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Professional Development
Community Voices & Networking
Professional Development
Community Voices & Networking
Professional Development
Community Voices & Networking
Advocacy in Nursing: Why It Matters and How to Get Involved
Advocacy in Nursing: Why It Matters and How to Get Involved
Nov 29, 2024
Lindsey Gram, RN
As a nurse, you have a front-row seat to the real-world challenges of healthcare, making you uniquely positioned to lead advocacy in nursing. Advocacy empowers you to create meaningful change that extends beyond patient care and impacts healthcare policy and workplace conditions. Advocacy creates a healthier and supportive environment for patients and nurses, and improves healthcare as a whole.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) makes it clear that advocacy is essential. Advocacy helps nurses have a voice in shaping important healthcare policies, improving patient care, and transforming workplace conditions. Nurses can make an incredible impact when they unite and speak up for what’s right.
Advocacy in nursing is more than a professional duty—it’s a way to shape the future of healthcare. In this guide, we’ll dive into why advocacy matters in nursing, plus how to harness it to drive real and meaningful change. It doesn’t matter if you're an experienced advocate looking to grow or just beginning to find your voice– we’ll give you the steps, tools, and support you need to start making a difference.
Are you ready to turn your passion into action? Let’s get started!
Why Advocacy Matters in Nursing
Nurses are not just caregivers! They are leaders, advocates, and innovators who work hard every day to provide the best care possible in often challenging and frustrating environments. Your experience as a nurse gives you the unique perspective to identify and advocate for what truly matters.
Let’s look at how advocacy can make a difference in three key areas: patient care, healthcare policy, and the workplace.
Impact on Patient Care
Why is advocacy important in nursing? Advocacy saves lives– it ensures that patients receive the best and safest care possible. Nurses’ close interaction with patients gives them a unique ability to identify and address issues that affect patient care outcomes.
Here are specific ways nurses can advocate for better patient care:
Improve patient safety: Advocate for safer practices, better staffing ratios, and updated procedures to enhance care delivery.
Protect patient rights: Ensure patients are informed, respected, and actively involved in their healthcare decisions.
Promote compassionate care: Remember, patients are more than diagnoses—they are people deserving dignity and quality care.
By speaking up, you help ensure that hospitals and healthcare systems prioritize safe patient care.
Influence on Healthcare Policy
Advocacy doesn’t stop at the bedside—it extends into the realm of healthcare policy. As a nurse, you can support policies that positively affect healthcare, working conditions, and patient outcomes– and stand up against those that don’t. Nurses bring unique frontline perspectives to policy discussions, which makes them critical voices in shaping laws and regulations that improve healthcare systems.
Here’s how nurses can influence healthcare policy:
Support impactful legislation: Advocate for laws that expand healthcare access, improve equity, and address workforce needs.
Promote research and innovation: Push for policies that encourage funding for scientific advancements and innovation in healthcare.
Advocate for patient-focused policies: Ensure regulations reflect the needs of patients and frontline workers, such as safe staffing standards.
By engaging in policy advocacy, nurses can create systemic changes that benefit both patients and healthcare providers.
Workplace Improvements
Advocacy within your workplace, unit, or hospital is critical to creating a safe, supportive, and effective work environment. Nurses often face challenges like burnout, unsafe staffing ratios, workplace violence, and inadequate mental health resources—all of which directly impact patient care and nurse well-being.
Here are practical ways to advocate for workplace improvements:
Address workplace issues: Advocate for better pay, safer staffing ratios, and improved benefits to promote a healthier workforce.
Enhance safety protocols: Push for resources and procedures that protect nurses from workplace violence and burnout.
Champion mental health: Advocate for programs and policies that provide mental health support and reduce stress.
When you speak up—whether in meetings, through written proposals, or by collaborating with unions—you can drive positive change for your peers and patients
Types of Advocacy in Nursing
Now that we’ve explored the importance of advocacy in the workplace, let’s dive into the many ways to be a nurse advocate! Start thinking of a topic that you are passionate about. Here are three of the most common types of advocacy and how nurses can make a difference in each.
Patient Advocacy
Patient advocacy in nursing involves speaking up on behalf of your patients– it’s something you likely do every day! Here are some examples:
Addressing and escalating questions or concerns
Promoting dignity and comfort
Providing culturally sensitive care
Protecting your patient’s right to privacy
Ensuring informed consent
Policy Advocacy
Nurses can improve patient care at the local, state, and national levels when they get involved in policy advocacy. Here’s how:
Support regulations that create safe healthcare
Expand mental health and substance abuse services
Advocate for improved healthcare coverage
Promote research, science, and innovation
Learn about local, state, and national laws and government
Professional Advocacy:
Nurses who advocate for their profession can create better working conditions, job satisfaction, and safer healthcare– which benefits nurses, patients, and communities! Here are some examples:
Support fair wages and benefits
Demand safe staffing ratios
Advocate for better mental healthcare and support for nurses
Promote improved access to continuing education and development
Push for safe working environments
How to Get Started with Advocacy in Nursing
Now that you’ve thought of some ideas and types of nurse advocacy that resonate with you, plus learned why they are important– let’s go over how to get started. It’s probably easier than you think! Here are a few practical steps to get started today.
Get Informed
The first step in becoming a nurse advocate is to learn about the issues and policies impacting patients, healthcare, and the nursing profession.
Building your knowledge gives you the confidence and credibility to speak out effectively. Here’s how to get started:
Stay updated with reputable sources: Read articles and reports from trusted organizations like:
Your state nursing board
Join professional communities: Engage with local nurses’ associations or unions to stay connected and learn from experienced advocates.
Expand your knowledge base: Consider pursuing further education in nursing leadership, public health, or policy advocacy to deepen your understanding of the bigger picture.
