Discuss how nurse leaders serve as advocates for their employees

Discuss how nurse leaders serve as advocates for their employees

Discuss how nurse leaders serve as advocates for their employees. Describe how advocacy for employees affects patient care and outcomes.
Sara Sanders
Posted Date
Mar 11, 2022, 12:03 PM
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Nursing leader’s server as advocates within their organizations. Leaders have requisite knowledge, skills, and understanding and represent the front door into the healthcare service delivery. Nursing leaders need to be comfortable withing their administrative structures to use their powers to advocate for the role of nurses. Advocating in policy discussions to help reduce health care cost and improvement in patients’ outcomes and quality of life through collaborative team-based care. (Stevenson, 2021) Advocating for nursing staff can begins with assessing needs. Do the nurses have the correct tools they need to provide best practice care. Are nurses being treated fairly and are they assuring measures to prevent nursing fatigue and burn out such as appropriate breaks and lunches.
Nursing leaders influence change in nursing practice and improving patient outcomes by advocating for patients and empowering the nursing practice. Advocating for change in bedside nursing can be initiated through advocating for specific needs and leading by example. To mentor fellow nurses is not a role only held at management level. Bedside nurses collaborating with management and administration can lead to positive change withing health care.
Grand Canyon University (Ed). (2018). Trends in health care: A nursing perspective. Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs440vn/trends-in-health-care-a-nursing-perspective/v1.1/
Stevenson, R. L., Maclaren, J., & Vaulkhard, K. (2021). The Nursing Workforce: Who Will Be Left to Answer the Call? Nursing Leadership (1910-622X), 34(4), 31–35. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.12927/cjnl.2021.26692
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• JD
Julie Dykstra
replied toSara Sanders
Mar 11, 2022, 3:56 PM
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Hi Sara,
I thought that you brought up some great points in your post about how when assessing the needs of nurses, asking do they have the right tools to provide best practice care , etc. I also like the points that you brought up about are nurses being treated fairly and are they assuring measures to prevent nursing fatigue and burn out such as appropriate breaks and lunches. I can more than relate to these topics! I hate that that is true but it is. It seems like when I get a lunch break it is a special occasion as it seems like I only get a lunch about once a month. Since this occurs so often, it is difficult to not think that management does not care about their employees because they can’t provide enough staff to support lunch breaks. Communication is also an important part of needs being met. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs applies to many situations, not just patient care. By promoting an environment that encourages and models efficient communication, managers can increase engagement, lessen anxiety and stress, and promote higher employee satisfaction, all of which lead to greater patient outcomes (Kim & Oh, 2016). This situation reminds me of the pre-flight video you see about the oxygen masks. You must first place the mask on yourself and then you can help others. The nurse’s needs must be met first so they can provide the best care possible.

Hi Sara,
This pandemic emphasizes the importance of nursing care globally. Nurses are the frontline staff in the care of individuals stricken

with this highly infectious and deadly illness. Nurse leaders must advocate for nursing staff when staff are immersed in often overwhelming conditions. In addition, nurses need nurse leaders to advocate for their work conditions, safety, and welfare while they provide care under difficult conditions. Through the efforts of the CNO council, nurses are informed and protected in their work environment. As the pandemic continues, leaders need to support the staff through the challenges they encounter while caring for those in need (Stamps et al., 2021).
References
Stamps, D. C., Foley, S. M., Gales, J., Lovetro, C., Alley, R., Opett, K., Glessner, T., & Faggiano, S. (2021). Nurse Leaders Advocate for Nurses Across a Health Care System: COVID-19. Nurse leader, 19(2), 159–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2020.07.011
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• YR
Yennifer Ramos Rodriguez
replied toSara Sanders
Mar 12, 2022, 5:18 AM
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Sara,
I agree with you that an advocate is one who pleads the cause of another or one that defends or maintains a cause or proposal and promotes the interest of someone. Advocacy often encounters barriers in a culture where nurses feel powerless (Thomas, (2018b). All nurses have a role to advocate, not only for their patients but also their selves. As a nurse manager being an advocate for their employees can be the difference in uniting the unit or destroying it. This the presentation of the people who do not have the power for themselves so that they can come up well and health through getting the best health care no matter the background and state. It’s a good post.