**Championing Patient Advocacy: The Vital Role of Nurses in Addressing Frailty and End-of-Life Care in Acute Settings**
As healthcare professionals, nurses hold a critical role as patient advocates, especially when it comes to the care of those facing age- or disease-based frailty. When patients are admitted to acute care settings, their vulnerabilities demand more than just standard medical assessments—they require a holistic approach that prioritizes their quality of life.
In these moments, it is imperative that nurses step forward to ensure that these special assessments are conducted, identifying when a patient may benefit from a quality of life evaluation or a hospice consultation. By doing so, we not only address the immediate medical needs but also uphold the dignity and preferences of our patients during some of the most challenging times in their lives.
Let’s remember that advocacy is not just about speaking up; it’s about ensuring that every aspect of our patients’ well-being is considered. This approach is crucial in guiding acute care teams to deliver compassionate, appropriate care that honors the person, not just the patient.
#NursingLeadership#PatientAdvocacy#HospiceCare#QualityOfLife#HealthcareExcellence#NurseLife#CompassionateCare
🚨 Urgent Call to Action 🚨……
Patient neglect in hospitals and nurse understaffing are critical issues that demand immediate attention. As a healthcare community, we cannot turn a blind eye to the impact of these systemic challenges on patient care and safety.
Reports of patients not receiving adequate attention, care delays, and compromised outcomes due to understaffing are alarming. Nurses, the backbone of our healthcare system, are being stretched thin, grappling with heavy workloads and limited resources.
It's time to address these issues head-on and advocate for change. We must:
🩺 Demand Safe Staffing Ratios. Ensuring appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios is essential for delivering quality care. Let's push for policies and legislation that mandate safe staffing levels to prevent burnout and enhance patient outcomes.
🩺 Invest in Nurse Training and Support. Providing ongoing education, training, and support for nurses is crucial for maintaining high standards of care. By investing in our nursing workforce, we empower them to deliver the best possible care to patients.
🩺 Advocate for Patient Rights. Patients deserve to receive timely and compassionate care. Let's amplify their voices and advocate for their rights to dignity, respect, and quality healthcare.
🩺 Promote Transparency and Accountability. Transparency in reporting incidents of patient neglect and nurse understaffing is essential for identifying systemic issues and implementing effective solutions. Let's hold healthcare institutions accountable for their commitment to patient safety.
Together, we can make a difference. Let's stand in solidarity with nurses, patients, and advocates to address patient neglect and nurse understaffing in hospitals. Our collective action can bring about positive change and ensure that every patient receives the care and attention they deserve.
#PatientSafety#NurseStaffing#HealthcareAdvocacy#LegalNurseConsultant#MedicalLegalExpert#NurseConsulting#HealthcareLaw#MedicalRecordsAnalysis#ExpertWitness#NurseLegalAdvisor#MedicalLitigation#LegalNurseServices#HealthcareLitigation#NurseExpert#LegalNurseReview#NurseConsultantLife#MedicoLegal#healthcareconsulting
"Patient Advocacy: The Power of Informed Questions"
At the heart of nursing lies a commitment not just to care, but to advocate. Nurses are more than caregivers; we are the voice, the strength, and the champions for our patients in their most vulnerable moments. Our role in patient advocacy is fundamental, intertwining compassion with action to ensure that every individual receives the care they deserve.
Nurses navigate the complexities of healthcare alongside patients, serving as a bridge between medical jargon and human understanding. We are there to listen, to explain, and to support, ensuring that patient preferences and needs are not just considered but prioritized. From the bedside to the boardroom, nurses advocate for safe, compassionate, and patient-centered care.
We are trained to observe not just the clinical signs but the subtle cues that indicate a patient's discomfort, fear, or unspoken needs. It is our duty and our privilege to use this insight to advocate for treatments that respect patients' values, cultural beliefs, and life goals. Our advocacy extends beyond the individual, influencing policies and practices that shape the future of healthcare.
I call upon my fellow nurses to embrace and champion our role as patient advocates. Let's continue to be the unwavering support and voice for our patients, ensuring that every decision respects their dignity and choices. Together, we can make a profound difference in the lives of those we serve. 🌟💬 🌻
#Nursing#PatientAdvocacy#Healthcare#NurseLife#PatientCenteredCare
Here's another in my unofficial 'no surprise here' articles.
I've heard from more than a few nurses and other clinicians advocating in recent years for patient safety who were directed to "stay in their line" by CNOs and CEOs.
Patient safety is the only lane a clinician drives in.
If a 'leader' doesn't acknowledge and support patient and care team safety, they should be fired and drive on home.
"The unlawful termination of the nurses represents a brazen, however fruitless, attempt to punish and silence the nurses......"
Increasing awareness around wrongful termination in matters of patient safety is long overdue.
Clinicians are not the only ones punished and silenced in matters of the care team and patient advocacy; administrators have suffered the wrath for decades.
State whistleblower protection for healthcare workers and the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) support Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) will take this action all the way. 🔥
#patientsafety#nursesonlinkedin#healthcareonlinkedin#voicesmatter#codeofsilence#psychologicalsafety#codeofsilence#bargainingunits
This is what I call the “Hyde of Healthcare.”
I read this story, and what stood out to me the most was what the nurses asked for in litigation. They didn’t ask for retribution regarding emotional damage or a settlement that would afford them the luxury of never working, but they asked to return to work. This may seem strange. Why would they want to return to their source of pain? My guess is they asked to return because, despite the pain, it’s what they love.
