Rights-based advocacy in long-term care: Geriatric nursing and long term-care ombudsmen

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-19-2005

Abstract

Both long-term care (LTC) ombudsmen and nurses are committed to advocacy, but often find themselves at odds due to fundamentally divergent orientation to patient care and advocacy issues within the nursing home setting. This paper compares these advocacy alignments, identifies areas of potential conflict, and provides grounds for cooperation and mutual support. Specifically, we argue that nursing advocacy, despite a theoretical bow to autonomy, is typically beneficent and can be limited by employment status, professional orientation, and subordination to dominant physician and administrative authorities. Conversely, LTC ombudsmen are guided by the autonomy principle, and are, by law, free of any conflict of interest with the resident. The paper concludes with a discussion of common goals that should be adopted by elder care nurses and ombudsmen in order to improve mutual understanding and communication that is essential to building partnerships that effectively and creatively solve issues that emerge from resident physical and socio-emotional problems. © 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Clinical Gerontologist

First Page

1

Last Page

16

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