Nurse advocacy: is it in the patient's best interests?

Advocacy within health care and nursing is a frequently discussed concept, but the many practical problems it can create for nurses are not always considered. This article explores some of the problems identified in the literature and through practice. It suggests that instead of being used as a confrontational means of gaining power, advocacy should become a positive patient-focused action. While interpreting advocacy in practice remains problematic, some ways to achieve a positive patient-focused approach are offered.