The Importance of Nursing and Patient Advocacy in the Changing Health care Environment

The role of nurses as patient advocates in health care is not a new one. Since Florence Nightingale, nurses have been the ones to identify patient needs and have fought for ways to have these needs met. Modern nursing practice aims at addressing these needs in a way that is consistent with the patient’s individual views, rights and wishes. Nurses have many opportunities to observe first-hand the positives and negatives of the current health care system, thus enabling us to identify the needs and concerns related to the care patients currently receive (or don’t receive). It is nurses who are trusted by both patients and the public; therefore we are in a unique position to act as advocates. During this presentation, we will discuss nursing advocacy and identify examples of how nurses can advocate in the community and the educational and health care systems.

Contact hours available until 10/26/17.

Requirements for Successful Completion:
Complete the learning activity in its entirety and complete the online CNE evaluation. You will be able to print your CNE certificate at any time after you complete the evaluation.

Planning Committee Disclosures:
• Gina Powley - Astellas/Medivation speaker bureau, Ferring Pharmaceuticals speaker bureau
• Leanne Schimke, MSN, CRNP, CUNP - Consultant: Bayer, Speaker's Bureau: Bayer
• Valre Welch, MSN, CPNP - Holister Continence Care Advisory Board; Speaker for Hollister Incontinence Workshops

Speaker Disclosures:
There are no disclosures to declare.

Commercial Support and Sponsorship:
No commercial support or sponsorship declared.

Accreditation Statement:
Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

SUNA is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider number, CEP 5556.

Objectives:
1. Discuss nursing’s role in the new healthcare environment.
2. Describe different forms of nursing advocacy.