Nursing Advocacy -- an outsider's view

[Ado Annie, ASN, RN]

I apologize in advance for the fact that I'm jumping into a topic I know nothing about. (I'm a pre-nursing 2nd degree student) But I'm curious.

I've learned a lot from reading discussions on this group, and am continually amazed by what an awesome, intelligent, professional, and compassionate bunch of people you all are.

It just seems to me that there are things the public should know. If you want patients to understand the difference between an RN and a PCT, you need to educate them. If you want them to be aware of staffing shortages and the dangers thereof, you need to educate them. NOT when they're in the hospital, of course, but in a general sense.

It seems it would be a good use of money for either the professional organizations or the unions to produce advertising campaigns that communicate that basic kind of information, as well as trumpet what the profession is really all about, so that people don't think of you as the hospital's version of the wait-staff.

I see these kinds of things about doctors and hospitals. I can just visualize TV commercials, billboards, newspaper spreads... anything to talk up the profession (besides trying to recruit new nurses -- I've seen that, and it's not the same thing).

Again, sorry for butting in with my viewpoint... back to your regularly scheduled threads...

[Nemo0n]

Hello all,

I was wondering how registered nurses feel about the nurse -physician interaction on the role of nurses as patient advocates?

[RN1980]

i dont look at myself being the sole pt advocate..everyone in invovled with the care of that pt should be its advocate. i really dont know why the phrase seems to place a certain crown upon our heads as if we are the only person that should be the advocate. i know many providers of the pt care team (doc's,nurses,resp,radiology,pt,lab,dietary,ems etc..) that pride themselves on being a strong advocate. but to answer your question..i view the role should be a dual purpose situation. meaning both are advocates but yet have different responsibilities concerning the pt. ideally both should have good communication concerning the plan of care for the said pt. many nurses, myself included enjoy working with a doc who shows a sincere and honest advocacy for the pt and im sure it is the same for them in reverse aswell.

[herring_RN, ASN, BSN]

Before being licensed as a registered nurse I worked as a medical asststant, nursing assistant, and LVN. I had the moral and ethical obligation to advocate for patients and clients. As an RNs we have a legal obligation too.

My state Nursing Practice act requires registered nurses to act as the patient advocate, as circumstances require by initiating action to improve health care or to change decisions or activities which are against the interests or wishes of the patient, and by giving the patient

the opportunity to make informed decisions about health care before it is provided.

http://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/regulations/npr-i-20.pdf

[d'cm]

The OP makes an excellent point in calling for profession organizations to help educate in the public. Part of the problem is that there is no single voice of nursing or anything close to it. The Nursing Practice act may mandate patient advocacy but it has no teeth. No nurse is going to keep their job if their advocacy for a patient conflicts with the employer's interest.

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

I think the OP just hit a nail on the head. I can already picture in my mind some good Public Service Announcement TV spots!