Have you ever entertained the idea of a career where you work with patients and help navigate them through our complex health care system? I answered this question, and plan on a career in patient advocacy. I have always had a strong desire to help people and make a difference in people’s lives. As a patient advocate, this would allow me to follow through with my career goals. This is a relatively newer field, whose occupational outlook is expected to increase, as the focus on health care is becoming more patient-driven and further complicated. Because there are so many aspects involved in patient advocacy, the range of interests and backgrounds is broad. This is great for me, as I am older and while I do not have a health care background, my education and life skills will help secure my position in this career.
Advocates work directly with clients (or with their legal representatives) to ensure they have a voice in their care and information to promote informed decision making. Advocates may work independently or in medical or other organizational settings. They serve individuals, communities, disease‐specific populations, and family caregivers” (Patient Advocacy vs Medical Advocacy: View from the PACB, 2016). Below is my plan on how I am going to pursue a career in patient advocacy. Topics included are: the educational requirements, credentials or certificates, experience needed, preferred skills, potential employers, and occupational outlook for a career in patient
“Patient advocacy is a process that involves a series of actions, behaviors and/or practices for preserving and safeguarding the rights, values, wellbeing and best interests of patients in the healthcare system” (Vaarito et al 2006, Bu and Jezewski 2007, Zomorodi and Foley 2009). Vaartio & Leino-Kilpi describe patient advocacy into two sectors; proactive advocacy and reactive advocacy (2004). Proactive advocacy includes actions aimed at aiding the patients in informed decision making and the protection of patient rights; reactive advocacy is focused on addressing safety concerns (Vaartio & Leino-Kilpi, 2004). Further concept analyses from Baldwin 2003 & Bu and Jezewski 2007, include four main sectors of patient advocacy: Protecting and empowering patient autonomy, protecting and representing the best interests of vulnerable patients, ensuring educated decision making while acting as a mediator for the patient to healthcare services, and lastly acting upon social justice to help create equitable access to adequate healthcare (CPD, 2015). Using Tanners model of clinical judgment; the process of patient advocacy begins with assessing for the need to advocate. The assessment should include the patient, environment, situation, resources and possible risks (Ellis
When we see patients, we must remember that we are not simply treating a disease. We are caring for people with lives, hobbies, jobs, families, and friends, who are likely in a very vulnerable position. We must ensure that we use the status of physicians to benefit patients first and foremost, and do what we promised to when we entered the profession: provide care and improve quality of life, and hopefully leave the world a little better than it was
The medical field is among the largest and ever growing career fields, especially when dealing with Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs). In the 1960’s when the physician shortage began, the medical field created the PA and NP positions to fill in the gaps (Curren, 2007, p. 404). This matter has opened up numerous questions as more and more PAs and NPs begin practicing, especially concerning their education level. Many patients are concerned that they will not get the proper care. PAs/NPs are beneficial to everyday life by providing patients with the necessary skills needed to successfully treat them.
Since a young age, I always felt inclined towards pursuing a career in the health care field; daydreaming about myself working at a clinic or hospital and making a positive impact on someone’s life. When I started college, I decided to major in Biology and explored the different career options the health field had to offer me by shadowing dietitians, nurses, physicians, and other healthcare workers to find my ideal job.
To answer all these questions is necessary to define advocacy. The meaning of advocacy in medical interpretation is “an action taken on behalf of an individual that goes beyond facilitating communication, with the intention of supporting good health outcomes” (NCIHC 3). According to CHIA standards for healthcare interpreters, “interpreters enter into the patient advocate...
Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines an advocate as “one that pleads the cause of another,” or “one that supports or promotes the interest of another” (2014). Bu and Jezewski expanded on this by developing a mid-range theory of patient advocacy to implement into nursing (2007). They describe a patient as being “vulnerable and powerless” when stricken with illness and without knowledge of health care systems (Bu & Jezewski, 2007). The goal of the theory was to give the patient a voice in circumstances where they weren’t able to speak up for themselves and to maintain the patient’s integrity (Bu & Jezewski, 2007). They found three core attributes to what would make up
Over the last nine years, I have been in the healthcare profession. When I was younger, I never imagined myself wanting a career when I would manage people, but who does? I always aspired to be a pilot, until reality kicked in. When I was fifteen, I had to volunteer a couple hundreds of hours for the school program in which I attended. I decided to volunteer at a local hospital. Little did I know that volunteering for three years would have led me into wanting a profession in healthcare. After volunteering for three years, I decided to get a job for a local community health center, where I have been employed for the last six years. I have held several different positions in those six years and I have learned a plethora of skills, many involving interpersonal communication.
