Provision 9

Nurses and nursing organizations should actively engage in the political process, particularly in addressing legislative and regulatory concerns that most affect the public’s health and related social and structural determinants. Nurses ought to take an active role in the democratic process, including through robust civic engagement and legislative and political advocacy. Nurses and their representative professional organizations work in concert to study and disseminate values-and evidence-based efforts to promote social justice and advance a nursing agenda in health and social policies. Further, nurses and nursing organizations have an obligation to speak against legislation and social policy that undermines health, equity, human flourishing, and the common good.

Nurses have a role at every level of the democratic process. This includes informed voting in local and national elections; running for office; combating voter suppression; and working closely with local, state, and federal elected officials to develop, promote, and facilitate the passage of health and social policy change. Other means include activism and protest to facilitate engagement and social awareness and inspire legislative transformation in the interest of health and nursing’s professional goals. As members of society, activism and protest are not without risk. Nursing unity strengthens the voice of nurses and helps mitigate both personal and professional risk, while furthering the ends that nursing seeks. Nurses have to be vigilant and build wide coalitions and influence leaders, legislators, and governmental, and non-governmental organizations in all related-health affairs to address the social and structural determinants of health and social well-being.