Registered Nurses' description of patient advocacy in the clinical setting

Abstract

Aim: To provide Registered Nurses description of patient advocacy in the clinical setting. Design: A qualitative approach with descriptive study design was used to meet the set objective. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to select the study participants. Through semi-structured interview, data were collected from 25 participants, transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The Registered Nurses described patient advocacy as promoting patient safety and quality care which includes the following: protecting patients, being patients' voice, provision of quality care and interpersonal relationship as well as educating patients. The nurses had adequate understanding of patient advocacy and were willing to advocate for patients. There is, however, a need to research into barriers to patient advocacy in the clinical setting. This study made significant contribution to the understanding of patient advocacy and its positive effect on the provision of quality patient care.