What is the role of advocacy in nursing leadership?

Advocacy in nursing leadership is crucial as it serves to support and represent patients' rights. This means that nursing leaders actively work to ensure that patients receive the care they are entitled to, promote their best interests, and protect their dignity and choices within the healthcare system. Advocacy involves understanding patients' needs, preferences, and values, ensuring they have a voice in their own care, and actively participating in decisions that affect their health.

In the context of nursing leadership, advocating for patients can also extend to influencing policy changes that improve patient care, addressing disparities in health access, and working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to create a patient-centered environment. Essentially, advocacy is a fundamental aspect of nursing that reinforces the primary ethical duty of healthcare providers to prioritize the well-being and rights of their patients.