When you are well-informed, you will be prepared and confident to speak out on the issues that matter most to you, your colleagues, and your patients.
Join Professional Organizations
In addition to being a great source of the latest healthcare topics and information, professional organizations offer fantastic resources and opportunities for nurses to get started at local, state, and national levels.
Becoming a member of the American Nurses Association or another organization specific to your nursing specialty will give you opportunities to attend conferences, participate in a professional community, and gain quick access to relevant information.
Many of these organizations also work to influence policy change– and contributing your voice to their efforts is a great starting place. The ANA actively works to improve nursing practice, patient safety, and workplace conditions.
Connect with Mentors and Advocates
Just like an experienced nurse precepted you and helped you begin your nursing career, experienced nurse advocates are a huge help if you are just getting started.
Seasoned nurse advocates can offer guidance, tips, and support as you begin. The world of healthcare and nursing advocacy is complex, and working with a mentor is a valuable way to build your skills.
The Rubie Community is a great place to network and connect with nurses who share your passions and interests– in advocacy and more! Our online and in-person communities are great places to find or provide mentorship and support.
Start Small
There are many ways to be a nurse advocate. After all, we bet you are busy juggling multiple important things in your life– just like most nurses we know! Starting small is perfect. This makes advocacy less overwhelming and more achievable, plus small steps add up to a significant impact with time.
Another way to start advocating is by speaking up in team meetings or huddles. Voicing your opinions and concerns to management or writing a letter to hospital administration are great ways to improve patient care, address unsafe practices, and begin to see that your voice can make a difference.
Remember that small steps help build momentum– your advocacy efforts will grow over time and have a more significant impact.
Real-Life Examples of Nursing Advocacy
Now, let’s look at some real-life and inspiring examples of nurses making a difference! Advocating as a nurse allows you to make positive changes for patients, other nurses, and the healthcare system.
Policy reform- National Nurses United (NNU), along with nurses from all over the United States, are doing incredible work shaping public policy to create a safer environment for nurses and patients. Here’s some of the latest news and ways to get involved:
Safe Staffing Ratios- From local initiatives to national movements, nurses are pushing for laws that make safe staffing the rule, not the exception. Check out the latest efforts and join the cause!
Workplace Violence Prevention- Advocacy efforts are underway to mandate comprehensive workplace violence prevention programs. Speak up, because protecting the protectors is always worth the fight.
Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)'s Impact on Nursing Care- AI is transforming healthcare, but it comes with challenges. Nurses are working to ensure AI tools are implemented safely, effectively, and ethically—for both patients and healthcare teams. Advocacy here means shaping the future while keeping patient care at the center.
Equality and Social Justice - Nurses are using their voices to tackle issues like racial, gender, and environmental equity in healthcare. Advocacy in these areas isn’t just about improving policies—it’s about ensuring fair and compassionate care for everyone.
Health and Safety- From infection prevention to public health policies, nurses are leading the charge to improve safety standards for patients and providers. Advocacy here ensures healthcare environments remain safe, clean, and supportive for all.
Workplace improvements: This year, nurses have been able to negotiate competitive wages, improved benefits, and better working conditions. These victories show the power of speaking up and standing together. Here are a few recent wins we want to highlight:
Nurses at Providence Alaska Medical Center secured substantial pay increases and better health benefits after months of negotiations. They also successfully advocated for safer staffing policies, ensuring both patients and nurses are better supported.
After a hard-fought battle, nurses at Antelope Valley Medical Center in California avoided a strike and won improved staffing ratios, wage increases, and enhanced protections for patient care standards.
Nurses across New York successfully negotiated contracts that included higher shift differentials, specialty pay for advanced skills, and stronger protections against workplace violence.
Nurses at CHI Mercy Health in Oregon achieved a new contract that increased wages by up to 20% and strengthened provisions for safe staffing, giving nurses the resources they need to provide excellent care.
Seton Medical Center nurses in Texas celebrated their first-ever union contract, which included raises, fair scheduling practices, and improved time-off policies, setting a precedent for advocacy in the region.
Nurses in Washington state secured significant improvements in their contracts, including higher wages, safer working conditions, and expanded mental health support for healthcare staff
Chances are you don’t have to look far to see how nurses can drive meaningful change. Can you think of an example of nurse advocacy that you’ve seen lately? Whether it's speaking up about unsafe staffing, championing patient safety, or improving work environments, nurses' advocacy efforts simply lead to better healthcare for all.
Challenges in Nurse Advocacy (And How to Beat Them)
While advocating for change in healthcare can come with challenges– like time constraints, fear of speaking up, or limited resources– remember you are not alone, and your voice matters.
Every nurse has the power to advocate for meaningful change that can improve patient care, workplace conditions, and the nursing profession itself. Here are a few tips to get started:
Consider breaking down your advocacy goals into small, manageable steps.
Start simple. Read a policy update during your break or join a professional organization to stay informed.
Join forces with a larger organization or group of nurses who are already doing advocacy work in an area you care about.
If the fear of speaking up holds you back, find support from your colleagues, mentors, or the Rubie nurse community.
Often, just knowing you're not alone makes all the difference. For those feeling overwhelmed by limited resources, remember that advocacy doesn’t always require significant funding or huge changes. It’s often about using what you already have, such as knowledge, connections, or passion, to make a difference.
Empowering Nurses to Make a Difference
Are you ready to take that first step as a nurse advocate? We’re here to support you– advocacy in nursing plays a critical part in transforming healthcare for the better. Remember that every nurse has the ability and power to advocate for meaningful change, and every nurse has to start somewhere.
So, go ahead– speak up in that meeting, join that organization, sign that petition, or simply share a patient safety concern. Remember that your actions, no matter how small, contribute to a much larger movement for positive change.
