When the manager encounters "We can't do it!".

Abstract

This article has described the importance of increasing staff feelings of self-worth, of promoting feelings of personal power, involving staff actively in practice issues, of increasing staff knowledge of the health care and agency system, and of setting limits on negative discussion in a group. When nurses feel power in the health care system, it not only has the benefit of increasing job satisfaction but increases positive responses on the job. On the other hand, nursing staff who are unable to conquer the feeling of powerlessness may respond to assignments with statements signifying the subjective state experienced: "We can't do it!" Such staff are unlikely to experience personal and professional rewards and may ultimately leave the health care field. This negative process may be blocked by the manager who assists staff to develop feelings of worth, professional autonomy, and control and who can appropriately handle negative feelings expressed in a group.