M5: Rationalizing

Question 1

What is Rationalization?

Answer 1

Standardization of social life through rules and regulation (e.g., growth of bureaucracy)

Question 2

What is the Nature of Social Life according to Weber?

Answer 2

Pre-industrial Society

• Characterized by irrationality (e.g. belief in magic, the
  supernatural, etc.).
• Emphasis on emotions, insight, and revelations.

Modern Society

• Characterized by rationality (e.g. belief in science, efficiency, laws etc.) and rationalization.
• Emphasis on reason, logic, and the intellec

Question 3

What are the Pros and Cons of Rationalization?

Answer 3

Pros:

• Nursing more organized, efficient, cost-effective, research- based, etc.

Cons:

• a) ‘The Iron Cage’
• b) ‘McDonaldization’
• c) New Managerialism

Question 4

What is the The ‘Iron Cage’?

Answer 4

• Rationalization = People trapped by rules/rationalization:
• The squelching of creativity and spontaneity
• The devaluation of emotion and nurturing
• Robot-like care

Question 5

What is McDonaldization?

Answer 5

Rationalization -> Overemphasis on efficiency, uniformity, and predictability:

• Fast food chain analogy:
• Dehumanization of service. All interactions are the same

You can go anywhere in the world and expect similar healthcare like getting a mcdonalds burger. No individuality

Question 6

What is New Managerialism?

Answer 6

Rationalization -> Demands of the job intensifying; nurses expected to do more with less time/resources (covid)

• Continuous scrutiny
• Stress and burnout

Question 7

What is Contemporary Nursing?

Answer 7

• Poor working conditions and low job satisfaction:
• High rates of burnout, absenteeism, injury, and turnover.
• High rates of on-the-job physical assault and verbal abuse.
• Ethical dilemmas

Question 8

Harm Reduction – 5 Principles

Answer 8

5 Principles:
1. Pragmatism
2. Human Rights
3. Focus on Harms
4. Balancing Costs and Benefits
5. Maximizing Intervention Options