Patient Advocacy at the APRN Level: A Direction for the Future

Abstract

Patient advocacy is seen as a critical role for the nursing profession. Although there is an existing body of literature surrounding the registered nurse level of patient advocacy, little is known about the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) and patient advocacy. This article examines the existing patient advocacy research literature and existing APRN competencies to provide direction for further research.

O exercício de advocacy no âmbito da enfermagem: uma análise filosófica gadameriana

“…A percepção do não reconhecimento da formação acadêmica com base no agir ético na defesa dos direitos do paciente emerge percepções de distanciamento entre a formação e a prática. Tal posicionamento é compreensível, ao observar o exercício de advocacy como uma ação moral ligada à prática profissional, ou seja, a situação concreta 15,16 . As situações práticas vivenciadas no exercício profissional exigem um posicionamento ético, que pode gerar medo e insegurança em enfermeiros com pouco tempo de formação 17 .…”

Perceived interpersonal and institutional challenges to patient advocacy in clinical nursing practice: a qualitative study from Ghana / Interpersonelle und institutionelle Herausforderungen für die Rolle als Patientenfürsprecher/-in aus Sicht der Pflege: eine qualitative Studie aus Ghana

“…The healthcare environment has become highly complex in recent decades, leaving some patients vulnerable, uninformed and intimidated; therefore, they often face difficulty in making decisions concerning their health. These patients often require an advocate to facilitate their care (Hanks et al, 2018). Nurses usually take on this role by explaining the policies and procedures to patients, mediating between them and other team members, helping them navigate healthcare systems and investigating their grievances (Clarke et al, 2015;Gerber, 2018;Hanks et al, 2018).…”

Understanding how advanced practice registered nurses function as patient advocates

“…Although patient advocacy has been seen as an integral part of nursing care, very few research studies have focused on advocacy at the advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) level of nursing practice . This manuscript describes the results of an exploratory pilot qualitative research study that begins to illuminate how patient advocacy is taught to and currently practiced by APRNs.…”

“…The discussion of APRN‐level patient advocacy is not limited to educational competencies and ethical codes. Grace and Hanks et al pointedly state that patient with APRN advocacy should be incorporated into practice. Even with the philosophical stance, that patient with APRN‐level advocacy is important, the actual published patient advocacy research regarding APRNs is sparse.…”

“…It should be noted there have been patient advocacy studies conducted that have helped to define and describe the patient advocacy role; however, the preponderance of the published research is based on RN samples or combined research samples that included several levels of nursing practice as noted in Hanks et al's review of the advocacy research literature. One article was found in the literature, authored by Sundqvist and Carlsson, in which a sample of Swedish nurse anesthetists was studied.…”