Nursing Tips: Keys to Effective Patient Advocacy

How to become a more effective patient advocate

Learning to be a more effective nurse-patient advocate, involves understanding the role of a registered nurse, as a patient advocate with regard to physicians and other health care professionals, patients, their families, friends and communities. This also includes taking a pro-active role in numerous health care settings, as well as educational facilities around the world.

What is a patient advocate?

With respect to an individual patient, a registered nurse functions as his or her nurse advocate. On a daily basis, a registered nurse may be called upon to intervene or act on behalf of any patient, with respect to possible medical care by a physician, other health care professionals or others, while providing the essential nursing care for that patient. Nurse advocacy often includes health-related employment issues for a patient, like worker's compensation, medical-insurance issues or medical-legal problems that involve life changes due to accidents, injury or illness.

The registered nurse advocate is supportive of his or her patient regardless of race, creed or culture. This includes the patient's financial status which is important in the light of the global economy. A registered nurse regards life as sacred and seeks to sustain, protect and prolong the life of a patient, acting as a nurse-patient advocate.

At times, a registered nurse may need to protect or defend his or her patient, as well as work towards establishing and maintaining a safe, secure environment in which the patient can receive the appropriate, professional medical treatment, nursing care and health-oriented education, necessary to sustain and enhance the patient's life, heath status and general well being.

The registered nurse strives to assist his or her patient to achieve and maintain the highest possible quality of life, at all times. He or she is supportive of a patient during his or her most difficult scenarios in life, including when he or she is terminally ill or dying. The role of nurse-patient advocate includes being an active voice for the patient or speaking on his or her behalf, in situations in which the patient cannot communicate effectively with others. It may require intervention on behalf of the patient with regard to a spouse or children, other family members and friends. This could mean taking a pro-active stand for many patients, with regard to health care facilities and nursing education. These are just a few of the things that a registered nurse does as a nurse-patient advocate.

Why would a patient require a professional registered nurse advocate?

Who will be supportive of a patient, if it not the professional registered nurse who is caring for him or her? A physician cannot be with a patient twenty four hours a day. A registered nurse can be there for a patient. Sometimes, a patient can count on his or her family or friends, but not always. Many times, a patient is totally abandoned or deserted by a spouse, children or other family members, though that is when he or she needs their help the most. A patient needs a registered nurse advocate, as he or she is particularly vulnerable at times when he or she is ill, mentally, emotionally or physically disabled or requires surgery. A patient may need a registered nurse advocate, if there is a medical treatment being practiced, that is not appropriate and appears to be life threatening.

How can you as a registered nurse become a more effective nurse advocate for a patient?

Consider the following suggestions: 

Intervene professionally as a registered nurse, on behalf of your patient, with regard to his or her physician, other health care professionals and non-professional health care givers, when it is necessary. Relay pertinent and professional information immediately to your patient's physician, with respect to his or her health care needs, health related issues or nursing care concerns.

Follow the guidance and directives of the patient's physician precisely, correctly and immediately. If there are problems related to issues or concerns about his or her medication, medical treatment or procedures, a registered nurse may need to intervene on behalf of a patient, to resolve any medical concerns that may appear to be harmful or life threatening.

Establish and seek to maintain a positive, constructive nurse-patient relationship, at all times, so that a basic, trust-relationship is established between you and your patient. Your personal integrity is important as a registered nurse, so be honest with your patient and others. Your level of integrity, with regard to other health care professionals and non-professionals, can affect your patient relationship as well.

Be there for your patient and make certain that he or she is aware that you are there for him or her and will continue to be there, in the future. Let your patient know that he or she is loved by offering nursing care, while showing compassion and demonstrating concern for him or her and always setting a professional example by what you say and do. Your sincere commitment to your patient will be immediately evident.

Try to anticipate and meet your patient's current needs, as soon as possible, particularly when it concerns possible infection or exposure to infectious diseases. Keep an eye towards any possible future needs of your patient. Be supportive of your patient and his or her family, regardless of their circumstances, including race, creed or culture. Intervene on behalf of your patient, with respect to his or her spouse, children, other family members and friends or others, when necessary.

Use the model of Jesus Christ, as the divine model for advocacy and thus, be an advocate for all of humankind. Actively assume the professional, spiritual nurse-advocate role for your patient, his or her family, as well as others residing in the community, in that way.

Be aware of your patient's hospital, retirement home or nursing home policies, procedures, guidelines and other directives. Be instrumental in effecting appropriate changes in them, when necessary. Speak up, if you are aware of procedures or practices in a health care facility or elsewhere, that are not conducive to your patient's health or that of others.

Be knowledgeable about current trends, changes or transitions in nursing, how they affect your patient and others, as well as how they pertain to medical or nursing issues of local, regional and global concern. Become pro-active with respect to community nursing issues like health-oriented educational programs, maternity care, infant-child care, health and safety issues that may affect your patient. Registered nurses are professional educators, so educate your patient.

These are just some of the things that you can do as an effective nurse-patient advocate.

In conclusion, a registered nurse fills the vital role of professional nurse advocate for his or her patient, in 

many different and unique ways, that others in the family or community may not be aware of or understand, at any time.

The key to more effective nurse-patient advocacy lies in the realm of ongoing professionalism, as a registered nurse, active participation in all levels of education for registered nurses and others, as well as the further enhancement of professional nurse-patient relationships. Effective nurse advocacy is only one aspect of the role of registered nurses with regard to nursing care of patients, but it is definitely extremely important to everyone.