Nursing Empowerment: Insights from Academic Nurses in Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Professional development and nurse empowerment are closely related. Empowered nurses become change agents to challenge traditional mindsets and are well-equipped to handle contemporary challenges successfully. Objective: To identify the nursing faculties’ perceptions concerning nurse empowerment. Methods: In this qualitative descriptive study, fifteen nursing faculties from different public sector nursing colleges in Sindh, Pakistan, participated. Convenience sampling was used to conduct one-on-one in-person interviews between November and December of 2023. Three open-ended questions were utilized to collect data. The data was analyzed using the Creswell & Porth (2018) descriptive analytical approach. Results: Total 15 interviews were conducted. The nurses’ ability to make an informed judgment based on evidence is ‘nurse empowerment’. Dissension, discrimination, organizational structure problems, and a power-avaricious mindset were all obstacles to nursing empowerment. The aspects that showed promise for nurse empowerment were restructuring the organization, strengthening the role of regulatory authorities, offering opportunities for higher education, and cultivating an evidence-based culture. Empowerment of nurses can be attained via collaboration, having a clear vision for the future, and pursuing professional development, persistently. Conclusion: Nurses must speak up for their rights and break the ice. To achieve professional empowerment with autonomy and respect for their own and career advancement, nurses must work even harder.