Which action is an example of an advocacy intervention?

• A. Assess pt ability to cooperate and make decisions
• B. Educate legal rights
• C. Facilitate communication pt-MD
• D. Intervene if clients values not respected

Answer: (C)

Advocacy in nursing means actively supporting the patient so their voice, preferences, and rights are heard and respected within the care setting. Facilitating communication between the patient and the physician is a direct advocacy action because it helps the patient understand information, ask questions, express values, and have those wishes reflected in decisions about treatment. It removes barriers to dialogue and ensures the patient can participate meaningfully in their own care.

Assessing the patient’s ability to cooperate and make decisions is about evaluating capacity, which is important but not itself an advocacy act. Educating about legal rights supports autonomy, but it’s more about informing than actively ensuring the patient’s preferences are conveyed in care. Intervening if values aren’t respected is protective and essential, but it’s reactive rather than proactively enabling the patient to participate in decisions from the outset.