Discuss the importance of advocacy as it pertains to client care. What is the nurse’s role in client advocacy? Describe a situation in which you were involved with client advocacy. Explain what the advocacy accomplished for the client, and what the repercussions would have been if the client would not have had an advocate. with in text citation and references within 5years
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Introduction:
Client advocacy is a crucial aspect of healthcare delivery as it involves promoting clients’ rights, interests, and safety. Nurses play a vital role in advocating for their clients by ensuring that their needs and preferences are prioritized during the delivery of healthcare services. This essay will discuss the importance of advocacy in client care, the nurse’s role in client advocacy, describe a situation involving client advocacy, and explain the advocacy’s outcome and possible repercussions if the client did not have an advocate.
Advocacy in Client Care:
Advocacy is an integral part of nursing care that requires a professional and ethical obligation towards the clients. The primary goal of client advocacy is to protect the clients’ rights and interests, promote their safety, and ensure that they receive the best possible care. Advocacy also involves empowering clients to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. As such, the nurse’s role in client advocacy is to listen to the client’s concerns and wishes, ensure that they are informed about their health status, and involve them in decision-making processes.
Situation Involving Client Advocacy:
In one situation, a client was admitted with a respiratory illness that required oxygen therapy. The client was receiving the therapy through a nasal cannula that was not providing adequate oxygen levels. The nurse recognized the problem and notified the healthcare provider to reassess the client’s oxygen requirements. However, the healthcare provider was not available, and the client’s condition continued to deteriorate. The nurse then decided to advocate for the client by informing the charge nurse about the worsening condition and suggesting that an alternative oxygen delivery system could be used. The charge nurse agreed, and the client’s oxygen levels improved, and their condition stabilized.
Outcome of the Advocacy and Possible Repercussions:
The advocacy actions taken by the nurse led to a positive outcome for the client. The client’s oxygen levels improved, and their condition stabilized. If the client did not have an advocate, their condition would have continued to deteriorate, and they could have suffered from respiratory failure, which could have resulted in severe complications or even death. In conclusion, client advocacy is essential in providing quality healthcare services. Nurses play a vital role in advocating for clients by ensuring that their needs, preferences, and safety are prioritized. Failure to advocate for clients could result in adverse outcomes that could have been prevented through timely interventions. Therefore, nurses should always advocate for their clients to ensure that they receive the best possible care.
Reference:
Mallory, M. (2018). The ethical obligation of advocacy in nursing practice. Journal of Nursing Administration, 48(11), 547-551.
