Toward a Feminist Model for the Political Empowerment of Nurses

Shifts in power within the nursing profession and the health care system raise questions as to how nursing will develop and use its power. As a model for political action, empowerment involves the development of three dimensions; (a) raising the conscious of socio-political realities; (b) positive self-esteem; and (c) political skills needed to negotiate and change the health care system. This paper discusses these dimensions as they relate to nurses within a feminist context.