Nurses’ Attitudes towards Nursing Advocacy in the Southeast Part of Iran

Nursing advocacy is a vital part of nursing ethics. Individuals’ attitudes are important indicating signs of their forthcoming behaviors. The purpose of this study was measuring nurses’ attitudes towards patient advocacy with a descriptive-analytical design. This research was carried out among 374 nurses in Kerman, Iran by using a two-part questionnaire including two parts: Part 1, demographic information form and Part 2, an instrument for measuring attitude toward nursing advocacy. The results showed positive attitudes among the participants,and indicated that nurses who were older, and had more work experience as a nurse were more likely to do advocacy, and the most nurses ethically were obliged to act as patients' advocates when patients were in danger. Participants also agreed that the nurse and the patient could simultaneously advocate. Iranian nurses also stated that their employment was not at risk and that they did not face a career dilemma when they acted as a patient advocate. Nevertheless, more adequacy educational programs and more support from employers seem to be needed for these nurses.