Quick Chats: Important Aspects of Patient Advocacy

What is patient advocacy? In this Ausmed Quick Chat, Liz Crocker explains the important role that is patient advocacy. Advocating for patients (and, by extension, their families) in an intrinsic aspect of providing healthcare. Embedded in the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency's (AHPRA) Registered Nurse Standards for Practice are the words '[a nurse] advocates on behalf of people in a manner that respects the person’s autonomy and legal perspective' (Standard 2.5). The International Council of Nurses' Code of Ethics also states that ‘the nurse advocates for equity and social justice in resource allocation, access to health care and other social-economic services.'. The proactive nature of advocacy requires nurses to have knowledge and insight into what could be improved or corrected before it becomes problematic. Learning the skills of advocacy, including the need for navigating complex fragmented health systems, as well as exercising moral courage, are essential.