Duke University Launches Course To Train Nurses in Politics

Interested in politics but don’t know where to start? Ready to jumpstart your career away from the bedside and make a difference? Healing Politics has teamed up with the Polis: Center for Politics at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy to host a 3.5-day training session specifically designed for nurses and midwives that are interested in politics. The first of its kind,  this will be the inaugural Campaign School for Nurses & Midwives to be held from May 24th to 27th in Durham, North Carolina. 

Healing Politics is an educational, non-partisan, non-profit organization whose mission is to “inspire, motivate, recruit, & train nurses & midwives to run for elected office up & down the ballot while building a culture of civic engagement within the professions.”

They believe that nurses and midwives are qualified for public office but many lack the proper tools and knowledge. Healing Politics builds on the fundamental nursing knowledge to: 

• Inspire nurses to run for office up and down the ballot

• Identify nurses and midwives who will run and build a community to help them

• Provide non-partisan training to help nurses who run, win

• Promote a culture within the professions where we support our colleagues who enter politics

• Partner with researchers to add to what we know about nurses and midwives in elected office

^{This content used under license from "Ask Nurse Alice."}

Program Details

The Campaign School helps nurses and midwives take the leap into politics and be prepared for what’s to come. Approximately 4 to 6 weeks prior to the Campaign School, we will hold a virtual session: Before You Take the Leap: 10 Questions You Must Answer Before Running.

The program focuses on,

• Campaign Planning

• Campaign Budgeting

• Campaign Structure and Organization

• Messaging and Communications Strategy

• Media training: Speeches, Interviews

• Campaign Finance

• Ethics

• Fundraising

• Voters Contact Strategy

• Grassroots Organizing

• Get Out the Vote (GOTV)

The program will be accepting 50 participants by building a diverse group representing geographic, political, racial, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity. 

The program is $1095 and comprised of $895 tuition and $200 fundraising. As noted on the website, fundraising is integral to any political campaign and it is a significant part of the Campaign School’s curriculum. During the program, students will learn how to campaign and become more comfortable asking for support. In order to keep the overall tuition costs down for the Campaign School, students are asking to raise $200 within 30 days of completing the program. 

All meals are included in the cost of the program as classes run from early morning until evening. Hotels and transportation are not included and individuals should factor this cost in when applying. Duke University is located close to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) with hundreds of daily flights from all over the country. Official hotel information has not been released at this time. 

To find out more information and to apply for Campaign School for Nurses & Midwives here.