Nurse Advocates: Past, Present, and Future

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Overview and Summary: Nurse Advocates: Past, Present, and Future

OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 17, No. 1

January 31, 2012

Kathleen D. Sanford, DBA, RN, CENP, FACHE

..To many people advocacy appears to primarily refer to attempts to influence public policy or resource allocation through the political process. To others it's about gaining rights for certain groups. In some countries, such as Scotland and India, advocate is a synonym for professional lawyer.

In the following collection of articles, the word is a synonym for professional nurse. The authors featured in this issue share their ideas about the responsibility and privilege nurses have to advocate for our patients, as specific persons and as populations, and for our profession as a whole. Each addresses advocacy from a different point of view, but all offer thoughtful and broad discussions of what we can, and must, do as advocates who will work to improve healthcare across the continuum, for everyone.

The Voice of Florence Nightingale on Advocacy

Patient Advocacy in the Community and Legislative Arenas

Role of Professional Organizations in Advocating for the Nursing Profession

Advocating for Nurses and Nursing

Advocating Globally To Shape Policy and Strengthen Nursing's Influence

[tewdles, RN]

I love the patient advocacy of nursing. It is a large part of what gives me pleasure about my work.

[LindaBright, MSN]

I think the various roles of advocacy in nursing are fascinating - from patients to healthcare concerns and beyond. We are not only great advocates for our patients, but, also, for ourselves and the entire profession of nursing. That's pretty awesome :)

[amygarside]

Being an advocate makes me proud to be a nurse.