Response one :Nurse leaders play a valuable role in advocating for their fellow nurses and the profession as a whole. While every nurse should advocate for a safe and healthy work environment, a nurse leader can provide additional support and advocacy (Thomas, 2018). It is important for a leader to seek feedback and listen to their needs. A leader should be highly approachable, available, and ideally, have an in-depth understanding of the challenges each nurse faces. Nurse leaders serve as advocates for their team members by engaging in active listening, addressing concerns, seeking feedback, empowering them to be an integral part of decision-making.

While most nurses readily are accustomed to advocate for their patients, it is important for nurses to also advocate for each other. A nurse leader can model this behavior and set expectations for others to do the same. Nurses supporting and advocating for each other is conducive to the promotion of healthier and safer work environments and improved patient outcomes (Kerley & Toney-Butler, 2019). This is especially true for newer or inexperienced nurses. It is important for them to feel comfortable with seeking assistance and asking question from experienced nurses. Nurses who are inexperienced may feel threatened and insecure and may be too intimidated to seek assistance when they need it. This can interfere with patient safety and quality care. Nurses who are satisfied and feel supported are better equipped, physically, environmentally and mentally to provide enhanced patient care (Kerley & Toney-Butler, 2019).

References

Kerley, L., & Toney-Butler, T. (2019). Nursing advocacy. StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

Thomas, J. S. (2018). Organizational culture and values. In (Ed.), Nursing leadership & management. [Academic Web Services]. Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs451vn/nursing-leadershi…

Response two: Nursing leaders are individuals who continue to have the best interest in mind for their nurses. They ensure nurses are properly trained, understand their scope of practice and continue ongoing training. Good leaders protect their nurses by advocating for them when they are asked to do something out of their scope of practice or instances where they are short staffed. In our reading material Thomas discusses that the right task must be given to the right person that has the appropriate training and knowledge (2019). I have experienced and witnessed times where upper management who are not clinical, ask LPN’s to perform tasks that are only allowed to be done by an RN. I have also seen new RN’s be asked to do things they were not properly trained to do. The ADON at my facility serves as a strong advocate for the employees because she continues to do inservices and ensures all new staff are properly trained on what they may need to know.

Not having a strong nursing leader who advocates for the employees can compromise patient care. If a nurse is asked to perform a task he or she hasn’t been properly trained on, it can result in an unsafe situation for the patient. Even if the nurse feels intimidated he or she should speak up and say they are not comfortable performing the task and ask to be trained. The nursing leader can than advocate for the nurse and set up an inservice. Physicians and other nurses forget not everyone knows everything and that we all need to learn. If and when delegation is occurring, it is important to ensure the task is for the right person, with the right circumstance, with the right directions and under the right supervision (Thomas, 2019). If this does not occur a patient can be harmed and can cause unnecessary stress for the nurse.

Thomas, J., (2019). Organizational culture and values. Nursing Leadership & Management: Leading and Serving.Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs451vn/nursing-leadership-and-management-leading-and-serving/v1.1/#/chapter/4

Response three: Nurse leaders serve as an advocate for employees by assisting in setting best routines to help staff. Nurse leader can teach and guide staff to make positive decisions in patient care which helps to make employee feel valued. Shared values among employees and their employers support a positive working culture that contributes to successful outcomes and outperforms competitors (Grand Canyon, 2018). Nurse leader is an advocate for nursing staff by through teaching, mentoring and peer review. The nurse leader needs to have the ability to support interest or the skill to communicate problem solve, influence and collaborate. When support is given to staff allows for better outcome for patient care. Nurses are increasingly positioned to advocate more effectively than ever before not only for patients, but also for themselves and the nursing profession (OJIN, 2012). For example, Nurse Leader would advocate for LPN on unit being asked to do IV antibiotic. Some LPN already has experience monitoring or has been to IV infusion class. Most facilities want LPN IV certified before employment or will send them before they begin. LPN should know scope of practice and not attempt any procedure without training. This is when a nurse leader can advocate for nurse.

Reference:

Grand Canyon University (Ed). (2018). Nursing leadership & management: Leading and serving.Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs451vn/nursing-leadershi…

OJIN. (2012). Advocating for Nurses and Nursing. Retrieved from http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/AN…

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