Patient Advocacy

Cathy Stepter, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC, CNE

ANA Student Nurse Member Access: Its FREE!

http://www.nursingworld.org/EspeciallyForYou/StudentNurses

What does it mean to be a patient advocate?

Break into pairs and discuss your understanding of
what it means to be a patient advocate.

Describe a time where you have acted as a patient

advocate? What was the issue? What was the result?

If you do not have a specific issue you have directly

been involved in, have you witnessed a situation where someone acted as a patient advocate? How was it received?

Advocacy defined
Speaking out when a practice or procedure is
perceived to be wrong for a patient or against a patients wishes or best expressed interest.

Advocacy
It is an ethic of nursing practice.
Provision 3: The nurse promotes, advocates for, and
strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient. The Code of Ethics recognizes that professional nurses encounter an increasingly pluralistic and diverse culture and that individualism can be culturally defined.
Hook, K.D. & White, G.B. (2001). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. www.nursingworld.org/mods/mod580/code.pdf

 What are some actions nurses can take to demonstrate

patient advocacy?

Advocacy Actions
Acting on the behalf of a patient

Speaking for, fighting for, and standing up for patients.

Protecting the patient and ensuring safety. Acting as a liaison in the healthcare system. Bridging communication gap between patient and other
professions and the healthcare system.

Educating and informing the patient.

Hanks, R. (2010). Patient advocacy and safety: Make the critical connection work! www.uta.edu/ced/static/onlinecne/CEDec08.pdf

Characteristics of the nurse acting as Patient Advocate

What are some characteristics that you would use to
describe a nurse who acts as a patient advocate?

 Positive perception of self-concept

A sense of confidence
Values the ethical treatment of patients Emphatic Assertive Persistent
Hanks, R. (2010). Patient advocacy and safety: Make the critical connection work! www.uta.edu/ced/static/onlinecne/CEDec08.pdf

Examples of advocacy
Class discussion: Share with the class some examples
of being a patient advocate.

Advocacy
Extends to access to healthcare

Infection control
Patient care environments

Advance Directives
Is there a written advance directive?

Is it being carried out as the patient intended?

Is the patient refusing treatment? If so, is this decision
being respected by the entire healthcare team?

Has anyone experienced a situation where an advance

directive was not being followed? Share with the class

Advocacy in end of life

The Code of Ethics reminds nurses that they are
"leaders and vigilant advocates for the delivery of dignified and humane care" (ANA, 2001, p. 9). The prohibition, however, still exists that nurses may never act with the direct intent of ending a patient's life. They may act only to alleviate suffering, albeit with the knowledge that some palliative care may hasten death.
Hook, K.D. & White, G.B. (2001). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. www.nursingworld.org/mods/mod580/code.pdf

How do I learn to be a patient advocate?

Mentors

Role models
Ask questions Know your patients Always act on behalf of your patients best interest

Improve your patient advocacy skills

Assess patients needs in a non-paternalistic manner

Be a risk taker
Be ethical Seek mentors to improve your advocacy skills Communicate effectively
Hanks, R. (2010). Patient advocacy and safety: Make the critical connection work! www.uta.edu/ced/static/onlinecne/CEDec08.pdf

Empowered Caring
The nursing profession is challenged to remain vigilant
in its advocacy for patient and family centered care through leadership, political action, and collective unity.

Empowerment and advocacy. www.radcliffe-oxford.com/.../samplechapter/.../Chambers_chapter_7-...

Patient Advocacy
Simple concept to state

Difficult concept to apply

What are some barriers to being a patient advocate?

Group/class discussion

Barriers
Patients unwilling or unable to express preferences for
their care.

Families and patients may disagree about the range of

choices for treatment.

Indifferent professionals or professionals opposed to

the patients decisions.

Nurses may strongly disagree with what a patient

wants.

Lifelong Learning
Learning doesn't stop with a diploma. Thats why ANA
is committed to providing you with the resources you need to make the most of your career. From webinars to conferences, continuing education to certification, ANA has hundreds of programs to help you grow and most are offered at a steep discount for ANA members. Join ANA today and discover how you can take your nursing to the next level.
http://www.nursingworld.org/DocumentVault/Headlineitems/CPD-Headline-Item

Lifelong learning
What does this mean to you?

Perceptions?
Reservations?

Short term career goals

Usually defined within 1-3 years

Be realistic
The first year is filled with learning your new role. You
may not start out in your first preference job but you will still learn so much about nursing and your role.

Short term career goals: 1st year examples

Complete a nurse residency program.

Become ACLS or PALS certified.

Connect with a mentor. Join a professional nursing organization. Subscribe to a professional nursing journal.

Short term career goals: 2nd and 3rd year examples

Attend a charge nurse class.

Attend a preceptor class.

Become active on your units shared governance
committee.

Consider certification: one site to explore (there are

others) http://www.nursecredentialing.org/

Long term career goals

Usually defined as > 5 years

Planning often needs to begin early-especially if

considering returning to school.

Many begin to contemplate advanced educational

goals. Administration? Practice? Education?

Advanced nursing practice is moving to the Doctor of

Nursing Practice level (DNP)

Programs with BSN to DNP tracks are available and

will be even more so in the future.