NURSE ADVOCACY

      WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PATIENT ADVOCATE.    

A reoccurring theme I have found throughout my research in WISE is the importance of nurses acting as advocates for their patients. I've heard about nurses who fight for their patients, but rather than those "extreme cases", I was uncertain about the role of nurses in patient advocacy. 

The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics states that "Nursing is... advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations." So, I'm sure you're wondering....

WHAT IS PATIENT ADVOCACY?

Being a patient advocate means that you protect, defend, and speak out for the rights and interests of your patients. Nurses have a commitment to empowering their patients and their family members during their time caring for them. This means that sometimes it is up to the nurse, as the first line of defense, to "make waves" when it comes to doing the right thing.

 

1. Facilitate decision making

 The U.S. healthcare industry consistently struggles with low health literacy

This means that people in the U.S. don't have the ability to understand basic health information, which hinders them from making informed decisions. Physician's deep scientific knowledge of all things medicine creates a communicative barrier between themselves and the patient. Patients also may feel intimidated and fail to ask the right questions. Nurses act as the link, helping the patients understand their condition, procedures, and medications. 

2. For patient safety, patient care, and patient rights

Nurses advocate on behalf of their patients to improve and advance their safety and care and promote patient rights. 

This means that the nurses are making sure that patients that cannot advocate for themselves are receiving optimal care. Nurses spend the most time with patients, which allows them to gain additional information about a patient's wants/needs, health habits, and concerns that would otherwise go unnoticed. 

3. Can lead to policy changes

Nurses advocate for changes they believe will be in the best interest of all patients.

Nurses may provide care but find that the current policy is not optimal for all the patients. As advocates, they can step up and become change agents that push to correct the problems within those policies. 

If you want to learn more about the role of patient advocators and the skills you need to fight for your patients, check out this informative video!