Patient advocacy: a role for nurses?

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Bioethics
• Patient Advocacy

Background:

• Cancer patients' vulnerability and diminished autonomy create ethical dilemmas for nurses.
• The nurse's role as a patient advocate is a subject of ongoing debate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss models of advocacy and the nurse-patient relationship.
• To explore the arguments for and against nurses acting as patient advocates.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and discussion of ethical considerations.
• Analysis of arguments for and against the nurse as patient advocate.

Main Results:

• Arguments for advocacy include time spent with patients and duty of care.
• Criticisms involve patient choice, potential self-interest, paternalism, and conflicting obligations.

Conclusions:

• Empowering patients and promoting self-advocacy is presented as the most ethical model of care.
• Further exploration of patient self-advocacy is recommended.