Abstract
Social justice advocacy is an expectation of all nurses as expressed in the professional codes that guide nursing practice. Nursing literature reflects this shift in the focus of nursing advocacy, providing insight into the potentials and challenges associated with nursing's evolution toward a broader social justice advocacy model. This article describes the concept of social justice advocacy as currently reflected in professional codes and nursing literature and contrasts this with the individual patient–nurse advocacy model, which continues to dominate in nursing practice today. Challenges associated with movement toward a social justice advocacy model and options for addressing these hurdles are also discussed.
Nurses work individually and with others for social justice and to advocate for laws, policies and procedures designed to bring about equity.
(Canadian Nurses Association [CNA], 2008, p. 21)
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.