Nurses have long known that care extends beyond the clinical settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and public health departments. In the 2026 elections, our collective voice can help shape the conditions that affect patients, families, communities, and even the nursing profession.

Florence Nightingale once wrote, “I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words. They ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results.” For nurses, voting is one of those actions.

Studies on the voting behavior of physicians and nurses reveal a concerning pattern. Both groups vote at rates below the national average. This matters because one out of every 44 voter is a nurse, yet we are not fully using the power of our vote.

My message is nonpartisan. Every nurse needs to vote. Make a voting plan and encourage family and friends to vote as well. Vot/ER is a national nonprofit that helps health care professionals and students across the disciplines to support civic engagement in the voting process.

What I appreciate most about Florence Nightingale’s quote is its focus on action. She was not waiting for someone to tell her what to do or how to do it. She was pointing to the obvious. Nurses need to be part of the political process through voting.

Some nurses may say “I don’t have time”, or  “I’m fed up with the whole political circus”. Instead consider reframing voting as power and action, even when your preferred candidate or issue does not win. Voting builds momentum for change.

If the choices feel overwhelming, focus on the issues that matter most to you, such as poverty, the environment, or the loss of educational resources. Then compare what candidates propose to improve those conditions. It is also important to have a voting plan. As nurses know, life can be chaotic when you are working full time, possibly attending school part time, raising a family, and managing other responsibilities. Think ahead about whether you will vote by mail or in person and review the ballot in advance so you can understand which candidates best align with your values.

Then vote. Do not miss the opportunity to have a say in the future of our country. Choosing to vote is one concrete way nurses can turn concern into action.

This quote by Clare Barton, Civil War nurse, captures the call to action “I have an almost complete disregard of precedent and of faith in the possibility of something better. It irritates me to be told how things have always been done. I defy the tyranny of precedent. I go for anything new that might improve the past.”