Nursing Advocacy Overview

Nursing Advocacy: A Summary

• Nursing advocacy is about protecting and promoting the health and rights of patients, families, and communities. Nurses use their unique position to influence healthcare policy and practice.

Early Nursing Advocacy

• Florence Nightingale significantly impacted public health and nursing practice.
• Early Canadian nurses championed better sanitation and healthcare conditions.

CNA and Nursing Advocacy

• Professional organizations (like the CNA) promote nursing standards and influence policies.

Patient Advocacy

• Nurses ensure patients' rights are upheld.
• Nurses provide a voice for vulnerable patients, address ethical concerns, and promote patient safety and decision-making.
• High-quality care and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams are crucial.

Policy Advocacy

• Nurses impact healthcare policies at local, provincial, and national levels.
• Nurses promote health equity by addressing social determinants of health and supporting marginalized communities.

Nurse Advocacy Strategies

• Patient-centered care: Treatment plans should align with patient values.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration is key for holistic care.
• Policy engagement: Nurses participate in policy development through professional organizations and political advocacy.
• Education and awareness: Nurses educate patients and the public about healthcare issues, promoting awareness of health inequities (e.g., mental health access)

Barriers to Effective Advocacy

• Systemic barriers: heavy workloads, insufficient staffing, limited resources.
• Professional barriers: fear of retaliation or job insecurity, hierarchical structures.
• Cultural barriers: cultural competence challenges.

Overcoming Barriers

• Strengthen nurses' voices through leadership skills development, alliances with other professionals, and support from professional organizations (e.g., CNA and provincial nursing associations).
• Advocate for self-care to avoid burnout and effectively advocate for patients.

Advocacy Tools & Student Engagement

• Develop communication skills.
• Engage in policy advocacy.
• Conduct nursing research.
• Volunteer in community health initiatives.

Relational Inquiry in Nursing Advocacy

• Relational inquiry emphasizes understanding the patient as a whole person with unique experiences. This deepens empathy and promotes effective advocacy, recognizing patient autonomy, presence, and needs.
• It's about advocating for essential resources, social support, and care environments for improved overall well-being.
• Relational inquiry challenges power imbalances in healthcare and amplifies patient voices, promoting equity in health outcomes.

Impact of Nursing Advocacy

• Improved patient outcomes: better quality of care and patient satisfaction.
• Shaping health care policy: influencing legislative decisions that affect the system.
• Improved work environments: safer practices, better conditions, and support for healthcare professionals.

CNA's Role in Advocacy

• Promote nursing standards: advance nursing education, practice, and ethics.
• Advocate for health policy change: participate in national discussions about healthcare reform, emphasizing an equitable health care system.

Future of Nursing Advocacy in Canada

• Increased recognition of nurses' roles in policy, social justice, and global health.
• Continued focus on advocating for health equity, particularly for marginalized groups (Indigenous, refugees, low-income).

Explore the vital role of nursing advocacy in promoting health and rights for patients, families, and communities. Learn about historical figures like Florence Nightingale and the influence of professional organizations such as the CNA. This quiz covers critical aspects of patient advocacy and the impact of nurses on healthcare policies.