Nurse leaders are advocates for their employees. 16 During the SARS-CoV outbreak, 3% of US health care workers developed the disease as part of the 21% worldwide even though barrier precautions were widely implemented.17 Coronaviruses have been shown to last on metal, glass, or plastic for up to 9 days when not efficiently disinfected.18. Wei H, Sewell KA, Woody G, Rose MA. Here are 10 strategies to improve your nursing advocacy efforts and abilities: 1. Nurse Activism: 15 Ways Nurses Can Affect Real Change To facilitate change or solve an issue, the advocate must be able to influence others to action. It is important that nurse leaders develop advocacy skills to address concerns in the workplace, to promote a positive work environment, and advocate for the profession. This includes formal structures such as websites and e-mails to all staff, and more in-the-moment opportunities such as facility leadership meetings, daily safety huddles, and staff huddles. Two-way communication with nursing staff is imperative during times of upheaval to foster employee support. Formal and structured orientation programs encourage camaraderie and structural empowerment.12, Providing access to resources. Being visible and accessible, including learning staff members' values and needs and advocating for them to higher-level leadership. Mediate conversations between patients and physicians. The Isabella Graham Hart School of Practical Nursing is affiliated with RRH. These programs foster a positive work environment and combat negativity in the workplace, such as with incivility. While effective in small increments, persuasion can elicit defensiveness in others, thus undermining the overall success of an initiative. A case study follows in which a chief nursing officer (CNO) council at 1 health system collaborated with the chief medical officer, chief quality officer, infection prevention, and human resources to create a model of success for empowering and safeguarding nurses. Advocacy is enhanced when scheduling and staffing are a collaborative process that involves staffing committees and self-scheduling approaches. Often a comment or recommendation will focus the attention of decision makers on a specific issue or possible solution. When he presented the idea to the recruitment and retention committee, he was able to identify the potential number of nurses interested in the program and volunteered to serve on a planning committee. Leaders advocate for patients, nurses, and the profession in a number of ways. Employees with higher levels of engagement report decreased feelings of burnout and increased job satisfaction.1 Engagement is defined as a positive, fulfilling, and work-related state of mind that's characterized by vigor, dedication, and absorption.2. Given the global emergency and the scale of the New York state outbreak, RRH supplies were at critical levels. Successful advocacy requires effective communication skills. The following search terms were used: nurse, nurses, engagement, nurse leaders, and hospitals.