Discussion Post on Advocacy

Discussion Post on Advocacy

Discussion Post on Advocacy

What examples of advocacy do you see in your own nursing practice? List and discuss 2 examples.

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 certain traits aligned with patient advocacy including empathy and nurturing. Advocacy in nursing entails activities that enhance patient safety and promote high-quality care. Justice is a basic need for patients and nurses play a vital role in ensuring that its violation in the clinical environment does not occur. Nurses provide a connection between the patients and the healthcare system. Vulnerable patients may be subjected to various negative scenarios that may exacerbate suffering and distress. For instance, inequality and altering patient treatment wishes may result in psychological trauma and stress. Nurses must ensure equity in care provision which will then assist the patient with having confidence and feeling safe rather than neglected or threatened.

There are various forms of advocacy present in the clinical settings. The two main forms include patient and professional advocacy. Patient advocacy entails an array of activities performed by nursing professionals to ensure patient safety, quality healthcare and equity. Other activities performed by clinicians as a form of patient advocacy include alleviating suffering and helping the patients make informed decisions. For instance, in my facility, clinical staff provide palliative care to all patients diagnosed with chronic conditions, such as cancer. Palliative care encompasses educational information on treatment and coping strategies. At times, the patient may not comprehend the treatment regimen provided, therefore, the nurses inform designated family members/caregiver of the dispensed drugs, dosage/usage, and possible side effects. Such information is critical in ensuring that the patient is complaint with the prescribed treatment.

Another form of patient advocacy present in my facility is patient education. Patient education assists the patient to independently manage his or her condition, improve the illness symptoms, and ensures safety. Mason, Gardner, Outlaw & O’Grady (2015) indicated that nurses practice advocacy when they ensure that clients understand their treatments. Similarly, nurses in the facility ensure that patients understand the treatment regimen and possible side effects. The nurses in my facility help protect patient rights’ which include informed consent on treatment processes and decisions. Nurses also assist in ensuring patient safety by double-checking documents for possible incorrect cases. In such a scenario, the clinicians may fix or flag possible conflicting information which would cause adverse consequences to patients. Nsiah, Siakwa & Ninnoni (2019) noted that patient advocacy help ensure safety and establish high-quality care in clinical settings. Professional advocacy is also present in my clinical facility. Nurses advocate for timely compensation, job security and policies concerning licensure. Nurses in my facility also advocate for suitable scheduled shift which assist in avoiding fatigue and exhaustion. Professional nursing advocacy is critical in ensuring smooth workflow in clinical facilities. These considerations also assist in minimizing job attrition and burnout.

Nurses have an appropriate platform to make positive impacts in the profession by advocating for patient and the profession. The patient advocacy may be enhanced through various activities such education, safety, and double-checking of data to ensure no errors are present. Nurses can ensure that their rights are not violated. Professional advocacy is important in ensuring equity, job security, timely compensation, and licensure among nurses.

 

 

 

 

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 Open6(3), 1124.