Essay On Patient Advocacy

Nursing advocacy is one of the important principles in the nursing practice. The core of the principle is the establishment of the role of a nurse as an advocate in finding the best treatment that is ideal for their patient’s conditions. Jansen and Stauffacher (2010) describe nurse advocates as the guardian of the patient’s rights and freedom of choice. However, in relation to the assertion of being an advocate, a nurse may be faced with some risks that may include taking an adversarial position against a physician or the hospital itself. This can result in an uncomfortable conflict in the workplace that can risk the nurse’s personal relationship with his supervisors and doctors or even face the risk of losing a job. This repercussion on the nurse’s employment is perhaps the most significant risk that one can take as a nurse advocate.
There are, however, significant benefits in nursing advocacy. Nurse advocates are able to develop a more personal relationship with their patients, making them understand their distinct needs and specific care that allows the healthcare system to respond more appropriately in delivering nursing services that meet the needs of the patient. It underpins the fundamental principle in the practice of nursing of building personal relationship between the nurse and patient where the nurse is able to see the patient as a whole human being and promote the uniqueness of that patient. The nursing advocacy principle can become beneficial in introducing healthcare reforms, such as improving the specific healthcare services provided to patients in its holistic form. The advocacy skills of nurses are beneficial to the quality of care that patients can receive where all aspects of their needs are communicated to nurses and as advocates of patient’s rights, nurses can help in upholding the needs of patients as unique individuals with distinct needs to promote better treatment outcome.

References:

Jansen, M.P. and Stauffacher, M.Z. (2010). Advanced practice nursing. Core concepts for professional role development. New York: Springer Publishing.