ADVANCING HEALTH-CARE PRACTICE
1.4 Helen's Story
The nurses in this case have described Dr. Dale as eccentric and explained his behavior by telling Helen that "he's just like that". If we look at the conditions which permit Dr. Dale to continue to behave in this manner we will find that many of the beliefs and attitudes about nursing and what nurses are expected to cope with arise from the historical background of nursing as well as the hierarchical structure of health systems and agencies.
It is widely believed that unless the health-care system can address oppression within its walls, it will be difficult for it to address issues of power and control in the larger society and their manifestations in the lives of female patients
Resource Link: Hierachies within Health-Care