Nurses finding a global voice by becoming influential leaders through advocacy

Abstract

Nursing has long faced barriers to effective advocacy, based on the gendered identity of the profession and its status as a second class or “softer” profession. The Covid pandemic showed the importance of the profession to the health of the world and the profession has been adversely impacted as a result of the pandemic. The nursing profession has long had skill in advocating for the recipients of their care but many nurses do not make the connection with advocacy for change in the health care systems in which they work or for themselves. Yet, advocacy for change in the health care system and for the profession will impact larger areas of global health than advocacy at the individual care recipient level. Advocacy for system change includes: recognizing the context, problem solving, building relationships, excellent communication skills and leveraging influence. Nursing has a long history of advocating for those who are historically marginalized and now it is time to advocate for nurses who are historically marginalized, like those who are internationally educated and working outside their home countries. Effective advocacy techniques that go beyond individual interactions to advocating for policy and systems change must be included in future leadership development for nurses.