Advocacy - strengthening the foundation of caring

摘要

Over my nearly 30 years in nursing, I have witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly in situations where nurses have had to advocate for a desired change. On the good side, there are those who are seemingly born with negotiation skills. They approach difficult or challenging situations with the right combination of grace, strategy and skill that promotes collaboration with key parties and a successful outcome. The 'bad' situations often involve nurses who lack basic assertiveness or conflict-resolution skills. It is often evidenced in their desire to avoid or retreat from potentially tough encounters and protect themselves. This non-action might prevent a taxing interaction from occurring, but someone's needs will go unmet. Clearly, the consequences of non-action can be significant, especially if patient safety or wellbeing is at stake. Finally, I will wager that all of us have seen the 'ugly.' In this state of affairs, bullies emerge.