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The study explored empowerment in relation to; Public Health Nurses (PHN) understanding of the concept, PHNs experience of empowerment in their work, the PHN role in relation to client empowerment, how PHNs perceive they empower their clients and how the empowerment of PHNs could be fostered. The study also explored the experience by clients of feeling empowered/ disempowered and the empowerment approach of PHNs. Phase 1 comprised of two focus groups explored the concept of empowerment, and what empowered the PHNs and the strategies they use to support empowerment of their clients. Phase 2 consisted of the administration of questionnaires to examine the experience by parents of the empowerment approach of PHNs at the child health screening and surveillance checks. Research findings indicated that PHNs did not perceive that they are empowered in their work and are unaware of this. This was related mainly to, their workloads and a lack of open access to structures of power and opportunity at work. The findings suggest that the empowerment of PHNs influences their engagement in empowering practices. The self-efficacy of the PHN needs to be fostered on an ongoing basis.
About the author
Teresa Cawley, MA, Cert.TIHR(P3C), Development Manager (CAMHS), HSE West and Organisational Development Consultant (privately) & Patricia Mannix McNamara, PhD, Senior Lecturer in Education in the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences at the University of Limerick, Ireland.
