The state nurses association writes a new version of the Nurse Practice Act, secures a sponsor in the legislature, and lobbies legislators to adopt the bill. Which of the laws of power would the nurse label this situation?

Question

a. Power is invariably personal.
b. Power invariably fills any vacuum.
c. Power is exercised through and depends on institutions.
d. Power is best exercised via large financial donations to individual legislators.

Answer 1

C
As an individual, one can easily feel powerless and unable to deal with the complex problems facing a hospital, community, or state. Through a nursing service organization, a state nurses as-sociation, or a similar organization, an individual can garner the resources needed to magnify their power (Law 4: Power Is Exercised Through and Depends on Institutions). Initiatives such as this start with one person creating a new approach to a problem. That person exercises power by providing the leadership or spark to create the strategy to carry out such an initiative, thus in-spiring people to contribute to the effort (Law 2: Power Is Invariably Personal). When a problem or issue arises, the prevailing desire is for peace and order. People are willing to give power to someone interested in restoring order to situations of discomfort. Therefore, someone will even-tually step forward to handle the dilemma (Law 1: Power Invariably Fills Any Vacuum). Power is best exercised via large financial donations to individual legislators is not one of the five San-ford's laws of power.