If you haven’t already done so, please exercise your right to vote. There’s more to decide on our ballots than which presidential candidate to choose. In California, we have 12 propositions. It’s interesting to see which ones Nurses Associations endorse. I also found it interesting how many non-healthcare related propositions used nurses in their ads, too. Is it any wonder that nurses are used to sway voters, considering nurses are regarded as the most trusted profession and regarded as heroes in a pandemic?
I’m not going to tell you which candidates or propositions to support; just please make sure you educate yourself on the candidates and issues and VOTE! In between nursing job applications and studying for my NRP certification, I spent my time evaluating the candidates and propositions and even hosted a Prop Party over Zoom with friends to better understand the proposed measures on the ballot. I went through every candidate and issue with my father yesterday. We had some good discussions about how some issues may not impact my parents or myself but may impact my daughter and her future. We traveled to the polling place together and voted as a family.
Voting is essential for our democracy, a way to make changes we wish to see in our city/state/country and yet another way we can advocate for the nursing profession and patients. Please participate in our democracy and vote! If you’ve already voted and you’re stressed or anxious about this election and its possible outcomes, The New York Times is offering something to distract you until the election results are finalized: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/30/style/election-stress-relief.html
The Mature Student Nurse 