Independent RN Patient Advocacy (iRNPA) is a pioneering new role for experienced clinical nurses. Are you willing to be a pioneer in this new role? If so write down what this means to you.

In your opinion, what needs can best be addressed by an independent RN Patient Advocate?

Please describe your motivation to be an RN Patient Advocate in light of the needs you described in Question 1.2.

As you envision the role of an independent RN Patient Advocate, what qualities would you consider to be critical elements of the role?

An ability to function independently is a cornerstone of the role of an RN Patient Advocate. What experiences in your career would help you transition to independent practice?

An RN Patient Advocate acts assertively, not aggressively. Faced with a difficult situation with a physician, hospital or other health care provider, what abilities and skills do you have that could enable you to act assertively in these situations? List the abilities and skills you process that would enable you to act assertively in difficult situations.

It is essential for the Advocate to have a knowledge base in and an ability to teach the full range of options – including Functional, Integrative, and Alternative medical approaches along with the familiar tracks of pharmaceuticals and surgery. Do you have an active interest in these expanded treatment modalities? Please describe your interest and knowledge base in these expanded treatment modalities.

How well developed are your skills in Internet data mining/research for valid medical information?

Please describe the role of patient education in patient advocacy as you envision it.

An RN Patient Advocate must be a highly skilled communicator (ex. crisis manager, educator, advocate). Describe your strengths as a communicator? What skills need further development?

An independent RN Patient Advocate maintains a private practice. Are you willing to develop the necessary business skills to maintain a successful practice financially? Have you had the opportunity to develop any of these skills in your career?

2. As a pioneer in this field, you will need to address the public on many levels, including marketing your advocacy practice and speaking as an expert in this field.

a) Are you comfortable with public speaking? And if not are you willing to acquire those skills?

b) Are you prepared to learn community-based marketing skills to develop your practice?

Upon completion of the RNPA/UA Learning Intensive, all iRNPAs are expected to become active members of the National RN Patient Advocate Network aka The Network for mentoring, and continuing education as well as for professional, clinical and business support. Explain what support will you give and what you will expect/need from the network.

Part of the design of The Network will be the Outcome Research Program. This will provide us with hard data, enabling us to contribute to Health Care Reform on a larger scale. Our goal is to demonstrate that working with an RN Patient Advocate both improves healthcare outcomes, boosts patient/family satisfaction, and saves money in the long term. How do you see yourself as a part of this process?