Power Dynamics Power Is Defined

Power Dynamics Power is defined as being able to influence the behavior that people have. Power might at times be perceived as evil or unjust but exercising power has been accepted as being endemic to human beings for them to be termed as social beings. Within the healthcare scenario power can be expressed as either upward or downwards. Downward power involves the healthcare managers influencing the subordinates such as nurses. When upward power is exerted it means that the subordinates have an influence on the decision leaders will make.

However power use should not have coercion as part of it (Tai, 2008). Types of power involved in different situations There are different types of power which in a situation influence other people. Different situations have different powers exhibited. For example when a doctor is giving a nurse instructions on the specific drugs a patient should be given .there are various types of power which can be pointed out in this situation. The first type of power is legitimate power.

This type of power is on the basis of it just .it involves responding to someone's request mainly because the person is designated as a figure that has authority.in this instance the doctor has legitimate power since he has authority over the nurse and has the power to give instructions which he expects the nurse to follow. The other type of power exhibited in this situation is expert power.

This type of power involves someone that posses superior skills or training so those following them comply with the requests they make since they assume the people know more than the. The doctor poses expert power since he is trained in the field and he knows what a patient requires. Therefore the nurse will follow the instructions given to her by the doctor since they know the doctor has the skills to give a correct prescription. The other type of [power in the situation is informative power.

This involves a person giving specific information which is of great importance and valuable. The doctor has informative power since he gives out useful information which will guide the nurse in taking care of the patient in the required way (Jayme, 2009). Gender influence on power dynamics In this particular situation gender played a role in the outcome or dynamics of the situation. The doctor giving the instructions was a male doctor .it is often perceived or if I may put it a misconception that the male gender is superior.

Therefore, the female nurse took in the instructions given to her by the doctor keeping it in mind that he was superior and thus the instructions given were correct. If for instance the nurse was receiving instructions from a female doctor then they would have some doubts on the instructions given.

This means that gender played a role in the situation as it influenced the way the nurse took I the instructions given Policies to address negative gender related perceptions Within the healthcare there are various strategies hat have been put in place to ensure that negative gender related perceptions are eradicated. This includes gender awareness programs which are aimed as sensitizing the staff on the importance of gender equality. The programs entail talks on how any negative perceptions that are held against the different genders can be eradicated.

There is also ensuring that the staff works together in unity without looking at their gender. Other factors affecting power dynamics in the situations Apart from gender there might also be other facts that can influence power dynamics in the situation. This includes race whereby the nurse might not take instructions from the doctor simply because.