Exploring Nursing Advocacy: A Look at Regulations

Advocacy and activism in nursing are topics that have been discussed and debated for many years. These concepts involve political action aimed at social or political change. Some people believe that advocacy and activism should be part of a nurse's role, while others disagree. To understand what nursing regulatory documents say about these topics, we analyzed codes of conduct and professional standards from the USA, UK, and Australia.We found eight documents from organizations like the American Nurses Association, Nursing and Midwifery Council, and Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Our analysis showed two main themes. The first, called "Ideological arena, " highlights how gender and neoliberal ideas influence advocacy and activism. The second, "A five-pointed star, " describes how advocacy and activism are shaped in these documents. These documents support diplomatic advocacy for people, equity, nurses, the profession, and system change. However, they may limit more radical advocacy and activism due to gender and neoliberal influences that make nurses' roles less political.