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Advocacy in nursing is essential in ensuring that patients receive the best possible care and that the nurses work in conducive environments. In this paper, two books, ‘Taking Action: Nurse in the Boardroom’ and ‘Taking Action: Nurse, Educator, and Legislator, My Journey to the Delaware Senate,” will be looked at in depth to find the driving forces and the challenges of advocacy. “Taking Action: Nurse in the Boardroom” is a book that highlights the role of nurses in healthcare leadership and advocacy.
In the book, the driver of the advocate refers to the motivation or the force that drives a nurse to become an advocate for their patients or the nursing profession as a whole. The advocate has several drivers, including a passion for nursing, a commitment to patient-centered care, and a desire to improve the healthcare system. Nurses driven by a passion for nursing may have a deep love for the profession and a craving to make a change in the lives of their patients.
Those committed to patient-centered care may be motivated to offer their patients with the best probable care and advocate for their needs and rights. Nurses who want to improve the healthcare system may be motivated by a desire to change how healthcare is delivered, promote patient safety, or increase access to care. Overall, the book highlights that advocacy can be driven by a passion for nursing, a commitment to patient-centered care, a desire to improve the healthcare system or a combination of these factors.
In “Taking Action: Nurse, Educator, and Legislator, My Journey to the Delaware Senate” by, the driver of the advocate is a passion for advocating for vulnerable populations, especially children, women, and the elderly (Hall-Long, 2018). Throughout the book, she shares her experiences as a nurse, educator, and advocate for healthcare policy and social justice issues. Her journey as a public servant and state senator was motivated by her desire to create positive change in the lives of those often marginalized or underserved. Overall, her passion for advocacy and her dedication to improving the well-being of her community were the driving forces behind her journey to the Delaware Senate.
In the same book, several factors led to her becoming a state senator. First off is their passion for Advocacy: As mentioned earlier, their passion for advocacy and her dedication to improving the well-being of her community were the driving forces behind her decision to become a senator. Secondly, nursing and Education Experience: Hall-Long’s extensive background as a nurse and educator gave her a unique perspective on healthcare and education policy issues. Her experience working in healthcare and education settings enabled her to identify system gaps and develop policy solutions that would benefit patients and students. Community Involvement was another essential factor. She was actively involved in her community and worked closely with local organizations to address social justice issues. Her community involvement helped her understand her constituents’ needs and develop policy solutions that would benefit them.
In the other book, ‘Taking Action: Nurses in the Board Room, the authors identified several factors that led to an individual becoming an advocate; first is personal experiences; they stated that the majority of nurses become advocates because they had personal experiences that inspired them to improve the health care system (Clark & Jones, 2010). For example, a nurse who has a family member with a chronic illness might become an advocate for better access to health care.
Secondly, there are professional values; nurses are trained to prioritize the patient’s needs and advocate for their well-being. As the book suggests, many nurses see advocacy as an extension of their professional values. Education and training, as in the other book, are other factors. Nurses who receive education in policy and advocacy are more likely to become advocates. This education can include public health, health policy, or leadership coursework. Also, nurses who hold leadership roles within their organizations are likelier to become advocates, as highlighted in the book. This is because they have a broader perspective on the healthcare system and may have more opportunities to influence policy decisions. Lastly is collaborating with others; nurses become advocates through collaboration with colleagues, community organizations, or other stakeholders. Working with others helps nurses build relationships and gain support for their advocacy efforts to others.
In both books, the individuals identified several challenges that affected nurses who aspired to be or are already advocates. First is the need for more awareness, a common challenge in the field. Most nurses need to be aware of what advocacy is all about or are completely unaware of how to go about the matter (Rabori, Deghan, & Nematollahi, 2019). This makes it difficult to gain support and persuade decision-makers no matter how good your intentions are. Secondly, both identified opposition and resistance. Being an advocate means rooting for one side of the party. It, therefore, means an advocate is likely to face opposition and resistance from groups with different perspectives or interests.