Together, nurses can improve healthcare for everyone. Let your voice as a nurse advocate be part of the movement toward a better and safer future for healthcare, nurses, and patients alike!
💎 Join the Rubie nurse community and start your advocacy journey today!
As a nurse, you have a front-row seat to the real-world challenges of healthcare, making you uniquely positioned to lead advocacy in nursing. Advocacy empowers you to create meaningful change that extends beyond patient care and impacts healthcare policy and workplace conditions. Advocacy creates a healthier and supportive environment for patients and nurses, and improves healthcare as a whole.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) makes it clear that advocacy is essential. Advocacy helps nurses have a voice in shaping important healthcare policies, improving patient care, and transforming workplace conditions. Nurses can make an incredible impact when they unite and speak up for what’s right.
Advocacy in nursing is more than a professional duty—it’s a way to shape the future of healthcare. In this guide, we’ll dive into why advocacy matters in nursing, plus how to harness it to drive real and meaningful change. It doesn’t matter if you're an experienced advocate looking to grow or just beginning to find your voice– we’ll give you the steps, tools, and support you need to start making a difference.
Are you ready to turn your passion into action? Let’s get started!
Why Advocacy Matters in Nursing
Nurses are not just caregivers! They are leaders, advocates, and innovators who work hard every day to provide the best care possible in often challenging and frustrating environments. Your experience as a nurse gives you the unique perspective to identify and advocate for what truly matters.
Let’s look at how advocacy can make a difference in three key areas: patient care, healthcare policy, and the workplace.
Impact on Patient Care
Why is advocacy important in nursing? Advocacy saves lives– it ensures that patients receive the best and safest care possible. Nurses’ close interaction with patients gives them a unique ability to identify and address issues that affect patient care outcomes.
Here are specific ways nurses can advocate for better patient care:
Improve patient safety: Advocate for safer practices, better staffing ratios, and updated procedures to enhance care delivery.
Protect patient rights: Ensure patients are informed, respected, and actively involved in their healthcare decisions.
Promote compassionate care: Remember, patients are more than diagnoses—they are people deserving dignity and quality care.
By speaking up, you help ensure that hospitals and healthcare systems prioritize safe patient care.
Influence on Healthcare Policy
Advocacy doesn’t stop at the bedside—it extends into the realm of healthcare policy. As a nurse, you can support policies that positively affect healthcare, working conditions, and patient outcomes– and stand up against those that don’t. Nurses bring unique frontline perspectives to policy discussions, which makes them critical voices in shaping laws and regulations that improve healthcare systems.
Here’s how nurses can influence healthcare policy:
Support impactful legislation: Advocate for laws that expand healthcare access, improve equity, and address workforce needs.
Promote research and innovation: Push for policies that encourage funding for scientific advancements and innovation in healthcare.
Advocate for patient-focused policies: Ensure regulations reflect the needs of patients and frontline workers, such as safe staffing standards.
By engaging in policy advocacy, nurses can create systemic changes that benefit both patients and healthcare providers.
Workplace Improvements
Advocacy within your workplace, unit, or hospital is critical to creating a safe, supportive, and effective work environment. Nurses often face challenges like burnout, unsafe staffing ratios, workplace violence, and inadequate mental health resources—all of which directly impact patient care and nurse well-being.
Here are practical ways to advocate for workplace improvements:
Address workplace issues: Advocate for better pay, safer staffing ratios, and improved benefits to promote a healthier workforce.
Enhance safety protocols: Push for resources and procedures that protect nurses from workplace violence and burnout.
Champion mental health: Advocate for programs and policies that provide mental health support and reduce stress.
When you speak up—whether in meetings, through written proposals, or by collaborating with unions—you can drive positive change for your peers and patients
Types of Advocacy in Nursing
Now that we’ve explored the importance of advocacy in the workplace, let’s dive into the many ways to be a nurse advocate! Start thinking of a topic that you are passionate about. Here are three of the most common types of advocacy and how nurses can make a difference in each.
Patient Advocacy
Patient advocacy in nursing involves speaking up on behalf of your patients– it’s something you likely do every day! Here are some examples:
Addressing and escalating questions or concerns
Promoting dignity and comfort
Providing culturally sensitive care
Protecting your patient’s right to privacy
Ensuring informed consent
Policy Advocacy
Nurses can improve patient care at the local, state, and national levels when they get involved in policy advocacy. Here’s how:
Support regulations that create safe healthcare
Expand mental health and substance abuse services
Advocate for improved healthcare coverage
Promote research, science, and innovation
Learn about local, state, and national laws and government
Professional Advocacy:
Nurses who advocate for their profession can create better working conditions, job satisfaction, and safer healthcare– which benefits nurses, patients, and communities! Here are some examples:
Support fair wages and benefits
Demand safe staffing ratios
Advocate for better mental healthcare and support for nurses
Promote improved access to continuing education and development
Push for safe working environments
How to Get Started with Advocacy in Nursing
Now that you’ve thought of some ideas and types of nurse advocacy that resonate with you, plus learned why they are important– let’s go over how to get started. It’s probably easier than you think! Here are a few practical steps to get started today.
Get Informed
The first step in becoming a nurse advocate is to learn about the issues and policies impacting patients, healthcare, and the nursing profession.
Building your knowledge gives you the confidence and credibility to speak out effectively. Here’s how to get started:
Stay updated with reputable sources: Read articles and reports from trusted organizations like:
Your state nursing board
Join professional communities: Engage with local nurses’ associations or unions to stay connected and learn from experienced advocates.
Expand your knowledge base: Consider pursuing further education in nursing leadership, public health, or policy advocacy to deepen your understanding of the bigger picture.
When you are well-informed, you will be prepared and confident to speak out on the issues that matter most to you, your colleagues, and your patients.
