Nurses as Patient Advocates in Oncology Care

Abstract

This article will explore oncology nurses' patient advocacy activities and compare those activities with patient advocacy activities defined in an earlier study by the authors. Data were collected from 42 English-language peer-reviewed articles published from 2000-2010. Search terms used included cancer care and advocacy and oncology nursing and advocacy. According to the findings of the reviewed articles, oncology nurses promote the interests of their patients by analyzing patients' psychosocial and physical distress and care plans, particularly at the beginning of the illness trajectory. Oncology nurses also are instructed in the literature to educate patients about cancer management prior to the first treatment and during cancer management to promote informed consent, but not to analyze patients' information or self-determination preferences. Oncology nurses do, however, advocate for their patients by presenting and raising awareness of patients' needs and preferences in regard to the healthcare system. To some degree, this advocacy can be seen as responding to patients' care and self-determination preferences. Oncology nurses' patient advocacy activities are similar to advocacy activities defined in the context of procedural pain care but are more focused on the beginning of the illness trajectory. However, care and self-determination needs, information needs, and advocacy needs of patients with cancer vary during the illness trajectory. Those needs should be analyzed and responded to systematically.

The role of patient and physician advocacy in reducing wait times for cancer care: a qualitative analysis

“…The willingness of health care professionals to assume the advocate role underscores the importance of insider knowledge of how the system works and its potential pitfalls. 8,25,26 The actions of physicians described by our participants are consistent with descriptions of the health advocate competency 9,11 and illustrate how this role influences the quality and timeliness of patient care. Providing physicians with practical tips to help patients navigate the system is 1 way to ensure that physicians can fulfill the health advocate role.…”

Perspectives on Self-Advocacy: Comparing Perceived Uses, Benefits, and Drawbacks Among Survivors and Providers

“…The authors’ finding that survivors endorsed self-advocacy as a way to manage their treatment reflects national trends of cancer survivors’ desires to be involved throughout their cancer care experience (Chewning et al, 2012; Say, Murtagh, & Thomson, 2006). Although providers in the current study reported overall positive views of survivor self-advocacy, research has demonstrated that nurses, social workers, and other clinicians frequently report barriers to advocating for survivors, including lack of professional skill, not being eager to engage in advocacy, and lack of institutional support (Jansson, Nyamathi, Heidemann, Duan, & Kaplan, 2015; Vaartio-Rajalin & Leino-Kilpi, 2011). These barriers are analogous to those reflected in the current study, including concerns about the ability to answer questions and develop treatment plans, both of which require refined skill and dedicated effort on the part of providers.…”

Le sens de la vocation d’infirmière en oncologie : s’investir pour aider vraiment

“…La défense des droits des patients, comme l'ont décrit Bu et Jezewski (2007), est « un processus ou une stratégie qui consiste en une série de mesures précises visant à pré-server, à représenter ou à protéger les droits des patients, leur meilleur intérêt et leurs valeurs dans le système de soins de santé » (p. 104, traduction). Les travaux de recherche examinant la défense des droits des patients dans le domaine des soins infirmiers en oncologie ont relevé trois activités globales de protection : l'analyse, le conseil et l'intervention (VaartioRajalin et Leino-Kilpi, 2011). Dans cette étude, la défense des droits est ressortie comme un rôle clé en matière de soins infirmiers du fait que les infirmières sont plus en contact que tout autre membre de l'équipe soignante avec les patients.…”