Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of the practice of health advocacy by nurses in the hospital environment.

Materials and methods:

This is a quantitative, cross-sectional analytical study carried out with 157 nurses from two hospitals in southern Brazil, one public and one philanthropic. Data collection was done between September and October 2015. The Brazilian version of the Protective Nursing Advocacy Scale, consisting of 20 items, arranged in five constructs, was the instrument was used. Elements of descriptive statistics, the Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis were used to examine the data.

Results:

The study showed a moderate association between facilitators of the practice of advocacy and perceptions that favor its exercise. The dimension "facilitators of the practice of advocacy" obtained the highest average with the instrument and was the main legal predictor in health in the hospital context, capable of inspiring in nurses the sensitivity and desire to advocate.

Conclusions:

The nurse has a feeling of responsibility to make sure equipment continues to function properly and to handle conflicting questions when offering security to patients, even in the face of resistance originating in the workplace.

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