7 Simple Ways Nurses Can Advocate for Themselves at Work
Nurses are natural advocates. Every day, we speak up for our patients’ needs, make sure care is safe, and push for what’s best - even when it’s hard. But when it comes to advocating for ourselves, many of us hesitate.
Maybe you worry about being seen as “difficult.” Maybe you feel guilty asking for help when everyone else is stretched thin. Or maybe you’ve just gotten used to putting yourself last.
But nurses who advocate for themselves are better able to protect their well-being, grow in their careers, and stay in a profession that asks so much of them.
If you’ve been wondering how to start, here are seven simple, practical ways to advocate for yourself at work (whether you’re at the bedside or in a non-clinical role).
Why Self-Advocacy Matters
Nurses are trained to put others first. While that compassion is one of our greatest strengths, it can also leave us vulnerable to burnout, stress, and even stalled career growth. When we don’t advocate for ourselves, we risk working in unsafe conditions, missing out on opportunities, or carrying more than is fair.
Self-advocacy matters because it protects your well-being and your career. Speaking up about your needs helps you provide better patient care, set healthy workplace boundaries, and continue growing as a professional.
No matter your role (whether you’re at the bedside or in a non-clinical position) self-advocacy is a skill that keeps you sustainable in a demanding profession. And the good news? It’s something you can practice and strengthen over time.
7 Ways Nurses Can Advocate for Themselves at Work
Whether you’re at the bedside or in a non-clinical role, advocating for yourself is a skill that protects your well-being and career growth. These seven strategies are practical steps you can start applying today to set boundaries, speak up, and make your needs known (without feeling guilty or overstepping).
1. Speak Up About Workload and Assignments
Taking on too much can lead to stress, mistakes, and burnout. Setting limits protects your energy and your patients or team.
Bedside Example
Asking your charge nurse for help with a high patient load or clarifying safe assignments.
Non-Bedside Example
Clarifying project deadlines or resource expectations so your workload stays manageable.
Action step: This week, identify one task or assignment where you feel stretched too thin and practice asking for support or adjustment.
2. Set and Communicate Boundaries
Boundaries help you balance work and life, prevent resentment, and make it clear what you can reasonably take on.
Bedside Example
Saying no to extra shifts or staying late when your plate is full.
Non-Bedside Example
Limiting after-hours emails or clarifying expectations for meetings and deliverables.
Action step: Pick one boundary to practice this week, such as turning off notifications after a set time or declining an extra shift/project politely.
3. Use Your Voice in Meetings and Huddles
Your ideas and concerns are valuable. Speaking up improves patient care, processes, and team collaboration.
Bedside Example
Bringing up safety concerns or workflow improvements in shift huddles.
Non-Bedside Example
Offering input in department meetings or suggesting ways to improve workflows or efficiency.
Action step: Share at least one idea or concern in a meeting or huddle this week.
4. Document and Track Your Contributions
Keeping records of your work, projects, or accomplishments strengthens your case during performance reviews and helps you track growth over time.
Bedside Example
Logging precepting sessions, quality improvement projects, or committee involvement.
Non-Bedside Example
Recording project milestones, presentations, or trainings you’ve delivered.
Action step: Start a simple tracker this week. Jot down one accomplishment per day.
5. Ask for What You Need to Do Your Job Well
You can’t do your best work if you don’t have the tools, training, or support you need. Asking is a form of self-advocacy.
Bedside Example
Requesting functional equipment, updated protocols, or additional training.
Non-Bedside Example
Asking for software access, administrative support, or professional development opportunities.
Action step: Identify one resource or support you need and plan how to request it this week.
6. Pursue Growth and Learning Opportunities
Self-advocacy includes building your career intentionally. Growth keeps you engaged and opens doors to new opportunities.
Bedside and Non-Bedside Example
Ask to attend a conference, join a committee, shadow a different role, or pursue tuition reimbursement or additional certifications.
Action step: Choose one growth opportunity to explore this month and outline the first step to pursue it.
7. Know When to Escalate Concerns
Not every concern can be solved informally. Escalating appropriately protects you, your team, and your patients.
Bedside Example
Bringing staffing, safety, or patient concerns to your manager or chain of command when initial solutions fail.
Non-Bedside Example
Escalating ongoing workload issues, ethical concerns, or unresolved conflicts to leadership or HR.
Action step: Identify a current challenge where escalation might be necessary and plan your approach.
Anticipating Challenges
Advocating for yourself doesn’t always feel easy. Even when you know it’s the right thing to do, you might face challenges, both from the workplace and from within yourself.
Common challenges nurses encounter include:
Guilt or fear of being “difficult”: Many nurses worry that setting boundaries or speaking up will make them seem selfish or uncooperative.
Cultural or systemic barriers: Workplaces may have unspoken rules about staying quiet, taking extra shifts, or always putting patients first.
Uncertainty about how to ask for support: It can be intimidating to approach managers, HR, or colleagues with requests or concerns.
The good news is that these challenges are normal and they can be navigated.
Advocating for yourself doesn’t mean being confrontational or selfish. It means speaking clearly, respectfully, and confidently about what you need to do your job well and protect your well-being.
Start small. Pick one strategy from the list above and practice it in a low-stakes situation. Over time, advocating for yourself will feel more natural, and you’ll build confidence to tackle bigger challenges.
Advocate for Yourself, Sustain Your Career
Nurses give so much of themselves every day, but that compassion shouldn’t come at the expense of your own well-being. Advocating for yourself creates the balance you need to thrive, at work and beyond.
By speaking up, setting boundaries, and asking for support, you not only protect your energy but also build confidence and open new doors for growth.
Start small: choose one strategy from this list to try this week. Notice how it impacts your energy and confidence. Those small steps add up to lasting change.
Ready to take the next step in advocating for yourself?
I’m putting the finishing touches on my Setting Boundaries Workbook for Nurses — a practical guide to help you set limits at work without guilt, protect your energy, and create space for your life outside of nursing.
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Disclaimer: The content shared here is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your personal needs.