Introduction
One cannot imagine a successful healthcare system that would be effective without nurses. The fact is that these medical workers perform significant functions to improve patient outcomes, which is achieved thanks to leadership qualities; a personal example can support the effectiveness of these qualities. Thus, nurses, as leaders, should use some advocacy strategies to create positive changes in their current workplace and contribute to better outcomes.
Advocacy Strategies
Nowadays, there are many strategies, and each of them can be useful in this or that situation. According to Walker et al., they are represented by the following areas of application: staffing, healthy work environment, education, and recognition. Each of these fields implies separate strategies that can be used by nursing leaders. As for staffing, an approach is to “use data from sources such as the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators to support staffing ratios” (Walker et al., 2015, p. 67). A healthy work environment refers to a proper delegation that should contribute to more effective performance. An educational advocacy strategy deals with a skill to mentor younger and less experienced employees. Finally, recognition relates to the fact that a leader should reward staff members for their achievements. As for my personal experience, I provided leadership to my colleagues when they conflicted. I organized their conversation to let them express their thoughts and settle the dispute. If I had to deal with that situation again, I would not do anything differently.
Conclusion
Various advocacy strategies can be used by nursing leaders to create positive change. These strategies can come from four different spheres, and each of them has its guidance and peculiarities. It refers to staffing, a healthy work environment, education, and recognition. In addition to that, the personal experience is presented; it introduces a useful example of how almost every person can use a leadership strategy to handle some personal and professional issues.
Reference
Walker, D. K., Barton-Burke, M., Saria, M. G., Gosselin, T., Ireland, A., Norton, V., & Newton, S. (2015). Everyday advocates: Nursing advocacy is a full-time job. American Journal of Nursing, 115(8), 66-70.