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 soft ball 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 comes from referent power, which is based on her admired, trusted, and respected personal attributes, aligning with Weber's concept of charismatic authority.

Step-by-step explanation:

The power that the staff nurse in the question exhibits appears to be a referent power. Referent power comes from being trusted, admired, and respected by others. In this scenario, the nurse's colleagues observe how she manages her time and provides care, indicating that her power stems from her personal characteristics and the respect she has earned from those around her rather than from a formal position, coercive means, or her ability to provide information.

This type of power aligns closely with one of the forms of authority described by sociologist Max Weber, which is charismatic authority. Charismatic authority is power exercised through personal qualities, whether it be skilled oratory, extraordinary abilities, or social charm. The nurse does not rely on her position in the state nurses association, ethics committee, or a coaching role to influence her colleagues, but rather her personal attributes and the respect she commands.