Advocacy is defined by the Merriam-

Advocacy is defined by the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary (2009a) as the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal. An advocate is defined as one that pleads, defends, or supports a cause or interest of another. Much of the literature on advocacy comes from non-profit and special interest groups that prepare potential advocates to influence public policy. Strategies promoted by these groups are also applicable for nurses and the nursing profession. Amidei (2010) has described advocacy as "seeing a need and finding a way to address it" (p. 4). Sharma (1997) defined advocacy as "action aimed at changing the policies, positions or programs of any type of institution” (p. 4). Family Care International (2008) promoted advocacy as "the process of building support for an issue or cause and influencing others to take action" (p. 3); while the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (2005) identified advocacy as "a process that can lead to change through influence" and a "way of directing decision-makers towards a solution" (p. 4). These definitions all suggest that the role of an advocate is to work on behalf of self and/or others to raise awareness of a concern and to promote solutions to the issue. Advocacy often requires working through formal, decision-making bodies to achieve a desired outcome. This process could include the 'chain of command' within a healthcare organization, a commission, a state legislature, or other groups at the healthcare system's policy level.