Question

. A staff nurse provides care based on intuition and always seems to be in control of her personal and professional life—serving on the board of the state nurses association, serving as the nursing unit's representative on the ethics committee, and coaching her daughter's softball team. Many of the staff observes how she manages time and provides care. This nurse's power comes from which type of power?

a. Referent
b. Legitimate
c. Information
d. Connection

Answer 1

The nurse's power is defined as referent power, which is derived from her personal attributes that garner respect and admiration, rather than her formal position or any specific information or connections she might have. Therefore, the correct answer is option a.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse in question exemplifies a high level of power and influence within both her professional and personal spheres due to her intuition, control, and active roles in various respected positions. Given the description, her power most closely aligns with referent power.

Referent power is based on the personal attributes one possesses, such as charisma, likability, and leadership abilities, which inspire respect and admiration from others. This type of power is evident through the staff's observations of her ability to manage time effectively and provide care intuitively. Additionally, her involvement in the state nurses association, ethics committee, and community activities further reinforce her referent power through the high regard in which she is held by her peers.

This contrasts with other forms of power such as legitimate power, which is derived from a formal position or role; information power, based on access to and control over information; and connection power, stemming from valuable connections or networks.