What is the nurse’s role in patient advocacy during communications?

What is the nurse’s role in patient advocacy during communications?

• A. Speak on behalf of the physician's plan only
• B. Keep patient preferences private
• C. Speak up for patient preferences, rights, and needs; ensure information is understood and decisions align with patient values
• D. Make all decisions for the patient

Answer: (C)

Advocacy in communication means actively ensuring the patient’s voice guides care. The best approach is to speak up for patient preferences, rights, and needs, verify that information is understood, and help ensure choices align with the patient’s values. This involves listening carefully, asking about goals and concerns, presenting information in plain language, and using teach-back to confirm understanding. The nurse supports informed consent and shared decision-making, enables patient autonomy, and coordinates with the health care team to reflect the patient’s wishes in the plan. Avoid limiting the patient’s voice to the physician’s plan, keeping preferences private, or making decisions without the patient. By centering the patient’s values and ensuring comprehension, the nurse helps the patient participate in care decisions and protects their rights and safety.

Advocacy in communication means actively ensuring the patient’s voice guides care. The best approach is to speak up for patient preferences, rights, and needs, verify that information is understood, and help ensure choices align with the patient’s values. This involves listening carefully, asking about goals and concerns, presenting information in plain language, and using teach-back to confirm understanding. The nurse supports informed consent and shared decision-making, enables patient autonomy, and coordinates with the health care team to reflect the patient’s wishes in the plan.

Avoid limiting the patient’s voice to the physician’s plan, keeping preferences private, or making decisions without the patient. By centering the patient’s values and ensuring comprehension, the nurse helps the patient participate in care decisions and protects their rights and safety.