Celebrating Advocacy as a Powerful Tool for Empowerment and Professional Affiliation

1. Advocacy as a Pillar of Nursing: The American Nurses Association (ANA) emphasizes that advocacy is a fundamental aspect of nursing. As nurses we advocate for patients, workplaces, and communities, and legislative advocacy is crucial for advancing the profession and patient care1. As Palliative and Hospice Nurses we can advocate for patients' end of life goals and needs.
2. Impact on Public Policy: We can draw from our extensive patient experiences to influence public policy. By sharing our insights with public and elected officials, we can effectively advocate for patients and become a powerful force in the policy-making process2.
3. Empowerment through Advocacy: Advocacy in nursing empowers nurses to champion patient rights, uphold ethical care, and play a crucial role in health outcomes3. It helps us realize that there are steps we can take to improve situations and outcomes. Coming together as advocacy partners within HPNA/ANA enables us to synergize and energize our collaborative efforts.

These points highlight how advocacy efforts can empower us as nurses by giving us a voice in policy-making and enabling us to better serve patients and communities.

1: Legislative and Political Advocacy for Nurses | ANA 2: Patient Advocacy in the Community and Legislative Arena 3: Advocacy in Nursing: Empowering Care | NSHCOA