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Student Perceptions Of Empowerment In Their Graduate Program, Genevieve Chandler, Sj Roberts

Genevieve E. Chandler

Empowerment is a critical aspect of the education of the Advanced Practice Nurse (APN). This paper reports a study which asked for feedback from APN students about their experience of feelings of empowerment and powerlessness in their graduate program. Learning which was driven by the student's interest, which respected and valued their experience and which guided them in defining and pursuing individual goals was empowering. Powerlessness was experienced when faculty controlled the process, were demeaning about students' abilities and when learning was not connected to their goals. Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) are in great demand for the emerging health care …