"Nursin advocacy" in the elderly: the concept and the practice
Section: Health and quality of life
How to quote
Gárate Etxenike L.“Nursing advocacy”en los ancianos: el concepto y la práctica. Metas Enferm mar 2007; 10(2): 69-73
Authors
Lucía Gárate Etxenike
Position
Diplomada en Enfermería. Master en Enfermería por la Universidad de Edimburgo.
Contact address
Unidad de Neurología de Hospital Txagorritxu. Osakidetza. Servicio Vasco de Salud. C/ José Achótegui, s/n. 01009 Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Contact email: luciagarate@yahoo.es
Abstract
There is growing interest in the field of “Nursing advocacy”. The need to advocate for a patient emerges when the patient
does not have sufficient strength or autonomy to ask for help, to protect him or herself, or to intervene in his or her
benefit and needs someone to do it on his or her behalf.
The elderly is one of the most vulnerable groups in our society and have a greater need for someone to advocate for
them. However, doubts have been raised on whether it is up to the nurse to play this role of advocacy for the patients.
This paper explores the concept of “Nursing advocacy” and analyses how elderly people could benefit from this advocacy
role. The difficulties encountered by the nurse when advocating or defending patients are also evaluated and possible solutions provided, so that this new field of action is rapidly introduced and finds its place in nursing practice.
Keywords:
To advocate; elderly; autonomy; self-care; fundamentals of Nursing
Versión en Español
Título:
"Nursing Advocacy" en los ancianos: el concepto y la práctica