Introduction
Nursing advocacy is an element of professional nursing ethics, it is important that the nurse is the primary of contact between the patient and the doctor. The meaning of advocacy is recognized as a task of the professional nurse and as a basic aspect of good care (Ezeonwu, 2015).
First, the goal of the advocate is to inform, enhance independence, and respect the decision of the patient. In addition, advocates are the middleman between the healthcare system and the patient. Next, advocacy is guided by the nurse’s code of ethics. These codes impact the profession, in which are principles that are created for the relationship between the nurse and the patient (Hanks, 2008). Lastly, advocacy is the area of patients’ rights and …show more content…
Nurses are the ones who serve as their patients’ voice in conditions that may affect the patient’s life significantly. For instance, it is mandatory that during each advanced and complex procedures, an informed consent is required. During these instances are when the nurses can act as an advocate for their patients who may have some difficulties understanding what is going on. Patients who are in the hospital may have some confusion due to medication side effect, prolonged hospital stays, sensory deprivation, and most importantly language barriers. For example, a patient with language barrier is about to go on a surgery for appendectomy. The doctor is talking to the patient as if the patient is fully understanding everything that the doctor is saying about the surgery including its risks, advantages, as well as the patient’s right to say no to the procedures. The doctor is not aware that the patient is having difficulty with understanding the English language and asks the patient to sign the informed consent. This is when the nurse should interrupt the doctor and serve as the patient’s voice. Since the patient is not an English speaker, it is the patient’s right to have an interpreter to interpret everything the doctor said until the patient will have a full understanding about the procedure. The nurse as an advocate is the one who will protect the patient by delaying the signing of consent until the …show more content…
Whether the abused is an older adult, child, women, or men it is mandatory for nurses to report any signs of abuse. It is also a legal and ethical action for nurses to protect their patients from abusers whether it is a family member or a part of the health care team. This means that nurses have the power to advocate and speak up on behalf of their patient to prevent abuse. In fact, nurses should be able to report concerns to the appropriate management to ensure that abusive practices are not taking place (Jenskins, 2012, p.
Nursing advocacy is an element of professional nursing ethics, it is important that the nurse is the primary of contact between the patient and the doctor. The meaning of advocacy is recognized as a task of the professional nurse and as a basic aspect of good care (Ezeonwu, 2015).
First, the goal of the advocate is to inform, enhance independence, and respect the decision of the patient. In addition, advocates are the middleman between the healthcare system and the patient. Next, advocacy is guided by the nurse’s code of ethics. These codes impact the profession, in which are principles that are created for the relationship between the nurse and the patient (Hanks, 2008). Lastly, advocacy is the area of patients’ rights and …show more content…
Nurses are the ones who serve as their patients’ voice in conditions that may affect the patient’s life significantly. For instance, it is mandatory that during each advanced and complex procedures, an informed consent is required. During these instances are when the nurses can act as an advocate for their patients who may have some difficulties understanding what is going on. Patients who are in the hospital may have some confusion due to medication side effect, prolonged hospital stays, sensory deprivation, and most importantly language barriers. For example, a patient with language barrier is about to go on a surgery for appendectomy. The doctor is talking to the patient as if the patient is fully understanding everything that the doctor is saying about the surgery including its risks, advantages, as well as the patient’s right to say no to the procedures. The doctor is not aware that the patient is having difficulty with understanding the English language and asks the patient to sign the informed consent. This is when the nurse should interrupt the doctor and serve as the patient’s voice. Since the patient is not an English speaker, it is the patient’s right to have an interpreter to interpret everything the doctor said until the patient will have a full understanding about the procedure. The nurse as an advocate is the one who will protect the patient by delaying the signing of consent until the …show more content…
Whether the abused is an older adult, child, women, or men it is mandatory for nurses to report any signs of abuse. It is also a legal and ethical action for nurses to protect their patients from abusers whether it is a family member or a part of the health care team. This means that nurses have the power to advocate and speak up on behalf of their patient to prevent abuse. In fact, nurses should be able to report concerns to the appropriate management to ensure that abusive practices are not taking place (Jenskins, 2012, p.