Developing nurses' power to care.

It has been increasingly recognised that nursing sisters and charge nurses have a crucial role to play in the care of patients. Many of them believe, however, that they are not granted the appropriate authority to fulfil their roles adequately; some of them also claim that they are not paid enough. This article reports on the Nursing Standard Power to Care campaign, which is intended to improve the status of such staff. It also presents a case study of two nominees for last year's Nursing Standard awards in the ward sister and charge nurse role category, and their views on what staff in their position need to succeed in their role.