Join Professional Organizations
In addition to being a great source of the latest healthcare topics and information, professional organizations offer fantastic resources and opportunities for nurses to get started at local, state, and national levels.
Becoming a member of the American Nurses Association or another organization specific to your nursing specialty will give you opportunities to attend conferences, participate in a professional community, and gain quick access to relevant information.
Many of these organizations also work to influence policy change– and contributing your voice to their efforts is a great starting place. The ANA actively works to improve nursing practice, patient safety, and workplace conditions.
Connect with Mentors and Advocates
Just like an experienced nurse precepted you and helped you begin your nursing career, experienced nurse advocates are a huge help if you are just getting started.
Seasoned nurse advocates can offer guidance, tips, and support as you begin. The world of healthcare and nursing advocacy is complex, and working with a mentor is a valuable way to build your skills.
The Rubie Community is a great place to network and connect with nurses who share your passions and interests– in advocacy and more! Our online and in-person communities are great places to find or provide mentorship and support.
Start Small
There are many ways to be a nurse advocate. After all, we bet you are busy juggling multiple important things in your life– just like most nurses we know! Starting small is perfect. This makes advocacy less overwhelming and more achievable, plus small steps add up to a significant impact with time.
Another way to start advocating is by speaking up in team meetings or huddles. Voicing your opinions and concerns to management or writing a letter to hospital administration are great ways to improve patient care, address unsafe practices, and begin to see that your voice can make a difference.
Remember that small steps help build momentum– your advocacy efforts will grow over time and have a more significant impact.
Real-Life Examples of Nursing Advocacy
Now, let’s look at some real-life and inspiring examples of nurses making a difference! Advocating as a nurse allows you to make positive changes for patients, other nurses, and the healthcare system.
Policy reform- National Nurses United (NNU), along with nurses from all over the United States, are doing incredible work shaping public policy to create a safer environment for nurses and patients. Here’s some of the latest news and ways to get involved:
Safe Staffing Ratios- From local initiatives to national movements, nurses are pushing for laws that make safe staffing the rule, not the exception. Check out the latest efforts and join the cause!
Workplace Violence Prevention- Advocacy efforts are underway to mandate comprehensive workplace violence prevention programs. Speak up, because protecting the protectors is always worth the fight.
Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)'s Impact on Nursing Care- AI is transforming healthcare, but it comes with challenges. Nurses are working to ensure AI tools are implemented safely, effectively, and ethically—for both patients and healthcare teams. Advocacy here means shaping the future while keeping patient care at the center.
Equality and Social Justice - Nurses are using their voices to tackle issues like racial, gender, and environmental equity in healthcare. Advocacy in these areas isn’t just about improving policies—it’s about ensuring fair and compassionate care for everyone.
Health and Safety- From infection prevention to public health policies, nurses are leading the charge to improve safety standards for patients and providers. Advocacy here ensures healthcare environments remain safe, clean, and supportive for all.
Workplace improvements: This year, nurses have been able to negotiate competitive wages, improved benefits, and better working conditions. These victories show the power of speaking up and standing together. Here are a few recent wins we want to highlight:
Nurses at Providence Alaska Medical Center secured substantial pay increases and better health benefits after months of negotiations. They also successfully advocated for safer staffing policies, ensuring both patients and nurses are better supported.
After a hard-fought battle, nurses at Antelope Valley Medical Center in California avoided a strike and won improved staffing ratios, wage increases, and enhanced protections for patient care standards.
Nurses across New York successfully negotiated contracts that included higher shift differentials, specialty pay for advanced skills, and stronger protections against workplace violence.
Nurses at CHI Mercy Health in Oregon achieved a new contract that increased wages by up to 20% and strengthened provisions for safe staffing, giving nurses the resources they need to provide excellent care.
Seton Medical Center nurses in Texas celebrated their first-ever union contract, which included raises, fair scheduling practices, and improved time-off policies, setting a precedent for advocacy in the region.
Nurses in Washington state secured significant improvements in their contracts, including higher wages, safer working conditions, and expanded mental health support for healthcare staff
Chances are you don’t have to look far to see how nurses can drive meaningful change. Can you think of an example of nurse advocacy that you’ve seen lately? Whether it's speaking up about unsafe staffing, championing patient safety, or improving work environments, nurses' advocacy efforts simply lead to better healthcare for all.
Challenges in Nurse Advocacy (And How to Beat Them)
While advocating for change in healthcare can come with challenges– like time constraints, fear of speaking up, or limited resources– remember you are not alone, and your voice matters.
Every nurse has the power to advocate for meaningful change that can improve patient care, workplace conditions, and the nursing profession itself. Here are a few tips to get started:
Consider breaking down your advocacy goals into small, manageable steps.
Start simple. Read a policy update during your break or join a professional organization to stay informed.
Join forces with a larger organization or group of nurses who are already doing advocacy work in an area you care about.
If the fear of speaking up holds you back, find support from your colleagues, mentors, or the Rubie nurse community.
Often, just knowing you're not alone makes all the difference. For those feeling overwhelmed by limited resources, remember that advocacy doesn’t always require significant funding or huge changes. It’s often about using what you already have, such as knowledge, connections, or passion, to make a difference.
Empowering Nurses to Make a Difference
Are you ready to take that first step as a nurse advocate? We’re here to support you– advocacy in nursing plays a critical part in transforming healthcare for the better. Remember that every nurse has the ability and power to advocate for meaningful change, and every nurse has to start somewhere.
So, go ahead– speak up in that meeting, join that organization, sign that petition, or simply share a patient safety concern. Remember that your actions, no matter how small, contribute to a much larger movement for positive change.
