Question

Specifically define the role of the registered nurse in patient advocacy. Describe situations in which nursing advocacy can assist patients within the healthcare environment. Defend why nurses are, or are not, adequately prepared, in prelicensure education, to act as patient advocates.

Answer 1

Nurse can also act as advocates for the patient. The role of the registered nurse in patient advocacy focus on the preservation of human dignity, promotion of the patient equality, protection of patient rights, ensure to protect the decision of the patient, prevent from suffering.

Let see one scenario related to nursing advocacy, a patient admitted to the hospital with the complaint of stomach pain and diarrhea, the consulting doctor has advice to perform surgery for removal appendix. The nurse feels that it is not necessary to do the surgery and the nurse also knows that some of the doctors fool the patient to get money easily. So, the nurse can raise the voice or complaint for the patient to the higher authority of the hospital and if the hospital is not taking the action then directly the complaint can be registered to police. In this situation the nurse act as an advocate that is protecting the rights of the patient.

It is true that the nurse are adequately prepared during prelicensure education. During the nursing course, there is include there is learning about patient rights, ethic to follow, respect for the decision of the patient, etc. This learned knowledge are applying in the hospital set up during their clinical duties. This make them prepared well how to advocate for the patient and they become expert after completion of the course.