Advocacy in Nursing

This is what my professor said: Advocacy is a foundational responsibility of professional nursing practice. Nurses advocate for individual patients, families, vulnerable populations, communities, and the profession itself. This assignment challenges you to move beyond theory and demonstrate advocacy in action through analysis, planning, and implementation of a real or simulated advocacy initiative.

You will identify an issue affecting patient care, safety, equity, or health outcomes and design an evidence-informed advocacy strategy that demonstrates leadership, ethical reasoning, and professional accountability.

Assignment Components

Part I: Issue Identification & Background

Identify a real issue observed in clinical practice, healthcare systems, or community settings. Examples include:

• Inadequate staffing ratios
• Barriers to mental health access
• Health disparities in marginalized populations
• Language access barriers
• Unsafe discharge practices
• Opioid use disorder resources
• Workplace violence
• Policy-related access to care barriers

Include:

• Clear description of the issue
• Population affected.
• Scope and significance (local, institutional, or broader)
• Supporting data (minimum 3 scholarly sources within 5 years)

Part II: Ethical & Professional Foundation

Discuss:

• Relevant ethical principles (e.g., autonomy, beneficence, justice)
• Applicable Professional standards (ANA Code of Ethics, ICN Code, QSEN, etc.)
• The nurses responsibility in addressing this issue.

Part III: Advocacy Action Plan

Develop a structured advocacy strategy including:

1. Goal Statement

• What specific change are you advocating for?

1. Level of Advocacy

• Patient-level
• Organizational- level
• Community-level
• Policy-level

1. Stakeholder Analysis

• Who has influence?
• Who is impacted?
• Who must be engaged?

1. Action Steps

• Meetings?
• Policy proposal?
• Education initiative?
• Data presentation?
• Coalition building?

1. Communication Strategy

• Who will you communicate with?
• Format (brief, presentation, letter, policy memo)?
• Key messaging points

1. Anticipated Barriers

• Institutional resistance?
• Resource limitations?
• Ethical conflicts?
• Strategies to overcome barriers.

Part IV: Implementation

Option A: Real Advocacy Action

• Participate in or initiate an advocacy activity (e.g., meeting with unit leadership, drafting proposal, participating in committee, writing formal communication).

Part V: Reflection

In 23 pages, reflect on:

• What did you learn about nursing advocacy?
• What leadership skills did you use or develop?
• What challenges did you face?
• How did this experience influence your professional identity?
• How will you continue advocacy in your nursing career?

Sources must be within the past 5 years. Must be peer reviewed articles.