This allows for nurses to take on roles that do not necessarily involve direct patient care due to the vast array of job opportunities within an ever expanding health care system. Jobs that were once created for and filled by other fields of study such as business and law are now being tailored to the nursing profession. One such role that was previously dominated by human resource professionals, health
Healthcare is viewed in an unrealistic way by most individuals. Many people view a physician as the only means to find a solution to their problem. Nurses are still seen by some as simply “the person who does what the doctor says.” This is frustrating in today’s time when nurses are required to spend years on their education to help care for their patients. In many situations nurses are the only advocate that some patients’ have.
In Nursing, there will always be instances where the patient's nurse needs to advocate for their patient. There are numerous reasons why a nurse would advocate for their patient ranging from getting the doctor to change the patient’s orders, helping the patient’s treatment team understand what it is the patient is requiring for the day, to expressing the patient’s last wishes before death. In every situation, the nurse should do what is in the patient’s best interest. Tomajan (2012), “Advocacy skills are the ability to successfully support a cause or interest on one’s own behalf or that of another. Advocacy requires a set of skills that include problem solving, communication, influence, and collaboration”(p. 2). With those skills, the nursing staff will be able to work together to advocate for their patients. Along with those skills, nurses need to keep in mind the three core attributes that are: safeguarding patients’ autonomy; acting on behalf of patients; and championing social justice in the provision of health care. (Bu & Jezewski, 2006)
I hope to impact this professional with my knowledge and expertise. I am now in school again to further my knowledge of this profession. It may seem old for some. However, for me learning has no age and boundaries as I continued to gain more knowledge and perhaps someday I can be a mentor for my peers. I hope to someday work In Risk management where I can continue to fight and argue the rights of my patients and peers whom all deserve a sense of dignity and self-worth. My contribution to this profession includes providing and promoting care with a holistic approach that is inclusive of the mind, body, spiritual belief practices because the patients I see as being more than just another patient in need of my care. The patients are like you and I and perhaps wants the same as I want for them. I’m sure with my great sense of enthusiasm that I may accomplish something here because my day will never end until I make an unmistakable stamp on a profession I always wanted to practice since that little girl whose heart was touched by the many caring professionals that provided care to my mom. Sound like I’m on a mission that indeed I
I have chosen Public Health as my career path because I have a passion for making a difference in people’s lives and helping others achieve their goals. Also, I chose healthcare as a career because health does not only focus on the physical aspects of wellness, but it applies to all areas of wellness, such as, intellectual, social, spiritual, financial, occupational, environmental and emotional wellness. Moreover, Public Health is a challenging, diverse and dynamic field. My philosophy of health is very simple, to prevent, improve and educate the lives of individuals, families, communities and the population. Besides, there is no safer way to touch people’s lives than through public
From a young age, I was drawn to the healthcare field, not because of the amount of money doctors, nurses and other health professionals made, but because of the dedication and contentment I saw on their faces helping someone in need. Growing up everyone wanted to become a doctor or a nurse and as a little child being a doctor or a nurse was a profession many parents wanted their child to pursue as a career. Needless to say, I fell into that category because I wanted too. However, that dream came to a halt.
The healthcare field is ripe with opportunities, and the rapid growth extends beyond medical professionals. For an individual considering a career in the healthcare industry they have to set and accomplish goals which are important aspects of life-changing. Careers often successful begin through the education that suitable to support individual professional goals. An individual should establish an action plan that consists of professional goals which used to influence decisions in the chosen career, skills required, and skills to improve, the ultimate plan, an organization that offers valuable insight, and what strategies used to make these goals evident.
Over the last years, attention to public health issues has been increasing as well as aspirations to high health standards. Medical professions are in high demand because of the need of constant improvements of the health care system. The medical field offers a wide range of valued career paths and opportunities that differentiate by their responsibilities, obligations, educational requirements, and salary. When considering a career in health care, it is very important to analyze all the aspects involved and then determine the choice that best fit the person needs.