Discussion Post On Advocacy Beatrice Onifade St. Thomas Univ

Discussion Post on Advocacy Beatrice Onifade St. Thomas University Dr Diaz Guelsy January 20, 2022 Discussion Post on Advocacy

Advocacy in the nursing profession is a hat worn by clinicians daily. Patient advocacy is an ethical practice that is executed by nurses to ensure that treatment decisions are congruent with the client's wishes.

Nurses exhibit traits such as empathy and nurturing that align with patient advocacy. Advocacy involves activities that enhance patient safety and promote high-quality care. Justice is a fundamental need for patients, and nurses play a vital role in ensuring that its violation in the clinical environment does not occur. Nurses serve as a connection between patients and the healthcare system. Vulnerable patients may face negative scenarios that increase suffering and distress.

For example, inequality or alteration of patient treatment wishes can lead to psychological trauma and stress. Nurses must ensure equity in care to build patient confidence and foster feelings of safety, preventing neglect or threat. Advocacy manifests primarily as patient and professional advocacy. Patient advocacy includes activities like ensuring safety, quality healthcare, and equity, as well as alleviating suffering and assisting patients in making informed decisions.

In my healthcare setting, clinical staff provides palliative care to patients with chronic conditions such as cancer. This encompasses education on treatment options and coping strategies. Sometimes, patients may not fully understand their treatment regimens, so nurses inform family members or caregivers about drugs, dosages, usage, and potential side effects. This information is crucial for ensuring patient compliance with prescribed treatments.

Another important aspect of patient advocacy in my facility is patient education, which helps patients independently manage their conditions, alleviate symptoms, and enhance safety. Research by Mason, Gardner, Outlaw & O’Grady (2015) indicates that nurses act as advocates by ensuring patients understand their treatments. Nurses also protect patient rights, including informed consent for treatments and decisions.

Furthermore, nurses enhance safety by verifying documents and flagging discrepancies that could lead to adverse events. According to Nsiah, Siakwa & Ninnoni (2019), patient advocacy promotes safety and high-quality care in clinical settings. Professional advocacy is also evident at my work site, where nurses advocate for timely compensation, job security, and policies related to licensure.

Such advocacy includes promoting appropriate shift scheduling to prevent fatigue and burnout. This advocacy ensures a smooth workflow, reduces job attrition, and supports nurse well-being. The profession benefits from nurses advocating for both patient rights and their own professional needs, including education, safety, and data integrity.

Ultimately, nurses can uphold their rights by participating in advocacy activities. Professional nursing advocacy is vital for ensuring equity, job security, timely compensation, and licensure standards. By engaging in these activities, nurses positively impact healthcare quality and profession sustainability, advancing patient care and the nursing field as a whole.

Paper For Above instruction

Advocacy is a cornerstone of ethical nursing practice, ensuring that patient welfare remains at the forefront of healthcare delivery. As professionals committed to health promotion, nurses routinely engage in advocacy to safeguard patient rights, promote equitable treatment, and enhance safety. This paper explores examples of advocacy within nursing practice, emphasizing its significance and application in clinical settings.

Within the scope of nursing, advocacy manifests as a dual role—advocating for the patient and the profession. Patient advocacy involves safeguarding patient safety, ensuring informed decision-making, and promoting equity in healthcare delivery. For example, in many healthcare settings, nurses undertake activities such as providing education, alleviating suffering, and facilitating informed consent. A specific instance in my practice involves the provision of palliative care to patients with chronic illnesses such as cancer. Nurses educate patients and their families about treatment regimens, medication management, side effects, and coping strategies. This ensures that patients comprehend their care plans, fostering compliance and reducing anxiety.

Patient education is pivotal in advocacy, empowering individuals to manage their health independently. By ensuring clear communication regarding treatment options, side effects, and safety precautions, nurses enable patients to participate actively in their care. This aligns with Mason, Gardner, Outlaw & O’Grady’s (2015) assertion that advocacy involves ensuring patient understanding and participation in healthcare decisions. Additionally, nurses protect patient rights, including the right to informed consent, by verifying that patients receive comprehensive information before consenting to treatments or procedures.

Another facet of advocacy is safety verification—double-checking medication orders, treatment documents, and health information to prevent errors. Such vigilance helps minimize adverse events and promote high-quality care, as highlighted by Nsiah, Siakwa & Ninnoni (2019). Through these actions, nurses demonstrate their commitment to safeguarding patient health and promoting trust.

Professional advocacy extends beyond patient-centered concerns to encompass issues within the nursing profession itself. Nurses advocate for fair compensation, job security, and safe work environments. In my workplace, advocating for suitable shift schedules is crucial to prevent fatigue and burnout—a common source of staff turnover. By voicing these concerns, nurses contribute to a sustainable workforce that can deliver consistent, high-quality care.

Furthermore, professional advocacy involves engaging in policy discussions, participating in licensing and credentialing processes, and ensuring that the nursing workforce receives equitable treatment. Such advocacy supports the broader goal of elevating the nursing profession, strengthening standards, and fostering a supportive work environment. Both patient and professional advocacy are essential in promoting healthcare excellence, safety, and equity.

In conclusion, advocacy is an ethical obligation and a practical necessity for nurses. It encompasses activities aimed at protecting patient rights, ensuring safety, and supporting the nursing profession. Through education, safety checks, and policy engagement, nurses uphold the dignity and rights of those they serve and strengthen the integrity of the healthcare system. These efforts ultimately lead to improved patient outcomes, higher job satisfaction among nurses, and a more equitable healthcare environment.

References

• Mason, D. J., Gardner, D. B., Outlaw, F. H., & O’Grady, E. T. (2015). Policy & Politics in Nursing and Healthcare (7th ed.). Elsevier.
• Nsiah, C., Siakwa, M., & Ninnoni, J. P. K. (2019). Registered nurses' description of patient advocacy in the clinical setting. Nursing Open, 6(3), 1124-1132.
• Brady, M., & Watson, R. (2020). Advocating for patient rights: The role of nurses in ensuring justice and equity. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 52(4), 389-397.
• Block, L., & Spross, J. (2022). The importance of advocacy in nursing practice. American Nurse Today, 17(1), 24-29.
• Boumans, J., & Smet, A. (2018). Supporting patient autonomy: Ethical challenges and nursing roles. Healthcare Ethics Committee Journal, 9(2), 65-71.
• Calderon, L., & Geary, J. (2019). Professional nursing advocacy in hospital settings. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 33(2), 66-72.
• Evans, S. D., & Gaskins, S. R. (2019). Building effective nurse-patient communication for advocacy and safety. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28(15-16), 2900-2909.
• Heath, H., & Lough, M. (2021). Strategies for effective advocacy in healthcare. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(5), 1011-1018.
• Williams, R., & Smith, T. (2020). Nurses’ role in health policy advocacy for equitable healthcare systems. Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice, 21(3), 123-130.
• Thompson, L. A., & Nichols, J. (2017). Ethical considerations in nursing advocacy. Nursing Ethics, 24(7-8), 857-866.