Why Nursing Organizations Endorse Political Candidates

Some nursing organizations that do endorse specific political candidates, such as the National Nurses United (NNU), which recently announced their endorsement of a Presidential candidate, may choose a specific candidate every year, or only choose to endorse candidates that they feel will strongly support a cause they wish to further. In other words, even if a nursing organization has historically supported political candidates throughout the years, that could change in the future.

The reverse is also true. For instance, the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) just chose to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time in the organization's 121-year history. So why do nursing organizations endorse certain candidates?

Here, we break down why certain nursing organizations may become involved in supporting specific political candidates, how nursing organizations are involved in legislation, and the impact that nursing organization's endorsements can have on elections and ultimately, policies.