skills such as political acumen. This paper outlines an example that demonstrates how a politically astute strategy was used to enhance a nurses power base to achieve a desired outcome.

Additionally, strategies for enhancing or leveraging power and political acumen for advocacy in the nursing profession are proposed. A good example demonstrating how a politically astute strategy was used to enhance a nurses power base involved a nurse acting as a policy advocate in a bid to improve health care delivery in a health organization. According to Parker (2007), "A nurse gains power through establishing positive, collegial, working relationships with physicians, other nurses, and all the members of the health care team.

Productive relationships increase a nurses power to base care decisions on ethical principles". The nurse therefore advocating for the rights of the patients engaged effective skills particularly her convincing skills, negotiation skills, and decision making capabilities in seeking the support of all individuals involved in health care delivery. In doing so, the nurse created a productive relationship with all stakeholders and hence expanding her power base (Paynton, 2008). There are numerous strategies that can be used to enhance or leverage power and political acumen in the nursing profession.

One of these strategies as elucidated by Pfeffer (2010) is being in charge of all resources within the organization that are of significance to other employees. Good examples of such resources include finances and information. Political acumen and power in nursing denotes the ability of a nurse to garner the support of others. Assisting other nurses and physicians to access the resources they require to conduct their activities and obligations can work in favor of a nurse as it is easy to convince them to return the favor when their support is needed (Pfeffer, 2010).

Another strategy to enhance or leverage power and political acumen includes the use of rewards and punishment (Pfeffer, 2010). Since time immemorial, individuals in positions of management have issued rewards for individuals who support them in their endeavors and subsequently chastise those who work against them. Nursing leaders can therefore make it known that those who give support would receive favors or compensation. This means that nurses will strive to support such leaders in a bid to receive the favors and to avoid being chastised.

Being the first to make a move is also a good strategy to leverage and enhance power and political acumen in the nursing profession. Pfeffer (2010) posits that "A surprise move can catch opponents off guard and secure victory before they even know whats happening" (90). For instance, making a move when nurses with the potential to oppose a move are on leave is a good strategy to enhance power and political acumen. There are also instances when challengers are engrossed in other activities and hence making a move in such occasions would work in favor of the nurse leader making the move.

In conclusion, advocacy in nursing helps create productive relationships between nurses and other individuals involved in health care delivery. These productive relationships are important as the nurse playing the role of an advocate is assured that he or she will receive necessary support when needed. Strategies that can be used in nursing to enhance power and political acumen includes being n control of resources, always being the first one to make a move, and rewarding those who support a move and punishing those who fails to support a move.

ReferencesParker, F. (2007). "Ethics: The Power of One" OJIN: Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 13(1). Paynton, T. (2008). The informal power of nurses for promoting patient care.OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14(1). Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodica ls/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol142009/No1Jan09/ArticlePreviousTopic/InformalPower ofNurses.htmlPfeffer, J. (2010). Power play. Harvard Business Review, 88(7/8), 84–92.