Challenging the balance of power: patient empowerment.
Empowering patients is a central element of nursing care, according to the RCN (2003). This article discusses the reality of changing the balance of power in health care, awareness of types of knowledge and the ways in which power may consciously or subconsciously be used. It also includes awareness of the financial and political aspects of health care and how these affect patient choice.
Institute of Health and Community Studies, Bournemouth University, Dorset. jcdeht@yahoo.co.uk
Jaquelina
J
Hewitt-Taylor
D003068:Coercion; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D028701:Patient Rights; D011057:Politics; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012941:Social Responsibility; D006113:United Kingdom