Patient Advocacy Analysis

Patient advocacy is a big part of nursing. According to How To Be An Advocate, (2009) advocacy is defined as “one that pleads the cause of another, one that defends or maintains a cause or proposal, or one that supports or promotes the interest of another” (pg. 2). Nurses are the forefront as advocates for our patients. It is our duty as nurses to stand up for our patients and ensure that they are receiving the care they should and support their decisions holistically. Nurses have the most patient interaction. It is our job as nurses to listen to our patients and what they want. A patient advocate or nurse should ensure the patient is guided and understands all areas of health care. According to How To Be An Advocate, (2009) good patient advocates have to have the desire to help, empathy, good communication skills, unafraid to ask questions and, problem-solving skills”(pg. 2). My mom, Dorie had to be an advocate once for her sister Carla, who was born with three holes in her heart. Carla was very sick all of her life and was use to the doctors and needles. Carla wasn’t expected to live past the age of seven although, she lived to be thirty-five. At age thirty-four Carla became really sick and needed home health services to help with everyday life. Carla couldn’t handle the stress that came with ensuring paperwork was filled out and services were planned. Carla also couldn’t live alone anymore and didn’t want to go to an assisted living home. Dorie had to step up and become Carla’s advocate to ensure that Carla’s wishes
As we all know it isn’t easy going against your family when it concerns someone that we all love, but she knew she had to do it for Carla. End of life care is about ensuring the patient is comfortable and as stress-free as possible. I feel my mom made all the right decisions regarding Carla and feel as though all of Carla’s wishes were