Differences And Expectations Of Those Living In A High Power Distance Culture

Santilli (2010) looked into the definition and the overall elements that made up the concept of power distance. The researcher began by describing power distance as “the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organizations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally” (2010). There are two categories of power distance: low power distance and high power distance. In a low power distance culture, there is not a great difference between high-ranking officials and subordinates. They communicate with each other under the assumption that they are equals in the exchange. Subordinates have minimal fear when communicating their opinions to superior individuals within the given setting (2010). In a high

They want to make it clear, intentionally or unintentionally, that they are more powerful than those around them (2010). On the other hand, subordinates do not attempt to exert any sense of power. Instead, they tend to listen to the orders of the powerful people and avoid drawing too much attention to themselves (2010). This study provides an overview of the foundational communication principle for the research of the current study: power distance. Santilli provides important insight into the mindset and expectations of those living in a high power distance society. In the current study, the surgeons and nurses within the hospital setting will be viewed under the scope of a high power distance subculture. Although the hospitals themselves are located in the low power distance country of the United States, hospitals present a subculture in which the members of the hierarchical employment structure abide by the standards of a high power distance culture. Therefore, the large power gap between nurses and surgeons can result in highly ineffective communication. The poor communication can risk the safety and well-being of the patient before, during, and after

They found that there were two key differences between the two positions: education and professional roles (2012). First, there is a difference in the educational standards and milestones that are needed to be completed by both groups. According to the study, doctors have a more comprehensive schooling process as compared to nurses which feature more stricter guidelines to follow in terms of classes needed as well as the length of required education (2012). Second, the roles that each party is expected to follow are distinct. The researchers wrote, “The role of nursing, simply put, is to care and that of a doctor is to cure” (2012). When the roles are challenged, it can lead to problems in teamwork and communication. Although both parties need each other for a successful medical encounter, that dependency can be forgotten. This study provides possible reasonings for the power distance that occurs between surgeons and nurses. First, when nurses give medical suggestions over the course of a surgical procedure, the surgeon may dismiss the comment because of his or her understanding of the educational differences between the two positions. Therefore, they could avoid accepting advice from nurses. On the other hand, the nurses could be afraid to speak up because they could be under the impression that they do not have the adequate knowledge to discuss a certain issue despite