Advocacy Issues in Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Advocacy is woven deeply into the nurse practitioner (NP) role. It’s a part of the job that’s never finished. Advocacy can occur at a micro level, by advocating one-on-one for a particular patient, or at the macro level, by lobbying for policy changes; it’s often a mix of the two. For many NPs, advocacy is about a particular issue close to their heart, one connected to underserved patients who deserve additional support. For Dr. Kelli Garber, the issue is telehealth.

Nursing, at its core, is the profession of caring for others. However, compassion, an essential trait for nurses, extends beyond caring for needs. According to researcher Beth Lown in a paper published in the Association for the Study of Medical Education Journal, “Compassion involves recognition, understanding, emotional resonance and empathic concern for another’s concerns, distress, pain and suffering, coupled with their acknowledgment, and motivation and relational action to ameliorate these conditions.”

Healthcare involves many more people than the physician and the patient. The modern healthcare team is a broadly interprofessional one, including nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, physical therapists, nutritionists, counselors, and social workers, just to name a few.

The numerous nursing strikes in 2022 and 2023 symbolize the collective voice of nurses advocating for better pay, improved working conditions, more time off, and enhanced mental health support. Despite these challenges, nursing can be a rewarding career choice for those committed to patient care. Here are some insights on how to navigate this journey effectively.

NPs in states that offer the most practice autonomy will find the easiest path to opening their own practice. Whereas NPs working in states with restricted practice must find a supervising physician to collaborate with them.

The nurse practitioner role was first established in 1965 in Colorado to address the shortage of primary care providers. Since then, this advanced nursing role has expanded nationwide, encompassing not just primary care but specializations such as midwifery and anesthesia. As the scope and number of nurse practitioners have grown, so has the public’s awareness of these skilled healthcare providers.

In the fast-paced world of healthcare, nurses often find themselves at the epicenter of relentless demands. Extended shifts, emotionally charged situations, and the ever-present call of duty can make achieving a nurse work-life balance seem elusive.

Due to the aging Baby Boomer population, the need for LPNs is greater today than ever. LPNs are more affordable for medical facilities and are an important aspect of the interdisciplinary team.

As part of progress towards a more inclusive and just society, it is essential to recognize and challenge the stereotypes within nursing. These misconceptions have led to a lack of diversity in the nursing workforce and have prevented individuals from pursuing or excelling in their nursing careers. Nurses and the broader healthcare community must prioritize confronting these stereotypes and dismantling them with education, advocacy, and visibility of the diverse and capable individuals in the nursing profession.

Technology integration is vital in improving patient outcomes as the healthcare industry evolves. Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming integrated into the healthcare industry today. Applications vary from facilitating administrative tasks to improving patient care by offering accurate, predictive analytics. AI has provided new opportunities to enhance patient care and health outcomes in nursing.