Final answer:
Patients' autonomy is the first core attribute of the nurse-advocate, and it involves respecting their right to make decisions about their own healthcare. Nurses can safeguard patients' autonomy by respecting their rights to privacy and dignity, protecting them from harm, preserving confidentiality, and seeking their informed consent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first core attribute of the nurse-advocate is safeguarding patients' autonomy. This means that patients have the right to exercise agency or self-determination when making decisions about their own healthcare. It is important for nurses to respect patients' autonomy and ensure they are fully informed about their options before making any decisions.
Some ways to safeguard patients' autonomy include respecting their rights to privacy and dignity, protecting them from personal harm, preserving confidentiality, and seeking their informed consent.
For example, in clinical trials, participant autonomy is protected by obtaining informed consent, where individuals are provided with all the relevant information to make an informed decision about participating in the trial.