Together, nurses can improve healthcare for everyone. Let your voice as a nurse advocate be part of the movement toward a better and safer future for healthcare, nurses, and patients alike!
💎 Join the Rubie nurse community and start your advocacy journey today!
As a nurse, you have a front-row seat to the real-world challenges of healthcare, making you uniquely positioned to lead advocacy in nursing. Advocacy empowers you to create meaningful change that extends beyond patient care and impacts healthcare policy and workplace conditions. Advocacy creates a healthier and supportive environment for patients and nurses, and improves healthcare as a whole.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) makes it clear that advocacy is essential. Advocacy helps nurses have a voice in shaping important healthcare policies, improving patient care, and transforming workplace conditions. Nurses can make an incredible impact when they unite and speak up for what’s right.
Advocacy in nursing is more than a professional duty—it’s a way to shape the future of healthcare. In this guide, we’ll dive into why advocacy matters in nursing, plus how to harness it to drive real and meaningful change. It doesn’t matter if you're an experienced advocate looking to grow or just beginning to find your voice– we’ll give you the steps, tools, and support you need to start making a difference.
Are you ready to turn your passion into action? Let’s get started!
Why Advocacy Matters in Nursing
Nurses are not just caregivers! They are leaders, advocates, and innovators who work hard every day to provide the best care possible in often challenging and frustrating environments. Your experience as a nurse gives you the unique perspective to identify and advocate for what truly matters.
Let’s look at how advocacy can make a difference in three key areas: patient care, healthcare policy, and the workplace.
Impact on Patient Care
Why is advocacy important in nursing? Advocacy saves lives– it ensures that patients receive the best and safest care possible. Nurses’ close interaction with patients gives them a unique ability to identify and address issues that affect patient care outcomes.
Here are specific ways nurses can advocate for better patient care:
Improve patient safety: Advocate for safer practices, better staffing ratios, and updated procedures to enhance care delivery.
Protect patient rights: Ensure patients are informed, respected, and actively involved in their healthcare decisions.
Promote compassionate care: Remember, patients are more than diagnoses—they are people deserving dignity and quality care.
By speaking up, you help ensure that hospitals and healthcare systems prioritize safe patient care.
Influence on Healthcare Policy
Advocacy doesn’t stop at the bedside—it extends into the realm of healthcare policy. As a nurse, you can support policies that positively affect healthcare, working conditions, and patient outcomes– and stand up against those that don’t. Nurses bring unique frontline perspectives to policy discussions, which makes them critical voices in shaping laws and regulations that improve healthcare systems.
Here’s how nurses can influence healthcare policy:
Support impactful legislation: Advocate for laws that expand healthcare access, improve equity, and address workforce needs.
Promote research and innovation: Push for policies that encourage funding for scientific advancements and innovation in healthcare.
Advocate for patient-focused policies: Ensure regulations reflect the needs of patients and frontline workers, such as safe staffing standards.
By engaging in policy advocacy, nurses can create systemic changes that benefit both patients and healthcare providers.
Workplace Improvements
Advocacy within your workplace, unit, or hospital is critical to creating a safe, supportive, and effective work environment. Nurses often face challenges like burnout, unsafe staffing ratios, workplace violence, and inadequate mental health resources—all of which directly impact patient care and nurse well-being.
Here are practical ways to advocate for workplace improvements:
Address workplace issues: Advocate for better pay, safer staffing ratios, and improved benefits to promote a healthier workforce.
Enhance safety protocols: Push for resources and procedures that protect nurses from workplace violence and burnout.
Champion mental health: Advocate for programs and policies that provide mental health support and reduce stress.
When you speak up—whether in meetings, through written proposals, or by collaborating with unions—you can drive positive change for your peers and patients
Types of Advocacy in Nursing
Now that we’ve explored the importance of advocacy in the workplace, let’s dive into the many ways to be a nurse advocate! Start thinking of a topic that you are passionate about. Here are three of the most common types of advocacy and how nurses can make a difference in each.
Patient Advocacy
Patient advocacy in nursing involves speaking up on behalf of your patients– it’s something you likely do every day! Here are some examples:
Addressing and escalating questions or concerns
Promoting dignity and comfort
Providing culturally sensitive care
Protecting your patient’s right to privacy
Ensuring informed consent
Policy Advocacy
Nurses can improve patient care at the local, state, and national levels when they get involved in policy advocacy. Here’s how:
Support regulations that create safe healthcare
Expand mental health and substance abuse services
Advocate for improved healthcare coverage
Promote research, science, and innovation
Learn about local, state, and national laws and government
Professional Advocacy:
Nurses who advocate for their profession can create better working conditions, job satisfaction, and safer healthcare– which benefits nurses, patients, and communities! Here are some examples:
Support fair wages and benefits
Demand safe staffing ratios
Advocate for better mental healthcare and support for nurses
Promote improved access to continuing education and development
Push for safe working environments
How to Get Started with Advocacy in Nursing
Now that you’ve thought of some ideas and types of nurse advocacy that resonate with you, plus learned why they are important– let’s go over how to get started. It’s probably easier than you think! Here are a few practical steps to get started today.
Get Informed
The first step in becoming a nurse advocate is to learn about the issues and policies impacting patients, healthcare, and the nursing profession.
Building your knowledge gives you the confidence and credibility to speak out effectively. Here’s how to get started:
Stay updated with reputable sources: Read articles and reports from trusted organizations like:
Your state nursing board
Join professional communities: Engage with local nurses’ associations or unions to stay connected and learn from experienced advocates.
Expand your knowledge base: Consider pursuing further education in nursing leadership, public health, or policy advocacy to deepen your understanding of the bigger picture.
When you are well-informed, you will be prepared and confident to speak out on the issues that matter most to you, your colleagues, and your patients.
