¿Es ética la sumisión de las enfermeras? Una reflexión acerca de la anorexia de poder

In the last 20 years, many authors have written about nurses' lack of power, real or perceived. In this article, we propose to challenge this idea of incapacity or lack of power. Conversely, we state that nurses can, and in fact, do use this power on a daily basis. We highlight that their actions, or the lack of them, have consequences not only for themselves, but also for the patients they care for. We explain why reflecting about how nurses use their power, and their apparent lack of power appetite, that is power anorexia, is of fundamental importance to have a global view of the ethical implications of nursing practice. This argument is developed through a literature review and analysis of deontological codes from Canada and Brazil. Authors which utilize critical perspectives, like poststructuralist and feminist ethics, support the analysis here presented.