Nursing Advocacy Strategies

Nursing Advocacy Strategies

Advocacy

What examples of advocacy do you see in your own nursing practice? List and discuss 2 examples.

Submission Instructions:

• Your initial post should be at least 500 words, formatted and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources. Your initial post is worth 8 point

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APA

Nursing Advocacy Strategies

Advocacy in Nursing Practice

Advocacy is a fundamental aspect of nursing, reflecting the profession’s commitment to safeguarding patient rights, promoting equitable care, and addressing systemic barriers. The American Nurses Association (ANA, 2021) defines advocacy as actions that protect patient autonomy, ensure access to resources, and amplify marginalized voices. As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), I integrate advocacy into my practice to enhance patient outcomes in mental health care. Below, I discuss two examples: advocating for individualized mental health treatment plans and mitigating barriers posed by social determinants of health.

Example 1: Advocating for Individualized Mental Health Treatment Plans

In my PMHNP practice, I advocate for patient-centered mental health treatment plans tailored to individual needs, particularly for patients with complex conditions like bipolar disorder or anxiety. For instance, I worked with a patient who resisted starting lithium due to fears of side effects and stigma associated with mental health treatment in their community. To address this, I engaged the patient in shared decision-making, discussing alternative therapies like mindfulness-based interventions and providing detailed education about medication benefits and risks. This approach respected the patient’s autonomy and cultural context, fostering trust and improving treatment adherence.

This advocacy aligns with the ANA’s Code of Ethics, which emphasizes patient-centered care and informed consent (ANA, 2021). Research supports this approach: a 2023 study by Johnson et al. found that individualized mental health treatment plans, incorporating patient preferences, improve engagement and reduce dropout rates by 25%. I collaborated with a therapist to integrate cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and navigated insurance barriers to secure coverage for non-pharmacological interventions. This advocacy ensured the patient received holistic care, addressing both clinical and cultural needs, and highlights the role of PMHNPs in tailoring treatments to enhance outcomes.

Example 2: Mitigating Social Determinants of Health

Social determinants of health (SDOH), such as poverty and lack of transportation, significantly impact mental health care access. In my practice, I advocate for patients facing these barriers to ensure equitable care. For example, I recently assisted a patient with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who missed appointments due to financial constraints and unreliable transportation. I connected the patient with a community organization providing free transportation services for medical visits and helped enroll them in a low-cost telehealth program at our clinic, enabling virtual sessions when in-person visits were not feasible.

This advocacy reflects nursing’s role in addressing SDOH, as emphasized by Lee and Kim (2022), who argue that nurses can reduce health disparities by linking patients to resources and advocating for system-level changes. I worked with a social worker to ensure ongoing support and followed up to confirm the patient’s engagement in therapy, which improved symptom management. By addressing these barriers, I empowered the patient to access consistent care, aligning with nursing’s ethical mandate to promote health equity. This example underscores the importance of advocacy in overcoming structural challenges in mental health care delivery.

Conclusion

Advocacy in nursing practice is critical for ensuring patient-centered, equitable care, particularly in mental health settings. By promoting individualized treatment plans and addressing SDOH, I have enhanced patient trust and access to care. These efforts align with nursing’s commitment to advocacy, improving outcomes and reducing disparities in the healthcare system.

References

American Nurses Association. (2021). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/

Johnson, K. L., Smith, T. R., & Lee, M. H. (2023). Patient-centered mental health interventions: Impact on engagement and outcomes. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 30(5), 789–797. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12912

Lee, S. K., & Kim, H. Y. (2022). Social determinants of health and nursing: A call for advocacy. Public Health Nursing, 39(4), 672–679. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13045