Nursing Specialties
Nurse Advocate

Nurse Advocate

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What is a Nurse Advocate

Nurse advocates act as the intermediary between patients, families, and the medical establishment. They provide education and information to help give patients an unbiased voice. Nurse advocates use networking and research skills to gather the resources to represent the patient’s desires and put them into action.

Nurse advocates are skilled at communicating during situations that can be tense. They must carefully question the judgment of all involved and tease out the true wishes of the patient and family. Nurse advocates will then initiate meetings with medical providers, patients, and their families to develop a plan of care that addresses everyone’s concerns. 

Usually, nurse advocates are hired directly by the patient or family. Insurance typically does not pay for their services though nurse advocates can help patients negotiate with insurance companies if there are problems with coverage for medical treatments. Nurse advocates maintain ongoing relationships with those they serve, which can go on for years depending on the case. 

Nurse advocates often receive advanced training to improve their skills. However, there are no required certifications. Some become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) or obtain master’s or doctoral degrees in a related area such as public health or health policy.

What does a Nurse Advocate Do?

All nurses are patient advocates, but nurse advocates are dedicated entirely to supporting vulnerable patients who may not be equipped to make informed decisions about their care. In addition, nurse advocates may need to discuss difficult medical issues, e.g., end-of-life issues, with the patient and family.

Some patients need assistance navigating complex conditions such as after an extensive auto accident injury or during cancer treatments. Nurse advocates help patients understand their medical therapies, risks, alternatives, and costs. They can negotiate with insurers and billing offices, reach out to reliable care resources, and contact lawyers if needed. 

Nurse advocates translate medical terms into straightforward language and educate families about how to modify their lives and their homes. They speak up for patients who are too overwhelmed or unable to express their concerns and help arrange for additional procedures or testing to decide if an alternative health plan should be considered.

Nurse Advocate

What skills does a Nurse Advocate need?

Confident communication skills to advocate under challenging situations
Strong teaching skills to instruct families and patients on lifestyle changes
Ability to negotiate costs with insurance companies or other financial departments
Resourceful in finding sources for caregiving, equipment, transportation, and legal issues
Able to self-promote their services if in an independent practice

What skills does a Nurse Advocate need?

Learn More About
Nurse Advocates

Work settings for Nurse Advocates

Nurse advocates often work in hospitals, long-term care centers, outpatient care centers, and medical-legal departments. Some are independent self-employed consultants.

Common Cases Nurse Advocates Encounter

Nurse advocates manage cases with multi-level problems that may have several treatment options with financial or insurance issues. Patients can be of any age or ethnicity.

How to Become A Nurse Advocate

  1. Complete an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree: takes two-to-four years based on the program 
  2. Pass the NCLEX-RN exam and apply for your RN license after graduation
  3. Apply and work as a registered nurse to gain experience. 
  4. There are no official certifications to become a nurse advocate, but there are specialized training programs that assist nurses branching into this field. 

How to Advance Your Career As A Nurse Advocate

You can advance your career by getting an MSN or doctoral degree in any nursing field with a focus on health advocacy or ethics. 

Alternatively, you can become an advanced practice nurse (APN) and add nurse advocacy to your practice.

Education Requirements & Helpful Certification

Nurse advocates who also work providing direct patient care must be BCLS certified. There are a couple of credentialing programs that formally train nurse advocates.  

  • Healthcare Liaison Inc. designed a healthcare advocate credential for medically trained professionals who want to develop a private practice.  The program takes nine months and qualifies for 60 CEUs for nurses provided through Wild Iris Medical Education, Inc.,‍
  • ‍
  • RN patient advocate (RNPA) program is endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Association. This program consists of a seven-month online component with intensive mentoring followed by a 7-day residential immersion program.

Average Salary For Nurse Advocates

Nurse advocates typically make between $55,349 - $89,463, with a median salary of $69,551, according to Salary.com. 

