Reconceptualizing Advocacy: A Novel Model for Nursing Theory and Practice

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Ethics
• Professional Practice

Background:

• Nurses are consistently encouraged to engage in patient advocacy.
• Current nursing literature reveals inconsistencies in defining and implementing advocacy.
• Existing conceptualizations of advocacy may have unintended consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine dominant constructions of advocacy in nursing literature.
• To explore the benefits and drawbacks of current advocacy approaches.
• To propose a novel, philosophically rooted, and practice-oriented conceptualization of nurse advocacy.

Main Methods:

• Critical analysis of nursing literature on advocacy.
• Philosophical examination of advocacy concepts.
• Development of a practice-oriented framework for nurse advocacy.

Main Results:

• Dominant nursing advocacy models are inconsistent and lack critical depth.
• A new conceptualization of advocacy is proposed, applicable across diverse healthcare settings.
• The proposed model aims for greater clarity and consistency in nurse-led advocacy.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced clarity and consistency in nurse advocacy are crucial for professional knowledge development.
• A unified understanding of advocacy strengthens the nursing profession's impact.
• The proposed conceptualization offers a foundation for effective, evidence-based nurse advocacy.