Aim To provide Registered Nurses description of patient advocacy in the clinical setting. Design A qualitative approach with descriptive study design was used to meet the set objective. Methods Purposive sampling was used to select the study participants. Through semi‐structured interview, data were collected from 25 participants, transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results The Registered Nurses described patient advocacy as promoting patient safety and quality care which includes the following: protecting patients, being patients' voice, provision of quality care and interpersonal relationship as well as educating patients. The nurses had adequate understanding of patient advocacy and were willing to advocate for patients. There is, however, a need to research into barriers to patient advocacy in the clinical setting. This study made significant contribution to the understanding of patient advocacy and its positive effect on the provision of quality patient care.

Aim To explore barriers to practicing patient advocacy in healthcare setting. Design This study used a qualitative research approach to arrive at the study result. Methods Twenty‐five Registered Nurses were purposively selected. Semi‐structured interviews were used to collect data and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results The main theme identified was lack of cooperation between healthcare team, care recipients and the health institution which included the health institution and work environment, ineffective communication and interpersonal relationship, patients' family, religious and cultural beliefs. Unsuccessful advocacy resulted in increased complications, death, negative consequence on the health institution and nursing as a profession. This study has significantly created awareness of the need for an improved patient advocacy to enhance the quality and safety in the care of patients.

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