| Sumario: | The purpose of the study was to determine if a relationship exists between a nurse's perception of power and participation in nursing continuing learning. Literature about power, barriers to continuing education, and nursing history related to power were reviewed. The motivational theory providing the conceptual framework for the study was cognitive dissonance (Festinger). It was proposed that if nurses felt powerless to effect change as a result of their continuing learning, it would be more consonant not to participate. A random sample survey of 500 nurses currently registered and living in Wisconsin was conducted. Criteria for inclusion in the study were graduation from nursing school at least one year prior to the survey and current employment in nursing in a staff position. A total of 374 surveys were returned (75% return); 187 surveys met study criteria. A sample of non-respondents was surveyed for demographic information. Comparison of demographic data among respondents, non-respondents, and national figures yielded no significant differences. A survey instrument developed by Gorman was adapted to determine a quantitative measure of power for each respondent. A self-report tool asked respondents to record the number of hours spent in continuing learning (a wide variety of activities were included, not only formal, structured programming) in the six months prior to the survey. The scores for both were divided into roughly equal quartiles to assign a category of power and participation--low, moderately low, moderately high and high. The two scores were then displayed in four-by-four tables to see if there were any relationship between the two values; none was found, and no further data analysis done. The researcher proposed that cognitive dissonance might have been working in the opposite direction from that originally proposed--that a sense of powerlessness could lead to increased participation, rather than the reverse. If so, these two could have offset each other to cause the random relationship shown. The researcher now believes that the issue of power is too complex for a simple survey research method. Suggestions for future research would utilize a qualitative in-depth interview method of assessing the relationship between power and participation.
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