Topics

• Interprofessional Education (IPE)
• Impact of Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP)
• Patient Advocacy
• References

NURS 410 - Health Care Delivery Systems & Informatics

Module 9: Interprofessional Collaboration and Patient Advocacy

Patient Advocacy

Advocacy is defined by the Merriam-Webster Incorporated (2015) as the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal and an advocate is a person who pleads, defends, or supports a cause or interest of another. The American Nurses Association (ANA) Scope & Standards of Practice (2010) applies to all registered nurses and focus the nurses’ attention on being the advocate for the patient regardless of the condition, setting, or needs. Moreover, the newly revised ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (2015) sets the expectation that nurses apply ethical principles when providing, discussing, and coordinating patient care. Specifically, Provision 3 explains that the nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient.

In terms of advocacy, interprofessional teams and team approaches can advocate for many concerns with patients, families, and many others. Amalakuhan & Adams (2015) discuss an interprofessional approach to the care of a COPD patient case. They discuss the wide scope of what is necessary to work with COPD patients. The case they present requires “collaboration between an interprofessional team of health care professionals (which includes physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, dietitians, pharmacists, and many others) and COPD patients and caregivers is necessary to optimally manage these patients and to truly impact outcomes in this devastating disease” (p. 1225). After several interventions, and time they identified outcomes for several key points. The first key learning point was “fostering a collaborative relationship between health care professionals, COPD patients, and their caregivers as required to impact outcomes. This is a three-point triangular relationship requiring mutual feedback and positive reinforcement in a nonjudgmental environment” (p. 1230). With the necessity of the interprofessional team collaboration and teamwork, this three-point relationship is critical to reach the best potential outcome. As a member of an interprofessional team, how would the nurse plead, defend, support the patient to make sure the patients’’ needs are address and their voice is heard? Watch this short video from a patient advocate @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYOpGut7h-I.