Nurses have unique opportunities to transform the nursing profession positively through leadership and advocacy. Currently, the healthcare sector is undergoing rapid changes accompanied by various challenges. Consequently, the impacts are widespread in all practice settings (Tomajan, 2012). For instance, increased financial stress, ambiguity about healthcare reforms, new technologies, nurse staffing, and shortage, as well as increasing patient numbers have put much pressure on nurses. These challenges and changes can have unprecedented effects on nursing resource allocations, decision-making and ultimately lead to poor work conditions and patient outcomes. Amidst these issues, nurses can define new opportunities (Tomajan, 2012). For instance, nurses will have opportunities to voice their grievances, propose favorable policies, and improve nurse advocacy and leadership, as well as the image of the profession.
Nurse leaders and advocates can advocate for nurses, patients, and the profession. They may focus on resource mobilization and advocate for better working environments for nurses.
Nurse leaders can advocate for nursing resources, particularly during change processes and resource allocation. Nursing advocacy for resources is vital in facilities with scarce resources, budget scrutiny, change, and work process redesign (Tomajan, 2012). Nurse leadership and advocacy promote nurse involvement in decision-making processes and comprehension of ongoing issues in the healthcare sector.
Nurse leaders can engage nurses in decision-making processes in different ways. They can encourage nurses to provide their inputs on various issues, including resource allocation and patient quality of care. In addition, nurse leadership would advocate for change in policies to promote the nursing profession and education. At the same time, they would promote open communication, a collaboration between nursing administrators and nurse and multidisciplinary teams.
Reference
Tomajan, K. (2012). Advocating for Nurses and Nursing. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 17(1), Manuscript 4. Web.