Which of the following is an expected outcome of effective nursing advocacy?

Effective nursing advocacy is primarily focused on enhancing the care and wellbeing of patients. One expected outcome of this advocacy is improved communication between the patient and healthcare providers. When nurses advocate for their patients, they help to bridge gaps in understanding, address concerns, and ensure that patients' needs and preferences are communicated clearly to the entire healthcare team. This open line of communication fosters a collaborative environment where patients feel heard, understood, and empowered to participate actively in their own care.

In contrast, increased patient anxiety would likely stem from poor communication and lack of support, while less patient autonomy contradicts the essence of advocacy, which is to empower patients in their healthcare decisions. Higher readmission rates would suggest a failure in care coordination and management, which advocacy aims to prevent through effective communication and patient education. Hence, improved communication stands out as a direct and positive outcome of effective nursing advocacy.