A nurse who is often a staff leader frequently comes to the nurse manager with concerns and complaints

Question

When the nurse is reviewed for a merit raise she does not receive it even though the nurse demonstrated excellent work leading the unit change to evidence-based practice. This illustrates use of which type of power by the nurse manager? 1. Coercive power
2. Referent power
3. Informational power
4. Reward power

Answer 1

1
Explanation: 1. Coercive power is based on punishment when a person does not do as expected or directed. Examples are denial of a pay raise, termination, and poor schedule or assignment. Denial of this nurse's merit raise, even though work was excellent, could be related to the nurse frequently coming to the nurse manager with concerns. This situation is an example of coercive power.
2. This informal power comes from others recognizing that an individual has special qualities and is admired.
3. This type of power arises from the ability to access and share information.
4. This type of power comes from the ability to reward those who comply. This is closely associated with coercive power, but this situation more clearly demonstrates coercive actions. If the nurse had been given a pay raise for good work and complying with expectations, reward power would be used.