Patient Advocacy at the APRN Level: A Direction for the Future.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Patient advocacy is a recognized essential nursing responsibility.
• Existing research primarily focuses on registered nurse (RN) patient advocacy.
• The role of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in patient advocacy is under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the current state of research on patient advocacy within the nursing profession.
• To investigate the specific role and competencies of APRNs in patient advocacy.
• To identify gaps in the literature and propose directions for future research on APRN patient advocacy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing patient advocacy research.
• Analysis of established APRN competencies.
• Synthesis of findings to inform future research agendas.

Main Results:

• Limited empirical research specifically addresses APRN patient advocacy.
• APRN competencies suggest a strong foundation for advanced advocacy roles.
• Significant opportunities exist for further investigation into APRN advocacy practices and impact.

Conclusions:

• There is a need to expand research on APRN patient advocacy.
• Further studies should explore how APRN competencies translate into advocacy actions.
• Understanding APRN advocacy is crucial for enhancing patient care and outcomes.