The Advocate's Role in Nursing

Questions and Answers

What does an advocate nurse provide to patients?

Information needed to make informed healthcare decisions and supports patients’ right to decide.

What is the nurse's role when a patient makes a decision contrary to the PCP's recommendation?

To leave the decision up to the patient

To mediate further conversation between the patient and PCP (correct)

To ignore the patient's choice

To force the patient to follow the PCP's advice

What has been debated historically regarding patient advocacy?

Whether advocacy means supporting any healthcare decision regardless of its rationality.

What fundamental question did Hyland raise about nurses as patient advocates?

Whether nurses have a unique right to assume a position as a patient advocate. Signup and view all the answers

What theory is considered the 'gold standard' for patient advocacy?

Bu and Jezewski's mid-range theory of patient advocacy. Signup and view all the answers

What is the overall goal of patient advocacy?

To create an environment where patients can exercise their right to decide and protect those rights. Signup and view all the answers

Match the broad core attributes of advocacy with their descriptions:

Safeguarding patients' autonomy = Respecting and promoting self-determination Acting on behalf of patients = Intervening when patients are unable to represent themselves Championing social justice = Ensuring equity in healthcare provision Signup and view all the answers

What is required for safeguarding patients' autonomy?

Respecting and promoting each patient's right to self-determination. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two assumptions for a patient to exercise autonomy?

The patient has primary responsibility for their health and is legally competent to make healthcare decisions. Signup and view all the answers

What actions are examples of effective nursing that safeguards patients' autonomy?

Encouraging patients to share their goals, supporting their values, and providing sufficient information. Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes the second core attribute of the nurse-advocate?

Acting on behalf of patients. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Advocate's Role in Nursing

Nurses act as advocates by providing patients the necessary information to make informed healthcare choices and supporting their autonomy.
Shared decision-making between patients and primary care providers (PCPs) is the ideal model for medical treatment.

Mediating Decisions

When patients choose options contrary to PCP recommendations, nurses facilitate dialogue to ensure informed consent.
Nurse advocates aim to remain objective, respecting patient choices regardless of personal beliefs, avoiding approval or disapproval.

Historical Context of Advocacy

Ongoing discourse questions whether advocacy includes supporting all patient decisions, irrespective of their rationality or available resources.
Discussions also ponder the potential for advocacy to clash with patient autonomy and whether nurses are uniquely positioned to safeguard patient rights.

Hyland's Inquiry

Hyland questioned the legitimacy of nurses’ special role as patient advocates amidst various healthcare professionals.

Bu and Jezewski's Theory

The mid-range theory by Bu and Jezewski is regarded as the "gold standard" for defining patient advocacy in nursing.
It outlines advocacy as a process that encompasses actions to protect and promote patients' rights and interests within the healthcare system.

Goals of Patient Advocacy

Advocacy aims to foster environments where patients can exercise their decision-making rights while safeguarding those rights across different settings.
The complexity of healthcare and legal systems necessitates individualized advocacy strategies tailored to each patient's context.

Core Attributes of Advocacy

Three foundational attributes of advocacy:
- Protecting patients' autonomy
- Acting on behalf of patients when necessary
- Championing social justice within healthcare provision

Safeguarding Autonomy

Respecting patient self-determination is crucial, except when patients are deemed incompetent or opt out of decision-making involvement.

Promoting Decision-Making Ability

Advocacy actions should promote and respect patients' abilities to make healthcare decisions effectively.

Assumptions for Autonomy

Two key assumptions for patient autonomy:
- Patients are primarily responsible for their health and decisions.
- Patients must be legally competent to make healthcare decisions, necessitating sufficient information for informed choices.

Effective Nursing Actions

Effective advocacy includes:
- Encouraging documentation of patient goals, preferences, and beliefs.
- Supporting patient values, even if they conflict with those of healthcare providers.
- Ensuring timely, comprehensible information aligns with patients’ health literacy for informed decision-making.

Acting on Behalf of Patients

The second core attribute involves intervening for patients unable or unwilling to advocate for themselves effectively.

Description

This quiz explores the critical role of nurses as advocates for patient decision-making in healthcare. It focuses on how nurses provide information to patients and facilitate conversations between patients and primary care providers (PCP). Test your understanding of advocacy in nursing practice.