Promoting Patient Advocacy: The Evolving Role of Nurses and Nursing Technicians in Saudi Arabian Healthcare Settings

Abstract

Patient advocacy, a fundamental principle in nursing, ensures patients' rights, safety, and well-being. In Saudi Arabia, the evolving healthcare system, driven by the Vision 2030 strategic plan, presents both challenges and opportunities for nurses and nursing technicians to enhance their advocacy roles. This systematic review aims to examine the perceptions, barriers, and strategies for promoting patient advocacy among nurses and nursing technicians in Saudi Arabian healthcare settings. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using relevant databases, and 60 studies were included in the review. The findings revealed that nurses and nursing technicians in Saudi Arabia perceive patient advocacy as an essential component of their professional identity and ethical responsibility. However, they face several barriers, including cultural and religious constraints, lack of education and training, unsupportive work environments, and power imbalances with physicians. The review also identified key strategies for enhancing patient advocacy, such as developing culturally-sensitive advocacy models, integrating advocacy competencies into nursing curricula, creating supportive organizational cultures, and fostering interprofessional collaboration. The implications of this review for nursing practice, education, and policy in Saudi Arabia are discussed in light of the ongoing healthcare reforms and the Vision 2030 goals.