Nurse Authority in Invasive Care at the Private Nursing Clinic, Surakarta

Background: Professional authority encompasses the power, relative autonomy, intellectual and political influence and respect that we as professional nurses are accorded within health care systems and society at-large because we provide our distinctive service very well. Nurses' accountability - our being answerable - to individuals, families and communities in relation to the profession's social mandate by which we are obligated to provide a particular public service. This study aimed to investigate nurse authority in invasive care at the private nursing clinic, Surakarta. Subjects and Method: This was a normative-sociological juridical qualitative study with a descriptive design. The study was conducted in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia from July to September 2021. The number of samples in this study was seven respondents throughout Surakarta City. The key informants were 7 nurses. They were selected by purposive sampling. The data were collected by in-depth interview, document review, and observation. The data were analyzed by triangulation. Results: There is the principle of lex superior derogate legi inferior in nursing law. The law no. 36/2009 should take precedence over the Minister of Health Regulation No. 26/2009. There is no regulation regarding the prohibition of nurses from performing invasive actions, thus giving rise to the growth of the principle of legality (nullum delictum nulla poena sine praevia lege poenali) in nursing services. Conclusion: There is a low nurse's authority in carrying out invasive procedures.