What is Power?

[OneRN]

What does power mean to you?

For some, power is simply the opportunity to be rude, condescending, and without manners to others without the fear of reprocussions. Some just can't wait to get their chance to treat others as if they don't matter. To them, that is power.

I wear nurses scrubs and a stethescope now instead of an aids scrubs and now the housekeepers call me, "sir." I never asked them to, they just started doing it, and it makes me sick. I never wanted to be above anyone; I just got sick and tired of being ignored by everyone.

I want as much power as God, but I refuse to believe that such power is demonstrated by treating others as if they don't matter. If that's all power is, I'd rather not have it.

So what is power? And how do we get it in the full dose?

[llg, PhD, RN]

By definition, power is the abilty to get something done ... to exert your will.

How one chooses to use power is a totally different issue ... as is how one acquires power.

As some of the other posters have suggested, you have to sort all those DIFFERENT issues out before you can think about and/or discuss them further. It sounds to me as if the original poster's issues had as much to do with the responsibilities of people with power as with anything else.

llg

[nightingale, RN]

I remember reading a comment, right here on the board, how we give up power to someone else when we let them anger us, make us feel "bad", and stoop to their level.

I very actively do not give my power away. Much of my life choices, especially in nursing, are in maintaining my dignity, freedom of choice, and daily decisions in healthcare of my patients and myself. I was fortunate to have this drilled into me in nursing school; we are patient advocates and hopefully are advocating for each other and ourselves.

[leslie :-D]

I remember reading a comment, right here on the board, how we give up power to someone else when we let them anger us, make us feel "bad", and stoop to their level.

I very actively do not give my power away. Much of my life choices, especially in nursing, are in maintaining my dignity, freedom of choice, and daily decisions in healthcare of my patients and myself. I was fortunate to have this drilled into me in nursing school; we are patient advocates and hopefully are advocating for each other and ourselves.

nightengale, you hit it right on the head. when one maintains control, then they maintain their power...there are certain things that no one can take from you.....no one.

[nightingale, RN]

Right here, on this BB; we have the ability to impower each other and ourselves. How lucky

[zenman]

Posted by teeituptom:I believe in the power of the graphite over the steel shafts

You are too funny! Do you know why golf balls have dimples...seriously? I almost hate to give you the answer cause some will think I'm a smart a**, have an ego and beautiful blue eyes! :rotfl:

[nightingale, RN]

But then again, we can degrade this conversation into something sarcastic and disrespectful.

Please let us stay on the topic.

Thank you.

[zenman]

Posted by nightngale1998: But then again, we can degrade this conversation into something sarcastic and disrespectful.

Now, moderater, you must let us have a little humor as sometimes it's all we got! No one's personal attacks directed to me have any effect.

Please let us stay on the topic.

I don't know, Tom...think we can do that? You might have to help me! :rotfl:

[smk1, LPN]

i think power is the ability to affect change. the change could be within yourself or outside yourself. And can be as small as changing attitudes or opinions or as momentous as changing the course of history or policy. (just keepin it simple)

[OneRN]

I've read all the posts (19 so far), and I distill from the whole of this conversation that power is defined in this way:

The use of our will to affect a change.

To make others do what we want them to do (which is really the same thing as affecting a change.).

My 2 cents is this: Power is the above definition with one qualifier: it is an irresistable force.

Look: my manager says do this or do that. Is that power? No, that's an agreement between us. I will do what she says if she does what I need (scheduling, paycheck, whatever). It's not power--she is not irresistably compelling me to do anything. She can fire me, but I can also quit.

Is it power to threaten my life if I don't do something? Not if I no longer care whether I live or die. Again, that is just another mutual agreement. A man can threaten me with a gun, but that doesn't mean he has the power to make me give him my wallet. I give my wallet; he doesn't shoot me. But if I was just about to commit suicide, what power does he have?

[Jill1215]

OneRN, I can understand your point. What people perceive as power is often someone trying to avoid or gain a certain consequece. If my manager tells me to do something and I do it I get a paycheck. If I do A, I get B and because I want B, I will continue to do A. My manager does not have the POWER to make me do something, but does have the power to take away the reason why I do something (my paycheck). I guess I would call him an artist in persuasion.

I think power is the ability to cause emotion and or action from an individual without that person analyazing the results (i.e. looking at what they will gain or lose from it).

My husband's smile, that is power. No matter how I feel, no matter how sad or how angry I am when I see him smile my heart skips a beat and I smile too. That is power. My daughter's tears have power. When she runs to me crying she has the power to melt my heart every time.

My heart dictates who has power over me. It is not even a choice I make, it is made for me through love.

[canuckeh!]

Power means you take your choice of exercising will and voice: unless of course in mute submission you wait until you have permission.

Anonymous