Foucauldian analysis of power in nursing education

The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of Foucault's conceptualization of power when applied to an analysis of nursing education. The goal of the research was to identify points of Foucauldian power in the student experience that both facilitate and inhibit nursing students from reaching their full potential as nurses. A review of literature was conducted on the history of nursing's development, attributes of the nurse, current issues in nursing, and public images of nursing to determine expectations for the students. Nineteen nursing students were interviewed about their educational experiences. Their perceptions of their experiences were compared to the Foucauldian concepts of normalizing judgment, surveillance, and examination. The literature review and student interview data were used to determine the norm for nursing. Two norms for nursing arose: (a) a public image and (b) the image of nursing put forward by nurse leaders. Student experiences were evaluated to determine how normalizing judgment, surveillance, and examination were used to mold them into the docile body"" of the nurse. The Foucauldian techniques of power were used to support both images of the nurse. Cracks, crevices, and conduits within the normalizing power of nursing education were identified as possible places for resistance.""