Nurse Advocate Career Overview
What Is a Nurse Advocate?
A nurse advocate works in a specific role geared toward ensuring that patients and their families receive the appropriate care and support they need, when they need it. Although patient advocacy is a pillar of the nursing profession and the responsibility of all nurses, nurse advocates focus almost exclusively on this type of work.
Nurse advocates serve patients and families in many ways, including acting as:
- Expert guides to help patients and families navigate the complexities of the healthcare system
- Effective liaisons to optimize communication between key players involved in the patient’s care
- Staunch supporters who ensure patients have the information needed to make informed decisions
- Relentless ambassadors who ensure patients have a voice regarding their care
What Does a Nurse Advocate Do?
The specific duties of a nurse advocate may vary, depending upon the framework in which services are provided.
According to Greater National Advocates (GNA), a nurse advocate “supports patients and their families by helping them navigate the difficulties and challenges that come with medical care and services. Essentially, a nurse advocate’s role is to work on behalf of patients when interacting with hospitals, doctors, and insurance companies to ensure they receive the best possible treatment and serve as a critical liaison if they don’t. …This is an incredibly important role, as patients and their families often feel lost and alone during what can be a very confusing and emotionally difficult time.”
Advent Health University (AHU) says nurse advocates “use their positions of trust to protect the rights, health, and safety of patients. …Nurse advocates speak on behalf of patients to promote human rights, equality, liberty, and civil rights, among many other important issues.”
Nurses who work in this field may also be referred to as healthcare advocates. In this context, the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy (NAHAC) notes that these professionals come from many different backgrounds and help to “smooth the way” for patients and their family members as they traverse the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system, helping to “make sure the client’s voices and choices are heard.”
How Much Does a Nurse Advocate Make Per Year?
According to salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for registered nurses was $77,600 in May 2021—with half of nurses earning more than that amount and half earning less. Wages of nurses in the lowest 10 percent were less than $59,450. Wages of nurses in the highest 10 percent were over $120,250.
The BLS does not provide a pay breakdown according to specialty but does provide median annual wages for registered nurses according to general categories of work location. Since nurse advocates work with patients in a variety of settings—including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities, the following annual mean wages may apply:
- General medical and surgical hospitals: $85,020
- Outpatient care centers: $93,070
- Skilled nursing facilities: $72,260
Nurses who work as independent nurse advocates may enjoy a higher salary range, but may also have additional financial responsibilities associated with self-employment.
The salary of a nurse advocate is also influenced by factors such as education, experience, and geographical region of the country.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (visited March 17, 2023).
How Do I Become a Nurse Advocate?
Since nurse advocates are registered nurses, they must attend an accredited nursing program that leads to a bachelor’s degree in nursing or an associate’s degree in nursing.
RNs must also be licensed in the state in which they work. Licensure can be obtained by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and meeting any additional requirements of the state’s board of nursing. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) offers a resource to determine state-based nursing licensure requirements.
Various organizations offer educational opportunities for nurses seeking training to be nurse advocates. Additionally, specialty certification is offered by organizations such as the Patient Advocate Certification Board (PACB), which describes the importance of board certification.
“In our complex system of health care, certifications help to provide assurance of quality, safe and ethical conduct,” PACB says. “Across industries, certification translates to confidence and trust, and is valued by consumers worldwide. Certification can help guide consumers to locate the most qualified service providers available. To that end, the Patient Advocate Certification Board (PACB) endorses certification (by examination) for all individuals in the field of patient advocacy.”
PACB also notes that certification is one aspect of the credentialing process.
“It focuses specifically on the individual and is an indication of current competence in the specialized area of patient advocacy practice,” PACB says. “Passing the examination for Board Certified Patient Advocate creates and promotes competence and professionalism in the field of patient advocacy, provides formal recognition on behalf of practicing patient advocates and enhances consumer safety, ensuring patients have a voice in their care.”
PACB notes that eligibility to earn the Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) credential “requires a combination of education and experience; however, candidates who are seasoned practitioners may request eligibility based on experience only.”
Detailed eligibility information is available.
What Are the Benefits of Being a Nurse Advocate?
Being a nurse advocate provides benefits for both patients and nurses.
For patients, AHU notes such benefits include receiving support to:
- Have a voice in their care: “Nurse advocates give patients a voice in situations or settings where they could possibly be ignored or disregarded.”
- Better understand complicated medical information: “Since many people are not familiar with the medical terminology that doctors use, nurse advocates can break down complicated information regarding diagnoses, medication, or treatment plans.”
- Smooth the transition between care settings: “They work with the patients’ families or loved ones to ensure someone can help meet at-home care needs.”
- Navigate the complexities of healthcare: “If a patient is from an underserved or underrepresented background, a nurse advocate can help make sure they don’t get lost in the maze of the healthcare system. Additionally, if a patient’s first language isn’t English, a nurse advocate can interpret or arrange for an interpreter.”
- Connect with additional resources that may be needed: “One of the most important benefits of advocacy in nursing is that nurses connect patients with any outside resources they may need.”
Regardless of the work setting, benefits for nurse advocates include:
- The satisfaction of knowing they are making a big difference in a patient’s life
- Increased autonomy, since they often function more independently than nurses who work on nursing units
- The ability to spend quality time with patients and families
Although nurses who work as independent nurse advocates may face the challenges associated with self-employment, they may also experience a unique sense of freedom due to the ability to control their schedules and career path. Additionally, nurse advocates who work independently outside of traditional healthcare systems may receive higher pay.
Additional Resources About Becoming a Nurse Advocate
To learn more about becoming a nurse advocate, these additional resources may help:
