Title: Examples of Patient Advocacy in Nursing: Helping Voices
Headings: Helping Hands, Helping Voices: Examples of Patient Advocacy in Nursing
Helping Hands, Helping Voices: Examples of Patient Advocacy in Nursing
Patient Advocacy Defined
Common Types of Advocacy
Advocacy with the Medical Facility
Advocacy with the Legal System
Advocacy with Families
The Ethics of Patient Advocacy in Nursing
Key Skills for Nurse Advocacy
Become a Nurse Advocate for Patients
Recommended Readings
Sources

Content: Nurses like these advocate to place the personal needs of individuals and families above hospital routines and bureaucratic red tape. As direct conduits to patients, nurses have a profound opportunity to propose safer, more effective strategies that can impact the future of their profession and the health care system as a whole. This is especially true as issues continue to impact the industry, including policy reform, universal access, new technologies, and an aging population of baby boomers in need of care. Nurse professionals need top-notch leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills to succeed in patient advocacy. They can hone these skills through an advanced nursing degree, such as an online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). If you are motivated to act as an ally for patients, read on for examples of patient advocacy in nursing, typical ethical issues, and key skills for success as a health care ally. Patient Advocacy Defined
Advocates are people who speak on behalf of those whose voices aren’t heard. They work with decision-makers, such as physicians and legislative bodies, to solve problems and propose alternatives for those in need. For nurses, this may involve advocating for children, mentally ill patients, and patients who are uninformed about health care policies and their own rights. Patient advocacy is a key part of nursing practice, and it isn’t optional.