This patient was due for discharge in the coming days so this was concerning for me. Students and new nurses are excited about the profession they have chosen. Advocating for the patient, therefore, means defending patients' right, meeting patients' needs and protecting the patient from injuries both present and anticipated, negative actions and inactions of relatives, colleague nurses, physicians and other healthcare professional that might not promote safety and quick recovery of the patient. Nursing students can be hesitant to speak up about situations that should be addressed. According to Nursejournal.org, there is no certification specific for a Nurse advocate, although more and more programs are being developed. Advocating for patients is a vital part of the Nursing role and we can see advocacy in the NMC code in various different guises (see 3.4, 4.1, 8.6, 8.7 & 9.3). When it comes to patient care, nurses consistently play the role of advocate as they support each patient’s emotional well-being, contribute to the healing process and speak on their patients’ behalf. There's no better feeling than advocating for your patient and seeing the sincere look of appreciation on his or her face. The ideas expressed in this blog are the personal views of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the university. Nurses advocating for patients, a tenet of professional practice, can be exhibited in different ways. Only upon writing this have I realised just how many units of study went into this encounter; Communications, Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmacology, Applied Pharmacology, Nursing Therapeutics, Recovery focused care and Medicines Management all informed my actions in this case. Nursing leaders can advocate for staff by actively involving staff in decisions that directly affect the practice environment. Nurses can act as mediators between patients and doctors who may have overlooked certain patient needs or solutions. I asked the patient if he was happy for me to discuss this with his doctors and a specialist continence nurse to see if something could be done to help either reduce this frequency or make provisions for his discharge so he isn’t at an increased falls risk, he agreed and I approached his doctor. This project was funded by the Learning Enrichment Fund. Why do nurses sometimes fail to advocate on behalf of patients whose best interests are being compromised? This also takes a pinch of courage to have confidence in your instincts and “back yourself” as we say on the Rugby pitch. By Barb Brady MNA Communications Specialist More than 500 student nurses from schools throughout Minnesota learned the importance of advocating for patients at the bedside and in the public arena at MNA’s Student Day on the Hill on April 4. Are you a MNA Member with something to say? Marquis & Huston (2009) note that each encounter that the nurse has with his patient presents an opportunity for the nurse to serve as the advocate for the patient. Marquis & Huston (2009) note that each encounter that the nurse has with his patient presents an opportunity for the nurse to serve as the advocate for the patient. By Barb Brady MNA Communications Specialist More than 500 student nurses from schools throughout Minnesota learned the importance of advocating for patients at the bedside and in the public arena at MNA’s Student Day on the Hill on April 4. Modeling positive professional behaviors and helping those new to the profession to acquire these behaviors is a form of advocacy. “As nurses, patient advocacy also means being engaged in the discussion of healthcare’s future and using our voice to guide the decisions that will impact the future of patient care,” Cain said. Many nurses think of advocacy as the most important role we play in patient care. Nurses can respect patients by not talking down to them, literally or figuratively. Last week while assisting a patient with his wash (which is often a time when I learn the most about a patient) he told me he hadn’t slept well that evening as he had visited the bathroom over 10 times in the night. Student nurses said afterward they found the day a rewarding experience and were excited to go out and advocate for patients and the nursing profession! Video Blog: I Signed the MNA-backed Solidarity Statement. While they don’t leap tall buildings or race speeding bullets, these caregivers seek justice for their patients. Not long after this, the same doctor stopped me and said he had written a letter to the patient’s GP to recommend reducing his diuretics in the community and observe his response. Busloads of student nurses then traveled to the Minnesota Capitol to speak to their elected officials about critical issues. When it comes to privacy, nurses can discuss private matters discreetly. What does a patient advocate nurse look like? Reflecting on this scenario I am really pleased with the outcomes we achieved. Nurse patient advocacy also includes speaking up while serving on committees or councils to solve problems and ensure patients receive the best care possible. Nurses serve as patients advocate by advocating improved health care practices that relate to control of infections and patient care environments as well as access to care. He also suggested trialling Oxybutynin. The Nursing and Midwifery Code states it is the responsibility of nurses to “act as an advocate for the vulnerable, challenging poor practice and discriminatory attitudes and behaviour relating to their care” (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2015). Not only was the gentleman’s GP made aware of our concerns and recommendations but I managed to speak to the Trust’s continence specialist nurse and get her recommendations for interim provisions to help the patient transition into community. This advocacy can include actions both to ensure appropriate resource allocation and to promote positive work environments.Advocacy for Appropriate ResourcesToday’s work environment is increasingly stressful, and competition for resources is keen. I have often found, our position as Student Nurses affords us a certain advantage when it comes to patient’s openness right from day 1. He felt changing his medications the day before discharge might impact on his fitness for discharge.