You're faced with advocating for a patient who can't make decisions. How do you ensure their needs are met?

First and most obvious step, is the legal checks ensure whether the patient has a power of attorney, advance directives, or guardianship in place, making sure legal representatives, if needed, are involved. If legal authority isn’t clear, patient’s values, wishes and past statements are paramount important, of course after making sure they align with medical realities. Involving family is also good, but make sure we explain that family input, while important, isn’t always decisive; the HCP team’s insights and ethical guidelines must also considered to ensures we aren’t acting on emotion alone. Finally, the role of ethics committees maintain fairness and balance in the decision-making process among all stakeholders.

Transparency is key. Disclosing to the closest family member the situation will help navigate through the process of decision making. Explaining pros and cons of certain decisions will also clarify the gravity of the situation and the importance to take immediate action.

Prioritize the needs of those who can't make decisions. Empowerment and compassion are key. Communicate effectively with healthcare providers, advocate for their best interests, and involve loved ones in the decision-making process. Your voice can make a significant difference in their journey.

Don't forget these 5 tips: 1?? Respect autonomy & act in best interest 2?? Consider patient's values & past wishes 3?? Consult family & friends 4?? Review written statements 5?? Balance ethics & care Ensuring patient needs are met ethically requires careful consideration and collaboration. ???? #PatientAdvocacy #HealthcareEthics

Interdisciplinary collaboration is key to successful patient advocacy. Communicating with providers, social workers, and other members of the patients team helps ensure everyone is on the same page for what the patient needs.

Sometimes the interdisciplinary team is not connected, especially if the patient is paying for private services. In those cases, reaching out to the other healthcare practitioners is critical to ensure synergy amongst the team and avoid miscommunication. You can directly ask the patient or their family members for the professionals' contact info and introduce yourself, explaining the reasons to reach out and encourage the team to share their view points and patient's progress.

Health literacy is key. Teach your patient and family members about their disease. Bring brochures, share articles links or youtube videos that explain their condition in a simple way to understand. Avoid medical jargon and suggest initiatives such as community gatherings and forums where other patients in a similar situation can share their journeys and decisions.

The best way to deal with a crisis when it occurs is to know your patient, their wishes, and their medical outlook. What are the realistic goals? What does the patient want? From there, you can act accordingly to whichever need must be met at that moment. Strong clinical judgement as well as soft skills make this an easy step as a nurse.