Third is limited resources, and in the nursing field, most resources are channeled toward the practical part, which is patient care. More attention should be paid to advocacy, especially policies that affect nurses and, thus, the limited resources. This fact makes it hard for nurses to train as advocates, as there needs to be more funding to carry out advocacy activities. Some issues may be complex and challenging to explain or understand, so sourcing for external help may be necessary to ease the process. With the problem of limited funds, this aspect may not be possible, thus affecting the advocacy process.
As observed in the book, ‘Taking Action: Nurse, Educator, and Legislator,’ political issues can hinder advocacy. These issues may be conflicting priorities or opposition from political leaders or institutions because these are very influential people and are key decision makers in most areas, including health care; not being on the same page as them could result in an excellent advocacy barrier, thus making it a challenging practice (Ulrich, Rushton & Christine, 2020). Lastly, and notably, there are legal or constitutional barriers. Some policies and laws already in place may be a significant barrier to advocacy, as seen in the books. Some issues may be limited by legal or institutional barriers, such as policies and laws that prevent change.
Having discussed the drivers of advocacy and its challenges, as described in the two books, it is concluded that advocacy is an essential aspect of nursing. Passion has been seen to be one of the strongest drivers to one becoming an advocate. For nurses, it is instilled in them to see that the patients and generally people in need of health care services receive the best of it. Consequently, while working as a nurse and noticing some discrepancies, a nurse will naturally advocate for a patient or a fellow healthcare provider.
However, as discussed, this action comes with challenges, mainly resistance and policies already established by institutions and the government. As an advocate, these are the same challenges that face today’s advocates. Having close to no support from the key decision-makers was highlighted in the books and is what is being experienced today by us as advocates. Additionally, the driving forces are similar; having started as a nurse and seen the problems faced by both patients and nurses, I have a passion for bringing back sanity in the healthcare system, which drove me to become an advocate.
Advocacy is essential for nurses as it involves promoting and protecting the well-being of patients and their families. With the changing trends in health care, it is vital to also gradually expand skills in advocacy. First, I will attend workshops and conferences to learn about the latest developments in nursing advocacy. These events will provide opportunities to network with other professionals and gain new insights into the field. Secondly, seeking mentorship from experienced nurses can help develop advocacy skills. Mentors can provide me with guidance and support, sharing their experiences and knowledge and helping to navigate complex situations.
Additionally, participating in nursing associations will provide me access to advocacy resources, training programs, and opportunities to engage in advocacy initiatives. Participating in these organizations can also help me connect with other professionals and stay current on industry trends. Pursue advanced education: Pursuing advanced education, such as a master’s degree in nursing, can help to develop leadership skills, critical thinking skills, and a deeper understanding of healthcare policy. These skills are essential for effective advocacy. Also, using social media platforms provides a powerful tool for advocacy. I can use these platforms to share information, engage with patients and families, and raise awareness of critical issues in healthcare. I am, lastly, engaging in community outreach initiatives, such as health fairs or public health campaigns, to raise awareness of healthcare issues and advocate for the needs of patients. By implementing these strategies, I can expand my advocacy skills and advocate more effectively for patients and families.
References
Clark, M & Jones, A. (2010). Taking Action: Nurses in the Board Room. Sigma Theta Thau International.
Hall-Long, B. (2018). Taing Action: Nurse, Educator and Legislator; My Journey to the Delaware Senate. University of Delaware Press.
Rabori, M., Dehghan, M & Nematollahi, M. (2019). Nursing students’ ethical challenges in the clinical settings: a mixed-method study. Nursing Ethics, 26(7-8), 1983-1991. Web.
Ulrich, M., Rushton, H., & Grady, C. (2020). Nurses confronting the coronavirus: challenges met and lessons learnt to date. Nursing Outlook, 69(6), 838-844. Web.
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