Join Professional Organizations
In addition to being a great source of the latest healthcare topics and information, professional organizations offer fantastic resources and opportunities for nurses to get started at local, state, and national levels.
Becoming a member of the American Nurses Association or another organization specific to your nursing specialty will give you opportunities to attend conferences, participate in a professional community, and gain quick access to relevant information.
Many of these organizations also work to influence policy change– and contributing your voice to their efforts is a great starting place. The ANA actively works to improve nursing practice, patient safety, and workplace conditions.
Connect with Mentors and Advocates
Just like an experienced nurse precepted you and helped you begin your nursing career, experienced nurse advocates are a huge help if you are just getting started.
Seasoned nurse advocates can offer guidance, tips, and support as you begin. The world of healthcare and nursing advocacy is complex, and working with a mentor is a valuable way to build your skills.
The Rubie Community is a great place to network and connect with nurses who share your passions and interests– in advocacy and more! Our online and in-person communities are great places to find or provide mentorship and support.
Start Small
There are many ways to be a nurse advocate. After all, we bet you are busy juggling multiple important things in your life– just like most nurses we know! Starting small is perfect. This makes advocacy less overwhelming and more achievable, plus small steps add up to a significant impact with time.
Another way to start advocating is by speaking up in team meetings or huddles. Voicing your opinions and concerns to management or writing a letter to hospital administration are great ways to improve patient care, address unsafe practices, and begin to see that your voice can make a difference.
Remember that small steps help build momentum– your advocacy efforts will grow over time and have a more significant impact.
Real-Life Examples of Nursing Advocacy
Now, let’s look at some real-life and inspiring examples of nurses making a difference! Advocating as a nurse allows you to make positive changes for patients, other nurses, and the healthcare system.
Policy reform- National Nurses United (NNU), along with nurses from all over the United States, are doing incredible work shaping public policy to create a safer environment for nurses and patients. Here’s some of the latest news and ways to get involved:
Safe Staffing Ratios- From local initiatives to national movements, nurses are pushing for laws that make safe staffing the rule, not the exception. Check out the latest efforts and join the cause!
Workplace Violence Prevention- Advocacy efforts are underway to mandate comprehensive workplace violence prevention programs. Speak up, because protecting the protectors is always worth the fight.
Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)'s Impact on Nursing Care- AI is transforming healthcare, but it comes with challenges. Nurses are working to ensure AI tools are implemented safely, effectively, and ethically—for both patients and healthcare teams. Advocacy here means shaping the future while keeping patient care at the center.
Equality and Social Justice - Nurses are using their voices to tackle issues like racial, gender, and environmental equity in healthcare. Advocacy in these areas isn’t just about improving policies—it’s about ensuring fair and compassionate care for everyone.
Health and Safety- From infection prevention to public health policies, nurses are leading the charge to improve safety standards for patients and providers. Advocacy here ensures healthcare environments remain safe, clean, and supportive for all.
Workplace improvements: This year, nurses have been able to negotiate competitive wages, improved benefits, and better working conditions. These victories show the power of speaking up and standing together. Here are a few recent wins we want to highlight:
Nurses at Providence Alaska Medical Center secured substantial pay increases and better health benefits after months of negotiations. They also successfully advocated for safer staffing policies, ensuring both patients and nurses are better supported.
After a hard-fought battle, nurses at Antelope Valley Medical Center in California avoided a strike and won improved staffing ratios, wage increases, and enhanced protections for patient care standards.
Nurses across New York successfully negotiated contracts that included higher shift differentials, specialty pay for advanced skills, and stronger protections against workplace violence.
Nurses at CHI Mercy Health in Oregon achieved a new contract that increased wages by up to 20% and strengthened provisions for safe staffing, giving nurses the resources they need to provide excellent care.
Seton Medical Center nurses in Texas celebrated their first-ever union contract, which included raises, fair scheduling practices, and improved time-off policies, setting a precedent for advocacy in the region.
Nurses in Washington state secured significant improvements in their contracts, including higher wages, safer working conditions, and expanded mental health support for healthcare staff
Chances are you don’t have to look far to see how nurses can drive meaningful change. Can you think of an example of nurse advocacy that you’ve seen lately? Whether it's speaking up about unsafe staffing, championing patient safety, or improving work environments, nurses' advocacy efforts simply lead to better healthcare for all.
Challenges in Nurse Advocacy (And How to Beat Them)
While advocating for change in healthcare can come with challenges– like time constraints, fear of speaking up, or limited resources– remember you are not alone, and your voice matters.
Every nurse has the power to advocate for meaningful change that can improve patient care, workplace conditions, and the nursing profession itself. Here are a few tips to get started:
Consider breaking down your advocacy goals into small, manageable steps.
Start simple. Read a policy update during your break or join a professional organization to stay informed.
Join forces with a larger organization or group of nurses who are already doing advocacy work in an area you care about.
If the fear of speaking up holds you back, find support from your colleagues, mentors, or the Rubie nurse community.
Often, just knowing you're not alone makes all the difference. For those feeling overwhelmed by limited resources, remember that advocacy doesn’t always require significant funding or huge changes. It’s often about using what you already have, such as knowledge, connections, or passion, to make a difference.
Empowering Nurses to Make a Difference
Are you ready to take that first step as a nurse advocate? We’re here to support you– advocacy in nursing plays a critical part in transforming healthcare for the better. Remember that every nurse has the ability and power to advocate for meaningful change, and every nurse has to start somewhere.
So, go ahead– speak up in that meeting, join that organization, sign that petition, or simply share a patient safety concern. Remember that your actions, no matter how small, contribute to a much larger movement for positive change.
Together, nurses can improve healthcare for everyone. Let your voice as a nurse advocate be part of the movement toward a better and safer future for healthcare, nurses, and patients alike!
