Empowerment

‘A culture of empowerment is likely to be more beneficial for patients than the culture of fear where that currently exists.’ Research published from the UK, Birmingham University, Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues say 'Nurses face major barriers in delivering dedicated and compassionate care'.

Globally nursing suffers from staff shortages, work overloads, time pressures, challenging new technologies and ever more demanding documentation (how many clicks?). All leading to a moral disengagement among nurses – possibly compromising professional practice.

The report’s authors say its findings show a reliance on duty or rule-based moral reasoning. The report recommends that moral role modeling is placed at the heart of nursing education.

Whilst the nursing profession of late has become more industrialised, it was good to read that moral motivators such as care and compassion remain the principal reason for joining the profession as it was for those more experienced RNs who still remain.

Empowering the profession through transformational leaders and now involving nurses at the executive level, researchers call for greater emphasis on ethical theory in the education. Helping nurses to relate values and virtues to practice.

Currently, nursing comprises approximately half of the estimated 18m global health workforce shortage - time to both recruit & retain but empowerment is crucial to the future sustainability of the 'dedicated, compassionate nurse'.