The Nurse as Tireless Patient Advocate

As highly respected healthcare professionals who often go above and beyond the call of duty, nurses are natural patient advocates. The nursing process may begin with assessment, but where the rubber hits the road is when nurses go to bat for their patients to make sure they receive the best possible care when they need it most.                                                    Photo by @sjobjio on Unsplash.com  Protecting the vulnerableWhat does patient advocacy really mean? Our patients may be defenseless children, impoverished single mothers, or chronically mentally ill adults. From neglected seniors to isolated combat veterans with PTSD, patients often need nurses to be their voice and speak up when we see injustice, unfairness, and poor care.  Patients are vulnerable. They may be diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses; weak from post-anesthesia recovery and pain; faced with homelessness and hunger; or be victims of violence, trafficking, or exploitation. Patient vulnerability comes in many flavors, and all deserve nurse advocacy.  When a physician and a crowd of medical residents stand over a patient ’s bed, speak in medical jargon, and act as if the patient isn’t a real live hum...
Source: Digital Doorway - Category: Nursing Source Type: blogs