Advocacy

Examples of client advocacy include:

-Representing the client's needs and wishes to other healthcare professionals
-Helping clients exercise their rights, such as by encouraging clients to become a collaborative member of the healthcare team so that they may speak for themselves.

Clients that may require an advocate

Have lower literacy levels
Are non-English speaking
Are very ill or in pain
Have low income levels
children and families
older adults
mental illness

The Nurse as Advocate

-are morally obligated to act as advocates for all clients, particularly those who cannot advocate for themselves, whether the nurse is on or off duty
-both teacher and advocate by informing clients of their rights.
-Provides clients with the information

Skills of the nurse to be effective advocate include:

-Assertiveness
-A recognition that the rights and values of clients and families must take precedence when they conflict with those of healthcare providers
-An awareness that conflicts may arise over issues that require consultation, confrontation, or neg

The nurse may need to advocate for clients in the following areas:

-Promoting health, such as by ensuring good nutrition, suggesting immunizations, and helping with stress management
-Ensuring safety, such as by assessing for abuse and neglect, preventing accidents, and being aware of community resources
-Participating o

advocate for children and family considerations

Needs of the child and family
Family's resources
Available healthcare options

interventions for children and family

-Assisting the family and child to make informed decisions
-Acting in the child's best interest
-Providing adequate, age-appropriate information about treatment options
-Taking action related to any potential or actual incidents of incompetent, unethical,

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990

which extends federal protection to individuals with physical and/or mental health disabilities for access to public services, employment, and benefits

The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) of 1991

which protects the rights of clients to accept or reject aspects of their medical care

behaviors that should be avoided

-Supplying clients with drugs or alcohol in return for favors
-Making privileges contingent on favors from clients
-Slapping and kicking clients
-Using restraints when other, less intrusive alternatives are available
-Verbally harassing clients
-Threateni

Assessing for avocation needs

-Client's ability to cooperate and make decisions
-Reliability of information provided by the client, especially if the client exhibits impairment of cognitive function or mental instability
-Client's medical history and family situation

interventions may include

-Educating clients and their families about their legal rights
-Monitoring treatment planning and delivery of service for the abuse of client rights
-Evaluating policies and procedures regarding infringement of client rights
-Ensuring that clients have th

Empowerment

-empowering relationship includes mutual respect, trust, and confidence in the other's abilities and motives.
-Nurses advocate for clients in order to protect their rights and empower them to participate in making informed healthcare decisions.

Enabling

facilitating the other's passage through life transitions and unfamiliar events."
Coaching
Informing
Explaining
Assisting
Guiding
Focusing
Validating

four dimensions of advocacy

Being a client advocate
Following through or following up
Providing resources
Going above and beyond

Educating Providers and Others

-the nurse advocates for clients and vulnerable populations because of a knowledge deficit on the part of the healthcare provider
-Advocacy in this situation involves educating healthcare providers so that they are able to provide appropriate care to thei

Professional & Public Domains

-promote and effect change
-should understand the ethical issues in nursing and health care, and know the state and federal laws and regulations that affect nursing practice and the health of society.

Professional & Public Domains interventions

-Speak publicly for the health, welfare, and safety of their clients
-Take steps to protect client rights
-Inform the public about issues and concerns through articles and other media
-Lobby their congressional representatives on behalf of better health c

Illegal, Immoral, or Unethical Activities of Professionals

-legal responsibility to report other professionals suspected of engaging in illegal, immoral, or unethical activities by following established procedures at the facility of employment.
-seek the guidance of the state board of nursing or the American Nurs