A case study described a nursing experience advocating nutritional support for a critical care patient. Data were collected using physical assessment, record analysis and family interviews. A total of 23 patient diaries were written in the period from 1990 March 1 to 1990 April 28. Content analysis revealed that patient had severe nutritional deficits without medical attention. The primary nurse, who identified the problem, used strategies to develop a support network consisting of consulting doctors, dieticians and nursing colleagues to request sufficient enteral and parenteral nutritional support for patient. Positive outcomes included wound healing, ventilator weaning and discharge from the intensive care unit. Results of this study demonstrated that advocacy is a role of the nursing profession.