The purpose of this essay is to present a discussion of various perspectives of power. The essay includes dictionary definitions of power and descriptions of power within the context of a nursing conceptual model, nursing theories of power, and medicalization of patient care. Noteworthy is that some perspectives highlight the contrast between a negative, control-based approach and a positive approach that rejects control of or over anyone.
Keywords: nursing theories; power; power as control; power as freedom; power as peace.