Before I definitively draw the parallel of Jekyll and Hyde, it’s Sunday, and I feel the need to turn this post into a message with my LinkedIn nursing family.
When sharing my testimony of what God has brought me through, I often say, “Our pain has a purpose.” In an effort to not get too deep in a sermon that none of you asked for, I’ll just say that I believe God perfectly orchestrates our ashes into beauty. I believe the pain we experience in our lives positions us to be uniquely qualified for our purpose or calling.
For many of us nurses, we believe our purpose is nursing. But I want to be very clear, just because our pain has a purpose, our purpose is not pain!
Nursing, I repeat, our purpose is not pain!
As a profession born out of servitude and love, our purpose can be perverted and abused by what I refer to as a narcissistic system or the “Hyde of Healthcare.”
Being empathetic, compassionate, committed, integral, and yes, I dare say, resilient are all phenomenal qualities when exercised and balanced appropriately. And while these are the very traits that make us the most trusted profession, these traits also make us a target.
Similar to a narcissistic person, a narcissistic healthcare system knows exactly whom to target. First on their list, are those with high levels of empathy and an affinity to forgive and show insurmountable compassion.
Nursing, you’re the perfect target because:
In their grandiosity, you’ll make yourself smaller.
In their brokenness, you’ll remain committed to healing.
In their perpetual abuse, you’ll just become more resilient.
So what should the profession of nursing do when they love the Jekyll of healthcare (ie. Caring for people), but the Hyde is demoralizing?
I have my ideas, and I’ll share them later, but I wanted to discuss what you all thought.
What I will say is, that there is power in your empathy, there is power in your compassion and forgiveness, and there is power in your committed nature—but you must be able to give those things to yourself as much as you give those things to others. Don’t hide from Hyde because you love Jekyll.
Jennifer Mensik Kennedy PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAANElizabeth Rochin Ph.D., RNMelissa Mills, RN, BSN, MHAAmie Archibald-VarleyJudy Didion
LinkedIn Top Voice | Healthcare Systems Transformation Consultant | Passionate Physician & Care Team Advocate | Fierce Patient Advocate | Systems Thinker | Innovator | Mentor | Interim & Fractional Operations Leadership
Here's another in my unofficial 'no surprise here' articles.
I've heard from more than a few nurses and other clinicians advocating in recent years for patient safety who were directed to "stay in their line" by CNOs and CEOs.
Patient safety is the only lane a clinician drives in.
If a 'leader' doesn't acknowledge and support patient and care team safety, they should be fired and drive on home.
"The unlawful termination of the nurses represents a brazen, however fruitless, attempt to punish and silence the nurses......"
Increasing awareness around wrongful termination in matters of patient safety is long overdue.
Clinicians are not the only ones punished and silenced in matters of the care team and patient advocacy; administrators have suffered the wrath for decades.
State whistleblower protection for healthcare workers and the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) support Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) will take this action all the way. 🔥
#patientsafety#nursesonlinkedin#healthcareonlinkedin#voicesmatter#codeofsilence#psychologicalsafety#codeofsilence#bargainingunits
In the dynamic landscape of healthcare, nurses play a vital role not only in delivering patient care but also in advocating for the well-being of individuals, communities, and the profession itself. “From Care to Action: Basics of Nurse Advocacy” is a comprehensive course designed to empower nurses with the foundational knowledge and skills to become effective advocates.
Through a interactive lectures, case studies, role-playing exercises, and discussions, participants will gain practical insights and tools to integrate advocacy principles into their nursing practice. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3wrlI9l
Post Acute/ Longterm care nurses in DE- are you involved in your local provider group? DHCFA is the state association of AHCA. Learn how to advocate with your elected officials about all things nursing- and the needs of our residents in ALF & SNF.
Check out the strategies below from an elected legislator & nurse.
#DHCFA#NewNurseLeader
✨ "Nursing must be present and vocal at healthcare policy tables; it is on us to get there. We cannot expect an invitation to participate." - Gale Adcock, MSN, FNP-BC.
Senator Adcock shares strategies for nurses to develop their advocacy skills. 🗣️💪
🔗 Read more: Link: https://ow.ly/F8vr50S6Qik
**Nurses: Your Voice Matters in Policy and Law-Making!**
As healthcare professionals, nurses are at the forefront of patient care and have a unique perspective on the challenges and needs within our healthcare system. Yet, many of us may not realize the significant impact we can have on shaping healthcare policies and laws.
**Why Should Nurses Get Involved?**
1. **Expert Insight:** Nurses bring invaluable, hands-on experience to the table, ensuring that policies are practical and patient-centered.
2. **Advocacy:** By participating in policy-making, nurses can advocate for better working conditions, patient safety, and overall healthcare improvements.
3. **Leadership:** Engaging in policy and law-making helps nurses develop leadership skills and influence the future of healthcare.
**How Can You Get Started?**
- **Educate Yourself:** Learn about current healthcare policies and legislative processes. Attend workshops, webinars, and conferences focused on healthcare policy.
- **Join Professional Organizations:** Many nursing organizations offer resources and opportunities to get involved in advocacy and policy-making.
- **Network:** Connect with other healthcare professionals, policymakers, and legislators. Share your experiences and insights.
- **Take Action:** Participate in advocacy campaigns, write to your representatives, and consider running for office or joining advisory boards.
Your voice is powerful. Together, we can drive meaningful change in our healthcare system. Let's step up and make a difference!
#NursingLeadership#HealthcarePolicy#NurseAdvocacy#HealthcareReform#NursesLead
