Nurses shouldnt engage in active politics

Anonymous865 · Oct 30, 2016

Let me make sure I understand your question. As a nursing student class assignment, you have to argue against nurses participating in the political process. Another student is going to be arguing for nurses participating in politics. You are looking for help arguing against nurses engaging in politics. Did I get that correct?

In the US most people would argue that every citizen has an ethical obligation to engage in the political process. Here nursing organizations are active in getting legislation passed to promote and protect health and protect vulnerable populations. There are nurses in both the US House of Representatives and the Senate.

Since you are in Ghana, I looked for an international Code of Ethics for nurses.

The International Council of Nurses Code of Ethics says, "The nurse shares with society the responsibility for initiating and supporting action to meet the health and social needs of the public, in particular those of vulnerable populations.

"The nurse advocates for equity and social justice in resource allocation, access to healthcare, and other social and economic services"

Both of these statements could be interpreted that nurses have an ethical obligation to engage in politics to ensure that the health and social needs of the public are met.

I found a paper that stated "Nurses' approach to ethical problems in Ghana do not always meet expectations of the ICN Code for Nurses."

Ethics, culture and nursing practice in Ghana. - PubMed - NCBI

I'm not sure how cultural norms in Ghana might affect nursing ethics. You should start with looking at what the Ghana Code of Nursing Ethics says.

You might also try to approach the argument that nurses are in a position of power and they should not use their position to try to influence patients for political purposes.

TuesdaysChild · Nov 5, 2016

It sounds like you drew the short end of the syringe! I think a lot of nurses would feel that being part of the political process goes hand in hand with advocacy.

However, it seems you've been assigned to the opposition. On the plus side, oftentimes taking the position against popular sentiment (including your own) will strengthen your own understanding of an issue! It's always a good day for a challenge!

The poster above gave some good tips on where to find supporting evidence. You also need to think about the foundation of your argument. What could be a benefit to staying politically neutral? Does being politically active influence, say, personal bias? Could political bias affect your care of certain patients/situations? What are the major political issues in Ghana and could having strong opinions on those issues make you prejudice towards patients/treatments/procedures, or could your politically active status create mistrust in your patients who have differing views?

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Nov 5, 2016

The main argument I'd make against nurses becoming politically involved is simply that we need to treat all patients with the best possible care, regardless of political opinions or biases. It may be wise to avoid engaging in political discussions with patients in order to prevent inadvertently (or intentionally) alienating anyone. People can get offended pretty quickly when discussing controversial politics.

However, I agree with prior posters that nurses ought to have a collective voice in the political arena. Working together allows us to advocate for better patient care, safer staffing ratios, etc.

Davey Do · Nov 12, 2016

You might also try to approach the argument that nurses are in a position of power and they should not use their position to try to influence patients for political purposes.

The main argument I'd make against nurses becoming politically involved is simply that we need to treat all patients with the best possible care, regardless of political opinions or biases. It may be wise to avoid engaging in political discussions with patients in order to prevent inadvertently (or intentionally) alienating anyone..

Here here! And: Amen!

Davey Do · Nov 12, 2016

However, it seems you've been assigned to the opposition. On the plus side, oftentimes taking the position against popular sentiment (including your own) will strengthen your own understanding of an issue! It's always a good day for a challenge!

Words of wisdom!

caliotter3 · Nov 12, 2016

If I am walking into the front door of a hospital and you are walking a picket line holding a sign regarding some issue affecting patient care, I might say to myself, "Good for her". If I am lying in a bed on your floor and you start in about the latest political issue for no good reason, I might get upset enough for my blood pressure to become high. Different situations with different expectations for the nurse. In general, there is a time and a place for everything.