Social networks and power relations: a case study in a municipal hospital

• Main Authors: Luciano Antonio Prates Junqueira, Mariana do Amaral Campos, Maria de Fátima da Silva, Rosimar Pereira Barbosa
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo 2015-09-01
• Series: Revista da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Sorocaba
• Subjects: rede social; enfermagem; poder (Psicologia); gestão hospitalar
• Online Access: http://revistas.pucsp.br/index.php/RFCMS/article/view/24413

The social network analysis identifies the power relations between professionals in organizations. With this instrument we study the nursing area in a municipal public hospital (HPM) in São Paulo. The research describes the configuration of the internal social network of HPM and identifies the power relations among nursing professionals. It is a case study with qualitative and quantitative analysis carried out by means of a questionnaire to nurses and use of NodelXL software. The methodology allowed us to visualize the relationships between the various respondents actors and the type and configuration of the social network. The results show that there is a decentralized social network, focused on the personal and professional relationships, but subdivided into clusters. The respondents perceive the most senior level of nursing the most power of influence over the management of the area and the hospital in general.