The nurse's role in patient advocacy

Advocacy is a broad and complex concept. The advocate's role may be conceptualized in various ways such as that of a rescuer, information giver, spokesperson, agent of quality control or guardian. Although nurses strongly subscribe to the concept of patient advocacy, they need to be supported in delaying advocacy actions when additional data and assessment are indicated or in avoiding advocacy actions when job security is perceived as threatened. Supervisors and managers need to assist nurses in becoming better patient advocates and in supporting them when they legitimately decide not to act as advocates.