St. Thomas University Response to peer; minimum/max 200 words; use correct APA format

Response #1

Advocacy in the Nursing Profession

Advocacy is a fundamental element of nursing. Nurses instinctively advocate for the sick in their homes and at work. Patients usually rely on nurses to guide them through the healthcare system (Kazemnejad, A. 2019). A nurse’s role is to ensure that the patient feels heard and receives the appropriate treatment. Understanding how nurses may assist patients in asserting their rights and obtaining necessary care could be critical to improving patient relationships and building advocacy skills. This evaluation will focus on two examples of advocating that I have observed in my nursing career.

Defending the rights of the patient

Nurses have a critical role in protecting patients’ rights. As a professional nurse, I am fully aware of my obligation to advocate for the interests of my patients. Among other things, I may demonstrate my commitment to activism by defending the rights of patients. On that subject, a nurse can assist a patient in protecting their rights if they fully grasp their tastes and any crucial information they have provided in legal agreements regarding their treatment. As a nurse in practice, I may be able to assist the patient by this situation by assisting them in explaining the course of action to a difficult friend or relative who may disagree with the wishes or makes the patient uncomfortable (Kazemnejad, A. 2019). As a second option, I can contact a family member and inform them of the patient’s condition. I may also assist the patient in communicating her therapy objectives to their medical social worker alongside other medical team members to ensure they comply with her preferences.

Patients are being taught to advocate for themselves.

As a working nurse, I am allowed to teach patients how to advocate for themselves. This is done so that whenever they require assistance later, another other than myself will be available. With the resources and tools that I can provide, they can gain the confidence to advocate for their own treatment. As a practicing nurse, I might promote self-advocacy in a variety of ways. The first strategy involves using a medical report to convey to patients the significance of a contemporary medical summary. Patients may also be offered the opportunity to read sample medical summaries as well as the informational items required to complete the summaries. It is possible to provide information on medical disorders, practitioners, medications with prescriptions, and allergies. The second way I may help patients advocate for the treatment they receive is to provide them with reliable medical knowledge so they can educate themself on various issues such as diagnosis, medicines, or therapies. The other option is to help them carefully select new physicians. This allows me to assist them in locating reliable physicians by recommending neighboring ones or additional physicians who can assist them. I may also offer a variety of strategies for reviewing new doctors to ensure they are the greatest choice.

I can also assist them by fostering effective communication. This includes emphasizing the importance of honest interactions with clinician (Abbasinia, M., Ahmadi, F., 2019). I can also teach them how to make requests for help, which is very useful when faced with communication obstacles, such as their need to summon an interpreter. Finally, if I may educate toddlers about their privileges, children will soon be able to detect when their needs for care are not met. As a result, individuals have the option of changing physicians or medical centers.

Overall, nurses play a vital advocacy role for their patients. They have a significant chance to support patients in getting high-quality treatment and teaching them how to advocate for themselves when it comes to health-related issues. To be successful in advocacy, nurses must have excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities. An advanced nursing degree or an online Master of Science in nursing can help them refine these talents.

References

Abbasinia, M., Ahmadi, F., & Kazemnejad, A. (2019). Patient advocacy in nursing: A concept analysis. Nursing Ethics, 27(1), 141–151. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733019832950

American Nurses Association. (2021). Nursing advocacy. American Nurses Association. practice-policy/advoc…Nursing Advocacy

Response #2

St Thomas University
NUR 506: Influencing Health Policy

There is a need for ethics in every aspect of our lives, including our careers. But for some professions, such as nursing, ethics are essential due to the life-and-death responsibilities of healthcare providers. It is not just patients affected by the decisions nurses make, but also their families, for the rest of their lives. Ethics is a vital part of the nursing profession. Nurses are expected to adhere to the ethical principles set forth by their professional organizations and those that govern the laws in their state. As per the (American Nurses Association, 2023), the nursing code of ethics “allows nurses to carry out their responsibilities in a manner consistent with ethical obligations and high standards of nursing care.” In my opinion veracity and accountability are very important when dealing with patient, my two examples are based on these aspects.
Nursing can be described as both an art and a science, a heart, and a mind. At its heart, lies a fundamental respect for human dignity and an intuition for a patient’s needs. This is supported by the mind, in the form of rigorous core learning. Due to the vast range of specialisms and complex skills in the nursing profession, each nurse will have specific strengths, passions, and expertise (World Health Organization, 2022). Advocacy in nursing practice refers to the nurse using their knowledge, skills, and experience to influence others to promote patient safety and quality care. There are many ways that a nurse can advocate for their patients. Advocacy is an important aspect of nursing practice as it involves representing the needs and interests of patients.
As a nurse, I advocate for my patients in many ways. One way I advocate is by providing them with information about their health and treatment options. I also advocate for my patients by remaining a constant source of support for them throughout their healthcare journey. An example of advocacy in my nursing practice is when I educate my patients about their health condition and treatment options. I believe that patients have a right to know about their health, and I work to ensure that they are well-informed before making any decisions about their care. Advanced knowledge about their healthcare can help patients make informed decisions about their care. Educating patients about their health can help them better understand their condition and can motivate them to manage their care more effectively (Hawaii Pacific University, 2021).
I also advocate for my patients by remaining a constant source of support for them. I offer them emotional support and guidance, and I am always available to answer their questions and address their concerns. Another example of advocacy in my nursing practice is when I work to ensure that my patients receive the best possible care. I do this by staying up to date on the latest evidence-based practices, and by advocating for my patients when they need it most. I’ve witnessed first-hand how important high-quality treatment is to patients’ well-being, and I’m dedicated to providing it to them. Advocacy is an important part of nursing, and I am proud to be a nurse who advocates for my patients. I believe that every patient has a right to quality care, and I will continue to advocate for my patients until they receive the care they deserve (American Nurses Association, 2023).
Another important aspect is Collaboration among healthcare team members, this is essential for providing high-quality care. Nurses advocate for their patients by working with other healthcare team members, including physicians, social workers, and pharmacists, to ensure that patients receive the care they need. Effective communication and collaboration among healthcare team members can help prevent medical errors and improve patient outcomes.
References
World Health Organization. (2022). Nursing and Midwifery. Www.who.int; World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/nursing#tab=tab_…
American Nurses Association. (2021). Nursing advocacy. American Nurses Association. practice-policy/advoc…
Hawaii Pacific University. (2021, September 14). Nursing Advocacy: The Role of Nurses Advocating for Patients. Hawaiʻi Pacific University Online. to an external site.
American Nurses Association. (2023). ANA Enterprise.
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