Nursing and advocacy in health: An integrative review

Abstract

Background The practice of health advocacy in nursing has been defined as a process aimed at promoting the independence and autonomy of users of health services, in addition to providing information on healthcare decision-making and offering support for decisions taken. Ethical considerations Ethics approval was not required to conduct this review. Aim This integrative review aims to synthesize evidence in the literature on health advocacy in professional nursing practice. Methods An integrative review methodology guided by Whittemore and Knalf was used. Studies were identified by conducting searches on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and LILACS databases. Of 2179 records, 34 studies matched the inclusion criteria. Results The main aspects involved in the practice of health advocacy by professional nurses are related to the ethical principles of the nursing profession, such as protecting patients seeking autonomy and care. Furthermore, the practice of health advocacy by nurses requires an empathetic attitude, responsibility, and assertive communication. Conclusion The diverse possibilities for the practice of advocacy synthesized in this study allow nurses to approach and become familiarized with the topic, being able to acquire and complement knowledge that will reflect on their professional practice in different work environments such as the educational field, in hospital practice, or basic health care.

Establishing the concept of advocacy for nursing home residents with dementia by nurses using a hybrid model: Making a weak but strong life

“…This study found that nurses' advocacy for NH residents with dementia was based on attributes of the relational dimension between patients and nurses. Previous studies have revealed that trust and relationships are important in advocating for a target [44,45]. However, this study con rmed that the advocacy of patients with dementia is possible only when the relational dimension is premised.…”

Exploring the impact of the COVID‐19 environment on nursing delivery of family‐centred care in a paediatric hospital

“…One aspect of the nurses' experience of providing FCC during the COVID‐19 pandemic that has not previously been described is the expanded role of the nurse as an advocate for families. Whilst advocacy is a well‐recognized aspect of nursing (Heck et al, 2022 ), this is not explicitly reflected in the IPFCC framework, nor the study site FCC policy. The frameworks focus on working with the family in partnership and implicit in this is ‘enabling’ families, stemming from a historical context where the ideal of FCC shifted the control of health care decisions from professionals to families (Dennis et al, 2017 ).…”

Which Concerns Deserve Consideration in Dietary Counseling of Patients Earning Low Incomes?

“…27 Responsibilities for advocacy extend beyond medicine and nursing to social work and public health. 28,29 It would be prudent for physicians to approach advocacy explicitly as an interprofessional endeavor and to gain understanding of the kinds of expertise that different health professions contribute. When addressing dietary choices, for example, physicians should include nutritionists and dietitians in the conversation.…”