Journal of advanced nursing
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The purpose of this paper is to analyse themes from accounts of nurses' experiences with advocacy that may expand our understanding of advocacy in nursing practice. ⋯ The application of advocacy in nursing practice is complex. The philosophy of relational ethics emphasizes the contextual features of relationships. An examination of relational ethics as it applies to advocacy in nursing brings us closer to a deeper understanding of the process by which nurses make advocacy choices in practice, and raises implications for the development of advocacy in nurses' practice. Advocacy is universally considered a moral obligation in nursing practice, and thus advancement of our knowledge about its nature in nursing is relevant to nursing across multiple contexts and cultures.