💎 Join the Rubie nurse community and start your advocacy journey today!
As a nurse, you have a front-row seat to the real-world challenges of healthcare, making you uniquely positioned to lead advocacy in nursing. Advocacy empowers you to create meaningful change that extends beyond patient care and impacts healthcare policy and workplace conditions. Advocacy creates a healthier and supportive environment for patients and nurses, and improves healthcare as a whole.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) makes it clear that advocacy is essential. Advocacy helps nurses have a voice in shaping important healthcare policies, improving patient care, and transforming workplace conditions. Nurses can make an incredible impact when they unite and speak up for what’s right.
Advocacy in nursing is more than a professional duty—it’s a way to shape the future of healthcare. In this guide, we’ll dive into why advocacy matters in nursing, plus how to harness it to drive real and meaningful change. It doesn’t matter if you're an experienced advocate looking to grow or just beginning to find your voice– we’ll give you the steps, tools, and support you need to start making a difference.
Are you ready to turn your passion into action? Let’s get started!
Why Advocacy Matters in Nursing
Nurses are not just caregivers! They are leaders, advocates, and innovators who work hard every day to provide the best care possible in often challenging and frustrating environments. Your experience as a nurse gives you the unique perspective to identify and advocate for what truly matters.
Let’s look at how advocacy can make a difference in three key areas: patient care, healthcare policy, and the workplace.
Impact on Patient Care
Why is advocacy important in nursing? Advocacy saves lives– it ensures that patients receive the best and safest care possible. Nurses’ close interaction with patients gives them a unique ability to identify and address issues that affect patient care outcomes.
Here are specific ways nurses can advocate for better patient care:
Improve patient safety: Advocate for safer practices, better staffing ratios, and updated procedures to enhance care delivery.
Protect patient rights: Ensure patients are informed, respected, and actively involved in their healthcare decisions.
Promote compassionate care: Remember, patients are more than diagnoses—they are people deserving dignity and quality care.
By speaking up, you help ensure that hospitals and healthcare systems prioritize safe patient care.
Influence on Healthcare Policy
Advocacy doesn’t stop at the bedside—it extends into the realm of healthcare policy. As a nurse, you can support policies that positively affect healthcare, working conditions, and patient outcomes– and stand up against those that don’t. Nurses bring unique frontline perspectives to policy discussions, which makes them critical voices in shaping laws and regulations that improve healthcare systems.
Here’s how nurses can influence healthcare policy:
Support impactful legislation: Advocate for laws that expand healthcare access, improve equity, and address workforce needs.
Promote research and innovation: Push for policies that encourage funding for scientific advancements and innovation in healthcare.
Advocate for patient-focused policies: Ensure regulations reflect the needs of patients and frontline workers, such as safe staffing standards.
By engaging in policy advocacy, nurses can create systemic changes that benefit both patients and healthcare providers.
Workplace Improvements
Advocacy within your workplace, unit, or hospital is critical to creating a safe, supportive, and effective work environment. Nurses often face challenges like burnout, unsafe staffing ratios, workplace violence, and inadequate mental health resources—all of which directly impact patient care and nurse well-being.
Here are practical ways to advocate for workplace improvements:
Address workplace issues: Advocate for better pay, safer staffing ratios, and improved benefits to promote a healthier workforce.
Enhance safety protocols: Push for resources and procedures that protect nurses from workplace violence and burnout.
Champion mental health: Advocate for programs and policies that provide mental health support and reduce stress.
When you speak up—whether in meetings, through written proposals, or by collaborating with unions—you can drive positive change for your peers and patients
Types of Advocacy in Nursing
Now that we’ve explored the importance of advocacy in the workplace, let’s dive into the many ways to be a nurse advocate! Start thinking of a topic that you are passionate about. Here are three of the most common types of advocacy and how nurses can make a difference in each.
Patient Advocacy
Patient advocacy in nursing involves speaking up on behalf of your patients– it’s something you likely do every day! Here are some examples:
Addressing and escalating questions or concerns
Promoting dignity and comfort
Providing culturally sensitive care
Protecting your patient’s right to privacy
Ensuring informed consent
Policy Advocacy
Nurses can improve patient care at the local, state, and national levels when they get involved in policy advocacy. Here’s how:
Support regulations that create safe healthcare
Expand mental health and substance abuse services
Advocate for improved healthcare coverage
Promote research, science, and innovation
Learn about local, state, and national laws and government
Professional Advocacy:
Nurses who advocate for their profession can create better working conditions, job satisfaction, and safer healthcare– which benefits nurses, patients, and communities! Here are some examples:
Support fair wages and benefits
Demand safe staffing ratios
Advocate for better mental healthcare and support for nurses
Promote improved access to continuing education and development
Push for safe working environments
How to Get Started with Advocacy in Nursing
Now that you’ve thought of some ideas and types of nurse advocacy that resonate with you, plus learned why they are important– let’s go over how to get started. It’s probably easier than you think! Here are a few practical steps to get started today.
Get Informed
The first step in becoming a nurse advocate is to learn about the issues and policies impacting patients, healthcare, and the nursing profession.
Building your knowledge gives you the confidence and credibility to speak out effectively. Here’s how to get started:
Stay updated with reputable sources: Read articles and reports from trusted organizations like:
Your state nursing board
Join professional communities: Engage with local nurses’ associations or unions to stay connected and learn from experienced advocates.
Expand your knowledge base: Consider pursuing further education in nursing leadership, public health, or policy advocacy to deepen your understanding of the bigger picture.
When you are well-informed, you will be prepared and confident to speak out on the issues that matter most to you, your colleagues, and your patients.
Join Professional Organizations
In addition to being a great source of the latest healthcare topics and information, professional organizations offer fantastic resources and opportunities for nurses to get started at local, state, and national levels.
