Registered nurses (RNs) play a vital role in patient advocacy. As patient advocates, RNs are responsible for protecting and promoting the rights, interests, and well-being of their patients. This includes ensuring that patients receive safe, high-quality care, that their informed consent is obtained for all procedures and treatments, and that their cultural and religious beliefs are respected.

RNs can advocate for their patients in a variety of ways, including:

• Educating patients about their rights and responsibilities. RNs can help patients understand their treatment options, the risks and benefits of each option, and their right to refuse treatment.
• Assisting patients in making informed decisions about their care. RNs can help patients to weigh the pros and cons of different treatment options and to make decisions that are consistent with their values and preferences.
• Communicating with other healthcare professionals on behalf of their patients. RNs can advocate for their patients by communicating their needs and concerns to doctors, therapists, and other healthcare providers.
• Ensuring that patients receive the care that they need. RNs can monitor their patients’ care to ensure that they are receiving the appropriate treatment and that their needs are being met.
• Protecting patients from harm. RNs can advocate for their patients by identifying and reporting any potential safety hazards or concerns.

Situations in Which Nursing Advocacy Can Assist Patients Within the Healthcare Environment

Nursing advocacy can assist patients in a variety of situations within the healthcare environment, including:

• When making decisions about their care. RNs can help patients to understand their treatment options, the risks and benefits of each option, and their right to refuse treatment. RNs can also help patients to weigh the pros and cons of different treatment options and to make decisions that are consistent with their values and preferences.
• When communicating with other healthcare professionals. RNs can advocate for their patients by communicating their needs and concerns to doctors, therapists, and other healthcare providers. This can be especially important for patients who are feeling overwhelmed or who have difficulty expressing themselves.
• When ensuring that patients receive the care that they need. RNs can monitor their patients’ care to ensure that they are receiving the appropriate treatment and that their needs are being met. RNs can also advocate for their patients by ensuring that they have access to the resources and support that they need, such as interpreters, social workers, and spiritual care providers.
• When protecting patients from harm. RNs can advocate for their patients by identifying and reporting any potential safety hazards or concerns. RNs can also advocate for their patients by ensuring that they are receiving care from competent and qualified healthcare professionals.

Are Nurses Adequately Prepared, in Pre-Licensure Education, to Act as Patient Advocates?

There is some debate about whether or not nurses are adequately prepared, in pre-licensure education, to act as patient advocates. Some argue that nursing programs should provide more education on patient advocacy skills, such as communication skills, ethical decision-making, and cultural competence. Others argue that nursing programs are already overburdened and that patient advocacy skills can be learned on the job.

There is some evidence to suggest that nurses may not be adequately prepared to act as patient advocates. For example, one study found that only 60% of nurses were able to correctly identify all of the elements of informed consent. Another study found that nurses often reported feeling uncomfortable advocating for their patients, especially when it came to disagreements with doctors.

However, there is also evidence to suggest that nurses can be effective patient advocates. For example, one study found that nurses who had received training on patient advocacy skills were more likely to advocate for their patients and that their patients reported higher levels of satisfaction with their care.

Overall, it is likely that there is room for improvement in the way that nurses are prepared to act as patient advocates in pre-licensure education. Nursing programs could provide more education on patient advocacy skills, such as communication skills, ethical decision-making, and cultural competence. However, it is important to note that nurses can also learn to be effective patient advocates through on-the-job experience and continuing education.

How to Improve Nursing Preparation for Patient Advocacy

There are a number of things that can be done to improve nursing preparation for patient advocacy in pre-licensure education. These include:

• Incorporating patient advocacy into the nursing curriculum. Nursing programs can incorporate patient advocacy into the curriculum in a variety of ways, such as through required courses, elective courses, and clinical rotations.
• Providing students with opportunities to practice patient advocacy skills. Nursing programs can provide students with opportunities to practice patient advocacy skills through simulations, role-playing exercises, and real-world patient care experiences.

Teaching students about the ethics of patient advocacy. Nursing programs can teach students about the ethical principles that underlie patient advocacy, such as