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Monday, 31 October 2011: 3:55 PM
Learning Objective 1: Discuss the role of nurse advocate in global health care environment.
Learning Objective 2: List three attributes associated with nursing advocacy in the 21st century.
Complexity of health care environment compounds the difficulty patients face with access and understanding. Nurses have been entrusted with advocating for the patient within a clinical role. Many times this role is in conflict with the health care organization and employee position. As global health expands, nurses in other cultures and countries may have minimal autonomy to assume an effective nurse advocate role. The purpose of this study was to define the characteristics associated with the nurse as advocate. This study used a mixed method design. Attributes of nursing advocacy were identified from a review of literature. A web-based survey using Video scenarios was administered to participants using a five-point Likert scale as well as an open-ended questionnaire. The results of the study revealed characteristics and competencies necessary for a nurse advocate. The major emergent theme was the need for independence from the health care system to execute the role in practice. Vulnerable populations and cultural understandings were identified as areas needing nursing advocates along with navigation within the changing health care environment. The nurse advocate is the link that connects people with the health care environment. The findings of this study will contribute to the development of core competencies and role definition for the nurse in the advocate role. Future studies need to be conducted to explore the full array of advocacy opportunities for nursing.
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