Review the article “On Being a Good Nurse: Reflections on the Past and Preparing for the
Future” and “War, its aftermath, and U.S. health policy: Toward a comprehensive health
program for America’s military personnel, veterans, and their families” found in this
week’s Learning Resources.
�Consider the multiple health care needs of returning veterans and their families.
Post by Day 3 two types of health needs returning veterans and their families might need.
How might you advocate for the needs of this population. What type of advocacy skills
would you need and how could you develop them. What responsibility does a nurse have to
be an advocate? Give specific examples
Begley, A. (2010). On being a good nurse: Reflections on the past and preparing for the
future. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 16(6), 525-532
Deyton, L., Hess, W. J., & Jackonis, M. J. (2008, Winter). War, its aftermath, and U.S.
health policy: Toward a comprehensive health program for America’s military personnel,
veterans, and their families. Journal of Law, Medicine, & Ethics, 36(4), 677-689.
Patient Advocacy
As they head back home, there is need to help veterans to connect back to their
community. This is important since they have been separated from their functional family units
for a while. The veterans have been subjected to extremely hostile environments, therefore, there
is need to make them feel at home again and help them connect with this new environment
(Deyton et al, 2008). The most important nursing qualities for this project are assertiveness,
autonomy, advocacy, and accountability. Consequently, it is important to identify ways in which
the veterans can be empowered to help themselves, while at the same time building on their
strength (Deyton et al, 2008).
According to Deyton et al (2008), the best advocacy for the veterans and their families is
one that champions for policies on access to proper and effective comprehensive health care
services and education. There is, however, an increase in the number of veterans who require
PATIENT ADVOCACY 2
comprehensive health care services. To address this, more needs to be done in ensuring and
maintain more funding and inventory for the veteran health care project.
The basic advocacy skills that a nurse would require are the negotiation and mediation
skills. The advocate should have strong negotiating skills that are developed within interest-
based negotiation. Negotiation skills should be based on proper planning, the advocate should
also develop skills on the use of emotions to influence (Deyton et al, 2008). Advocacy also
involves development of mediation skills that will enable one to come up with a strong media
case. Clear and precise communication that fits both the intended situation and audience is a
stronghold in advocacy (Deyton et al, 2008).
Deyton et al 2008), notes that a nurse is better placed to undertake advocacy for the
veterans and their families in terms of health care since they are well informed in matters of
medical issues, experiences, and records. They have the necessary skills for translating the same
into effective cases that can influence informed decisions.
PATIENT ADVOCACY 3
References
Deyton, L., Hess, W. J., & Jackonis, M. J. (2008). War, its aftermath, and U.S. health policy:
Toward a comprehensive health program for America’s military personnel, veterans, and
their families. Journal of Law, Medicine, & Ethics, 36(4), 677-689