Patient Advocacy Research Paper

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Patient Advocates and Medical Mediators Patricia Fijak University of Southern Maine NUR 200, Introduction to Professional Nursing for Advanced Students December 1, 2015 Patient Advocates and Medical Mediators Advocacy has become a prominent topic in healthcare with the increasing challenges faced by all healthcare professionals. Advocacy is defined as the act of pleading for, supporting, or recommending; active support. Nursing advocacy is defined as communication with and informing patients, protecting patients, speaking out for patients and building relationships with patients. (Ronnebaum & Schmer, 2015) Nurses are the frontline advocates for patients in terms of informing, educating, supplying, and caring. As an advocate, the nurse’s job…show more content…
With the increasing challenge for patients to understand and comprehend the importance of their healthcare, patients are looking to the frontline of healthcare. In order for nurses to be successful when it comes to advocating, trust needs to be established as well as the desire to be culturally aware, recognize needs, preferences, and encourage patients to participate in decision making. With that being said, patients need to be equipped with all the tools and resources necessary to make those decisions. At times, the nurse may be needed for more than just a resource. Above all, the nurse is expected to respect the patient’s ability to make decisions, value patient care, and assist; the common bond in the nurse-patient relationship. Ultimately, it is important that nurses be aware of which patients need advocacy, what the best interest of the patient is, and what actions are needed and when. (Ronnebaum & Schmer…show more content…
The focus is to improve health outcomes and individualize care. Nurses as we know them hear patients concerns, needs, goals, and beliefs. Aside from the usual, the role of the nurse is to present options, interventions, procedures, treatment, and establish or clarify goals. Education serves as the foundation for patient care and advocacy. For example, the doctor tells the patient "you need to be up and moving as soon as possible after your surgery. I want you on a walker and walking as much as you can stand, okay?" Patient confesses to the nurse "Man, this hurts. I can't walk like he says..." The nurse responses: "I know it hurts, and I can talk to Dr. Green if you need help with managing the pain. But the reason for staying mobile is to prevent blood clots that could form as a result of your hip replacement. We want you around for a good long time, so you need to do the best you can to follow his instructions" Nurses are leaders in providing education, understanding, and teaching. A common feeling for patients is a sense of powerlessness, in order to optimize patient care nurse’s need to be able to recognize situations that require clarification and be

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