Review

The Role of the Nurse Advocate in Health and Social Care

10.5152/MNM.2022.220875

  • Obrey Alexis
  • Julie Cooke
  • Linda Shimumbi
  • Aaron Worsley

Received Date: 04.02.2022 Accepted Date: 20.06.2022 Mediterr Nurs Midwifery 2022;2(3):140-146

This article documents the different forms of advocacy and highlights the importance of advocacy in the UK health- and social-care settings. It draws on a number of elements related to advocacy to demonstrate the challenges that nurses may encounter. Moreover, it identifies the skills and knowledge that nurses may use as being advocates for patients/clients and their families. The article makes a strong argument by highlighting that nurses are essential advocates and are duty-bound to adhere to their professional code of conduct. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code clearly states that nurses must ensure that patients/clients and their families are protected, respected, treated with dignity, and are given the highest standard of person-centered care. This article has considered these in relation to nurse advocacy.

Keywords: Nursing student, patient advocacy, patient-centered care