The May 2021 Bureau of Labor and Statistics report shows which states have the highest and lowest wages for nurses. They do not list by nurse specialty, but nurse advocate salaries would likely follow suit. The highest-paid states are California, Hawaii, and Oregon. The lowest-paid states are South Dakota, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Specialty Organizations & Communities

RN Patient Advocates

The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates

Nurse Advocacy Association

Ideal Personality Traits

  • Good problem solver
  • Excellent listening and teaching skills
  • Empathy and compassion
  • Strong clinical knowledge base
  • Resourceful in exploring alternative solutions
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Nurse Advocate

Nurse advocates assist patients in understanding and making informed choices about the care they receive from physicians, health providers, and health facilities. They meet with patients and their families, then develop a plan based on the person’s medical needs, priorities, concerns, and finances. Nurse advocates answer their questions, address important issues, and intervene on their behalf. While all nurses are considered advocates, nurse advocates undergo additional training to develop their skills and knowledge.

nurse with mask on

Education Requirements

Nurse advocates who also work providing direct patient care must be BCLS certified. There are a couple of credentialing programs that formally train nurse advocates.  

  • Healthcare Liaison Inc. designed a healthcare advocate credential for medically trained professionals who want to develop a private practice.  The program takes nine months and qualifies for 60 CEUs for nurses provided through Wild Iris Medical Education, Inc.,‍
  • ‍
  • RN patient advocate (RNPA) program is endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Association. This program consists of a seven-month online component with intensive mentoring followed by a 7-day residential immersion program.

How to advance/career pathway

You can advance your career by getting an MSN or doctoral degree in any nursing field with a focus on health advocacy or ethics. 

Alternatively, you can become an advanced practice nurse (APN) and add nurse advocacy to your practice.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Assess patient’s medical needs and concerns
  • Provide education regarding diagnosis and options available
  • Advocate for treatments that benefit the patient
  • Contact insurance companies and other community resources as needed
  • Discuss difficult medical issues e.g., end of life issues with the patient and family
  • Be mindful of cultural differences in designing a plan of care

MOST COMMON CASES

Nurse advocates manage cases with multi-level problems that may have several treatment options with financial or insurance issues. Patients can be of any age or ethnicity.

How to become a

Nurse Advocate

  1. Complete an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree: takes two-to-four years based on the program 
  2. Pass the NCLEX-RN exam and apply for your RN license after graduation
  3. Apply and work as a registered nurse to gain experience. 
  4. There are no official certifications to become a nurse advocate, but there are specialized training programs that assist nurses branching into this field. 

Specialty Groups and Communities

RN Patient Advocates

The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates

Nurse Advocacy Association

The Pros

  • Satisfaction and appreciation in helping patients and their families
  • Autonomy in planning how to meet patient’s needs
  • More control over your schedule with holidays and weekends off

The Cons

  • If not providing direct patient care, may feel a loss of skills
  • Stressful working with patients and families if having difficulty accepting options
  • Frustrating when unable to get financial coverage to pay for needed treatments
  • Nurse advocacy is not a well-defined role, so may have less respect
smily face illustration

Personality Traits

  • Good problem solver
  • Excellent listening and teaching skills
  • Empathy and compassion
  • Strong clinical knowledge base
  • Resourceful in exploring alternative solutions
piggy bank illustration

Average Salary

Nurse advocates typically make between $55,349 - $89,463, with a median salary of $69,551, according to Salary.com. 

The May 2021 Bureau of Labor and Statistics report shows which states have the highest and lowest wages for nurses. They do not list by nurse specialty, but nurse advocate salaries would likely follow suit. The highest-paid states are California, Hawaii, and Oregon. The lowest-paid states are South Dakota, Alabama, and Mississippi.

book illustration

Certifications

Healthcare Liaison Inc

  • Certified Health Advocate (CHA)
  • RN Patient Advocates, PLLC.
  • Independent Nurse Advocates (iRNPA)

Patient Advocate Certification Board

  • Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA)
location pin illustration

Work Setting

Nurse advocates often work in hospitals, long-term care centers, outpatient care centers, and medical-legal departments. Some are independent self-employed consultants.

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