Empowerment in school nursing practice: a grounded theory approach.
Professional empowerment is vital to nurses' productivity and job satisfaction. A grounded theory study was conducted to describe the basic social process experienced by school nurses in relation to professional empowerment. Interviews with 10 school nurses led to the development of a situation-specific theory of school nurse empowerment, Making a Difference: The Role of the School Nurse in the Health of Children in Schools. This theory was derived from four theoretical constructs: (a) enlisting support, (b) getting through the day, (c) maintaining control over practice, and (d) adjusting to challenges. Interviews revealed that knowing at the end of each school day that they made a difference in the health of children resulted in feelings of empowerment. Participants cited various areas in which their sense of empowerment was limited, including salaries and workload. Despite these issues, they believed they had a positive impact on the health of children, leading to job satisfaction and feelings of value.
University of Louisiana at Lafayatte College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, Lafayette, LA, USA.
Lisa
L
Broussard
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007587:Job Description; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008145:Louisiana; D016294:Models, Nursing; D008960:Models, Psychological; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D009742:Nursing Theory; D011209:Power, Psychological; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011361:Professional Competence; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D012573:School Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires