Social Advocacy: A Call for Nursing Action

The nursing profession has long held advocacy on behalf of a patient as a tenet of protection for the patient, particularly in the hospital setting. In more recent years, nursing has indicated that advocacy is a critical professional nursing function on behalf of individual patients and for addressing societal issues, a role similar to other professionals such as chaplains. This paper will reflect on the history of nursing ethics and advocacy, examine the current state of the research and literature surrounding social advocacy and social justice, and discuss implications for the future of nursing and nursing research. Particular focus will be placed on the preparation for the nurse to act as a social advocate and for nursing to begin overtly addressing social issues.