Leadership and Power with Teenagers Essay

Communication amid patients and health c be providers has always been an important topic. Specifically communication between teenagers and health care nonrecreationals, a study conducted by Jacobson and others (2001), shows that thither has not been much research that specifically show how teenagers relate to the health services. Using the communication aspects of that study, the description of group dynamics shown in the schoolbook and the assigned readings, we will try to show a more effective way to communicate with teenagers as a health care professional.Power in a GroupWith few exceptions, most teenagers find atomic number 53self the need to belong to a group. For a teenager group dynamics help to define his or her identity. If we arse understand how group dynamics work, we can then use that information to condition a strategy to help us as health care professionals communicate effectively with teenagers. Adler (2010) defines power as the ability to find out others (p. 3 08). There are many ways to influence other people employ the different types of power. We will review a few of them in order to get a reform understanding of what level of power we can go for in a group. We will not be discussing if the power or level of influence in the group is used for well-grounded or bad, except that it is picture.Legitimate PowerLegitimate power is defined as power received because of title or position. A parent, a teacher or, in our case, a nurse or paramedic, has this kind of power when outset approaching a patient. This kind of power is usually acquired through an authority that is recognized by society. We endure this authority because they have a position above us in the chain of command. The end give is the person with the power has the major influence.As a nurse or a paramedic, the constant, the tools we use and tied(p) the environment we are in, are plebeian ways that people recognize our title, is also highlights power and influence that comes with our title. This allows us to approach a patient and get their attention so we can begin their perspicacity and treatment.Expert PowerExpert power comes from what lies behind the title perceived manageledge what we believe that they turn in or can do(Adler, 2010, pg. 385). Nurses and paramedics are excellent examples of sharp power. We follow their authority not because we know his or her personal background, what university they graduated from or how much experience that they have, but because the person has a professional title that we know has to be acquire. This earned title means that the professional has certain level of association in health field and we are more wish wellly to follow their instructions because of it.After we present ourselves as a nurse or paramedic, it is our job to confirm the first impression caused by our uniform and shows the patient that we know how to do our jobs. Once we are assessing the patient it is important to demonstrate our m edical knowledge and the experience we have while performing procedures. We do this in order to make the patient shade more comfortable with us and give them more confidence in communicating with us around their current condition.Referent PowerReferent power comes from the interactions with the members of a group. It is not bestowed upon a person like the legitimate power and it is not related to the power a person gets because of their knowledge in a particular subject like expert power. The denotive power is earned because of the respect that person has earned from the group. There are many important factors that we need to be contending when earning this kind of power earning charge and confusion of the group members and likability, all take part in clear uping this kind of power.Leadership is the leger that best describes referent power. When a person becomes a leader, they support and push the group toward a common goal that is the best for everyone. Leadership is a s kill, not a quality nurses or paramedics need to develop this skill to have a better have a way to communicate with our colleagues and patients, especially our jejune ones. Losing referent power. When a leader fails to be an effective, the ineffective leaser will lose the referent power they had gained.In one study a teenager was asked how they felt while talking to a doctor, they described there interpretation of a doctor as an authority figure who communicated briskly (Jacobson, October 2001, p. 813). This statement show the chastisement in meeting a teenagers need to. The results of the study show that most teenagers dont devote their trust and respect their health care professional. The results of the study show that most teenagers dont trust there health care professionals and this can lead to them failing to disclose important medical information. communication with a Teenager PatientLegitimate, expert and referent power demonstrate a persons ability to gain power and influ ence within a group. Returning to our main topic, we know that teenagers have a group mentality. This means that one way to get and maintain their respect is to use referent power. By using the skills of a leader, we are much better to able to connect and to build relationship with out puerile patients.When we first have contact with a patient we inherently have both legitimate and expert power with us then begin to develop the referent power and earn the trust and respect of that patient. If we are successful the patient will cooperate with us and we will have a good and open communication. This works for almost every patient, but if the patient is a teenager, we also have one extra challenge, time.Teenagers usually make energetic decisions they dont usually take the time to consider all ramifications or consequences of their choices. We have to make sure they know we are there to help them and that they are important to us as a person. To earn their trust, they have to feel lik e they are creation treated as an adult, not like another bratty teen and this must be complete(a) in a short period of time due to the teenagers tendency towards quick decisionsTo summarize, we have described a few of the different types of power a person can have in a group, legitimate, expert and referent. Then we further explained how you go from legitimate and expert power to the referent in your dealing with teenaged patient and how using referent power and being a leader is always your best option. This is so not only can we work better with them but we can do a better job as a health care providers overall.ReferencesAdler, R. & Rodman, G. (2006). Understanding human race Communication. Oxford, NY Oxford University Press.Jacobson, L. Richardson, G. Parry-Langdon, N. Donovan, C. (October 2001). How do teenagers and primary healthcare providers view each other? An overview of key themes. The British Journal of universal Practice, 51(471) 811816. PMCID PMC1314126Sieh, A.& Br etin, L. (1997). The Nurse Communicates (pp. 85-102). Philadelphia,PA. WB Saunders Company.