Becoming a member of the American Nurses Association or another organization specific to your nursing specialty will give you opportunities to attend conferences, participate in a professional community, and gain quick access to relevant information.
Many of these organizations also work to influence policy change– and contributing your voice to their efforts is a great starting place. The ANA actively works to improve nursing practice, patient safety, and workplace conditions.
Connect with Mentors and Advocates
Just like an experienced nurse precepted you and helped you begin your nursing career, experienced nurse advocates are a huge help if you are just getting started.
Seasoned nurse advocates can offer guidance, tips, and support as you begin. The world of healthcare and nursing advocacy is complex, and working with a mentor is a valuable way to build your skills.
The Rubie Community is a great place to network and connect with nurses who share your passions and interests– in advocacy and more! Our online and in-person communities are great places to find or provide mentorship and support.
Start Small
There are many ways to be a nurse advocate. After all, we bet you are busy juggling multiple important things in your life– just like most nurses we know! Starting small is perfect. This makes advocacy less overwhelming and more achievable, plus small steps add up to a significant impact with time.
Another way to start advocating is by speaking up in team meetings or huddles. Voicing your opinions and concerns to management or writing a letter to hospital administration are great ways to improve patient care, address unsafe practices, and begin to see that your voice can make a difference.
Remember that small steps help build momentum– your advocacy efforts will grow over time and have a more significant impact.
Real-Life Examples of Nursing Advocacy
Now, let’s look at some real-life and inspiring examples of nurses making a difference! Advocating as a nurse allows you to make positive changes for patients, other nurses, and the healthcare system.
Policy reform- National Nurses United (NNU), along with nurses from all over the United States, are doing incredible work shaping public policy to create a safer environment for nurses and patients. Here’s some of the latest news and ways to get involved:
Safe Staffing Ratios- From local initiatives to national movements, nurses are pushing for laws that make safe staffing the rule, not the exception. Check out the latest efforts and join the cause!
Workplace Violence Prevention- Advocacy efforts are underway to mandate comprehensive workplace violence prevention programs. Speak up, because protecting the protectors is always worth the fight.
Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)'s Impact on Nursing Care- AI is transforming healthcare, but it comes with challenges. Nurses are working to ensure AI tools are implemented safely, effectively, and ethically—for both patients and healthcare teams. Advocacy here means shaping the future while keeping patient care at the center.
Equality and Social Justice - Nurses are using their voices to tackle issues like racial, gender, and environmental equity in healthcare. Advocacy in these areas isn’t just about improving policies—it’s about ensuring fair and compassionate care for everyone.
Health and Safety- From infection prevention to public health policies, nurses are leading the charge to improve safety standards for patients and providers. Advocacy here ensures healthcare environments remain safe, clean, and supportive for all.
Workplace improvements: This year, nurses have been able to negotiate competitive wages, improved benefits, and better working conditions. These victories show the power of speaking up and standing together. Here are a few recent wins we want to highlight:
Nurses at Providence Alaska Medical Center secured substantial pay increases and better health benefits after months of negotiations. They also successfully advocated for safer staffing policies, ensuring both patients and nurses are better supported.
After a hard-fought battle, nurses at Antelope Valley Medical Center in California avoided a strike and won improved staffing ratios, wage increases, and enhanced protections for patient care standards.
Nurses across New York successfully negotiated contracts that included higher shift differentials, specialty pay for advanced skills, and stronger protections against workplace violence.
Nurses at CHI Mercy Health in Oregon achieved a new contract that increased wages by up to 20% and strengthened provisions for safe staffing, giving nurses the resources they need to provide excellent care.
Seton Medical Center nurses in Texas celebrated their first-ever union contract, which included raises, fair scheduling practices, and improved time-off policies, setting a precedent for advocacy in the region.
Nurses in Washington state secured significant improvements in their contracts, including higher wages, safer working conditions, and expanded mental health support for healthcare staff
Chances are you don’t have to look far to see how nurses can drive meaningful change. Can you think of an example of nurse advocacy that you’ve seen lately? Whether it's speaking up about unsafe staffing, championing patient safety, or improving work environments, nurses' advocacy efforts simply lead to better healthcare for all.
Challenges in Nurse Advocacy (And How to Beat Them)
While advocating for change in healthcare can come with challenges– like time constraints, fear of speaking up, or limited resources– remember you are not alone, and your voice matters.
Every nurse has the power to advocate for meaningful change that can improve patient care, workplace conditions, and the nursing profession itself. Here are a few tips to get started:
Consider breaking down your advocacy goals into small, manageable steps.
Start simple. Read a policy update during your break or join a professional organization to stay informed.
Join forces with a larger organization or group of nurses who are already doing advocacy work in an area you care about.
If the fear of speaking up holds you back, find support from your colleagues, mentors, or the Rubie nurse community.
Often, just knowing you're not alone makes all the difference. For those feeling overwhelmed by limited resources, remember that advocacy doesn’t always require significant funding or huge changes. It’s often about using what you already have, such as knowledge, connections, or passion, to make a difference.
Empowering Nurses to Make a Difference
Are you ready to take that first step as a nurse advocate? We’re here to support you– advocacy in nursing plays a critical part in transforming healthcare for the better. Remember that every nurse has the ability and power to advocate for meaningful change, and every nurse has to start somewhere.
So, go ahead– speak up in that meeting, join that organization, sign that petition, or simply share a patient safety concern. Remember that your actions, no matter how small, contribute to a much larger movement for positive change.
Together, nurses can improve healthcare for everyone. Let your voice as a nurse advocate be part of the movement toward a better and safer future for healthcare, nurses, and patients alike!
💎 Join the Rubie nurse community and start your advocacy journey today!
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