Nurses as Health Advocates

What does it take to be an effective health advocate? As a nurse, you have many opportunities to advocate for patients and populations, whether formally or informally. Being an advocate involves more than knowing how to lobby or to whom to write letters. It requires passion and compassion, commitment and courage.

In this Discussion, you will consider the attributes of an effective advocate for population health and/or the nursing profession. You will analyze those attributes that help nurses be a powerful force in improving the quality of health care.

To prepare:

• Review the article “On Being a Good Nurse: Reflections on the Past and Preparing for the Future” and “War, its aftermath, and U.S. health policy: Toward a comprehensive health program for America’s military personnel, veterans, and their families” found in this week’s Learning Resources.
• Consider the multiple health care needs of returning veterans and their families.

Post by Day 3 two types of health needs returning veterans and their families might need. Identify two types of health needs returning veterans and their families might need. How might you advocate for the needs of this population. What type of advocacy skills would you need and how could you develop them. What responsibility does a nurse have to be an advocate? Give specific examples.

Required Resources

Readings

• Milstead, J. A. (2013). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
  • Chapter 3, “Government Response: Legislation—Politics: Playing the Game” (pp. 45–71) (review) 
    
    
    
    This chapter explores the multiple factors that influence the development of public policy through the legislative branch of government.
  • Chapter 9, “Policy Nurses Advance Policy Agendas in Many Arenas” (pp. 179–189)
    
    
    
    The focus of this chapter is the role of policy nurses within nurse associations and it highlights specific organization that specifically deal with policy nurses and advocacy.
• Begley, A. (2010). On being a good nurse: Reflections on the past and preparing for the future. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 16(6), 525–532. 
  
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
  
  
  
  In this article, the author reflects on the qualities of a good nurse in both the past and present. The article presents a 4-point framework that exemplifies the foundational qualities of modern professional ethics and conduct.
• Davis-Alldritt, L. (2011). Presidential inaugural address: Advocacy, access, and achievement. Journal of School Nursing, 27(4), 249–251. 
  
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. 
  
  
  
  This address explicates links between school nursing, school health services, and student success. The author uses personal anecdotes to teach lessons in advocacy, access, and achievement.
• Deyton, L., Hess, W. J., & Jackonis, M. J. (2008, Winter). War, its aftermath, and U.S. health policy: Toward a comprehensive health program for America’s military personnel, veterans, and their families. Journal of Law, Medicine, & Ethics, 36(4), 677-689.
  
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
• Karpf, T., Ferguson, J. T., & Swift, R. (2010). Light still shines in the darkness: Decent care for all. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 28(4), 266–274. 
  
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
  
  
  
  This article details the challenges of health care crises at the global, national, and local levels. The text proposes a values-based approach to health care that takes into account the voices of the population being served, rather than excluding them.
• Paquin, S. O. (2011). Social justice advocacy in nursing: What is it? How do we get there? Creative Nursing, 17(2), 63–67. 
  
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. 
  
  
  
  This text defines social justice advocacy and contrasts it to the patient-nurse advocacy model. The article also discusses social justice advocacy’s challenges and their potential solutions.
• International Council of Nurses. (2008). Promoting health: Advocacy guide for health professionals. Retrieved from http://www.whpa.org/PPE_Advocacy_Guide.pdf
  
  
  
  This web resource documents the efforts of the International Council of Nurses to ensure quality nursing care for all, as well as sound health policies globally through the advancement of nursing knowledge and presence worldwide.
• Vancouver Coastal Health. (n.d.). Vancouver Coastal Health Population Health: Advocacy guidelines and resources. Retrieved from http://www.vch.ca/media/Population Health_Advocacy Guideline and Resources.pdf
  
  
  
  This article presents guidelines, parameters, and resources for conducting population health advocacy.

Media

• Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012g). The needle exchange program. Baltimore, MD: Author. 
  
  
  
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 14 minutes.