This is a political post because nursing is inherently political and health, particularly women’s health, is on the ballot along with our democracy. I am speaking out to share a call for nurses to vote as an act of courageous civic engagement.
“I would ask people to really imagine what the world will be like on January 20, 2025”
– Vice President Kamala Harris
Nurses have a unique vantage point on societal issues. Despite this, our political engagement, especially in voting, is surprisingly low compared to other professionals like teachers, social workers, and lawyers. This disengagement not only hampers the nursing profession but also limits our influence on health-related policies that can improve societal conditions.
Nurses are in a unique position to influence the political landscape due to our comprehensive understanding of health issues. The American Medical Association (AMA) recognizes voting as a social determinant of health, underscoring the link between voter suppression and negative health outcomes.
The upcoming 2024 election presents a critical opportunity for nurses to advocate for policies that directly affect our profession. Voting for Biden/Harris is particularly important because their administration has demonstrated a stalwart commitment to healthcare reforms that align with the values and needs of the nursing profession.
Biden’s healthcare policies focus on expanding access to healthcare, increasing funding for nursing education and workforce development, and addressing critical issues such as nurse burnout, staffing ratios, and workplace safety. His administration’s support for the Affordable Care Act, initiatives to reduce prescription drug prices, and efforts to expand mental health services are crucial for improving patient care and the working conditions of nurses. Protecting women’s healthcare choices is by far the most urgent of all issues on this year’s ballot.
President Biden’s healthcare policies include several key initiatives aimed at expanding access to healthcare and addressing critical issues within the nursing profession. Here are the primary areas of focus:
Expanding Access to Healthcare
- Affordable Care Act (ACA) Enhancements: Biden supports strengthening the ACA by increasing subsidies to make health insurance more affordable and expanding Medicaid in states that have not yet done so.
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Public Option: The administration has proposed creating a public health insurance option to provide an alternative to private insurance and expand coverage.
Increasing Funding for Nursing Education and Workforce Development:
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Workforce Development: Biden’s policies include significant investments in the healthcare workforce, particularly in nursing. This includes funding for scholarships, loan forgiveness programs, and grants to support nursing education.
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Training and Education Programs: Initiatives to expand and improve training programs for nurses, including increasing the capacity of nursing schools and providing support for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).
Addressing Critical Issues in Nursing:
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Nurse Burnout: Policies aimed at addressing nurse burnout include promoting mental health resources, reducing administrative burdens, and improving working conditions.
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Staffing Ratios: Biden’s administration has shown support for establishing safer nurse-to-patient staffing ratios to ensure better patient care and reduce the stress on nurses.
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Workplace Safety: Initiatives to improve workplace safety for nurses include measures to prevent workplace violence, enhance protective equipment, and enforce safety standards in healthcare settings.
These policies are designed to improve the overall quality of healthcare in the United States by ensuring that nurses and other healthcare professionals are well-supported, adequately trained, and able to work in safe environments.
Voting directly influences policies that affect nurses’ working conditions, including burnout, staffing ratios, workplace safety, and scope of practice. The underrepresentation of nurses in voting and in public office means that these issues are often inadequately addressed. Notably, congresswomen like Lauren Underwood, Cori Bush, and Eddie Bernice Johnson illustrate how nurses can successfully transition from clinical roles to influential policy positions.
With nearly 5 million nurses in the United States, our profession’s collective voice is powerful. Engaging in civic activities such as voting is not only beneficial for community wellness but also vital for a healthy democracy. Advocacy, a core principle of nursing, should extend into political engagement to ensure that nurses’ perspectives are represented in policy-making.
Nursing practice is intrinsically linked to promoting equitable human flourishing. By participating in elections, nurses can help dismantle structural contributors to poor health outcomes and advocate for policies that support health equity. Voting for President Joe Biden aligns with these goals, as his platform emphasizes the importance of healthcare access, equity, and the well-being of healthcare workers.
Nurses can have a profound impact on health outcomes and societal well-being through political engagement. By voting, we can help shape policies that promote health equity and support our profession. Nurses must embrace our role as advocates both in the clinical setting and at the ballot box, fulfilling our professional responsibility to contribute to a healthier and more equitable society. Voting for the Biden/Harris ticket in the 2024 election is an urgent step towards ensuring that healthcare policies reflect our needs and the needs of our communities, promoting a healthier and safer future.
Resources:
Nurses Vote
A healthy democracy needs voting nurses
Click to access Vot-ER-NVRA.pdf
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Great post Robin thank you! One thought to add……..think as a citizen now (nurse too)…….the possibility (and likelihood) exists of the Republican frontrunner (if he wins) of replacing TWO Supreme Court justices seats. The fallout from that will last decades. We need to act forward and pay forward on this one. So GOOOO Nurses! Vote! Vote early. Vote by mail. Call out sick on day of if necessary but please VOTE! And if you’ve got the time or inclination volunteer now…….door knocking, phone banking, text banking, anything, just do what you can.
Absolutely, you are spot on about SCOTUS…I am doing a series leading up to the election and will be sure to include this in an upcoming post. Next up, gun violence prevention…
This is a brave and bold and necessary statement .
Congratulations for throwing false impartial caution aside . Your statement is a flat out call for nurses to do the right thing.
Brava Robin!
Phew…I have been holding my breath since I posted this, thank you so much for your comment.