Vote in Scrubs: Why Civic Health Is Public Health

When nurses clock in for their shifts, they bring knowledge, compassion, and an unwavering dedication to patient care. But what happens outside of the hospital walls also affects our patients’ health — and ours. Housing, air quality, reproductive rights, the affordability of medication, and the safety of our communities are all shaped by policies decided at the ballot box. That’s why civic health is public health.

This September and October, Nurse.org is partnering with the Vot-ER Civic Health Fellowship to shine a spotlight on the link between voting and healthcare through a special podcast episode and a month-long social media campaign. Together, we’re asking: What if every nurse saw civic engagement as an extension of patient care?

Why Civic Health Matters

Research shows that 80% of health outcomes are determined by factors outside of clinical care — factors like where you live, how you work, and what you can afford. Voting and civic participation directly influence those conditions. Communities with higher voter turnout often see increased investment in healthcare infrastructure, cleaner air, stronger public health measures, and policies that improve access to care.

As one Vot-ER doctor put it while writing a prescription for asthma: “I can give you all the inhalers in the world, but voting is what changes the air quality in your neighborhood.”

Nurses at the Center of Civic Engagement

Despite being one of the most trusted professions, nurses vote at lower rates than many other groups. Long shifts, lack of resources, or feeling pressure to remain “nonpartisan” all contribute to the gap. But nurses are uniquely positioned to change this trend.

We see patients at their most vulnerable. We advocate every day for better care. Asking a patient or a coworker, “Are you registered to vote?” is not about politics — it’s about empowerment. It’s about ensuring every voice is heard on the policies that shape our communities’ health.

Vot-ER: Nonpartisan Tools for Action

Vot-ER is a nonpartisan organization founded by an emergency physician who saw firsthand how policy decisions affect health outcomes. With over 700 partner hospitals and 50,000 healthcare professionals using its tools, Vot-ER makes voter registration simple, accessible, and nonpartisan.

One of its most effective tools is the Vot-ER badge: a colorful tag that fits behind a healthcare worker’s ID badge with a QR code patients or coworkers can scan to check registration status or sign up to vote. It’s discreet, HIPAA-compliant, and puts the power of civic engagement directly into the hands of trusted healthcare professionals.

In addition to badges, Vot-ER offers posters, discharge paperwork inserts, and scripts for clinicians, as well as leadership opportunities like its Civic Health Fellowship — an eight-month program training healthcare professionals to lead grassroots civic health initiatives in their own communities - which I have had the pleasure to be a part of.

@enfermeramami.rn 🩺🗳️ Why Civic Health IS Nurse Business: 5 reasons voting = nursing care 👀 We advocate at the bedside every day — why not at the ballot box? 💙 ✨ From policies that shape staffing & patient safety to social determinants of health, voting impacts everything we do as nurses. 📢 CTA: Tag a nurse who should register to vote! Let’s build a healthier democracy, one badge scan at a time. Get your FREE badge today link in bio! https://vot-er.org/badge/ #NurseAdvocate #CivicHealth #VotER #NursesVote #CareVoteRepeat @Vot-ER @nurse.org @Nurse.org ♬ original sound - Rebeca Leon | Nurse/Enfermera

The Podcast: Vote in Scrubs

In our upcoming Nurse.org podcast episode, “Vote in Scrubs: Why Civic Health Is Public Health,” we’ll explore:

• Why civic health is public health

• Personal stories of nurses finding their voice through voting

• How healthcare systems can support nonpartisan voter registration

• Barriers to nurse voting — and how to overcome them

• How to use Vot-ER tools (badges, QR codes) to empower patients and coworkers

Guests include Civic Health Fellows who are nurses on the front lines of voter engagement sharing how small actions inside healthcare settings can transform civic participation outside of them.

The Social Campaign: Care. Vote. Repeat.

To complement the podcast, we’re launching a four-week campaign across Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Threads to inspire and educate nurses for Civic Health Awareness. Each week has a theme:

• Week 1: Why Civic Health Is Nurse Business

• Week 2: Your Voice at the Bedside and the Ballot

• Week 3: Tools Nurses Can Use Today

• Week 4: Power in Numbers: Nurses Change Outcomes

Through reels, carousels, and live Q&As, we’ll share stories, highlight tools like the Vot-ER badge, and offer practical steps for nurses to register themselves, their colleagues, and their patients — always nonpartisan and always voluntary.

How You Can Get Involved

Whether you’re a bedside nurse, an educator, or a healthcare leader, there’s a place for you in this movement.

• Check your registration status and make a plan to vote.

• Order a free Vot-ER badge at vot-er.org/join

• Talk to your colleagues and patients about voter registration in a nonpartisan, judgment-free way.

• Listen to the podcast and share it with your network to start the conversation in your workplace.

By integrating civic health into our everyday practice, nurses can strengthen not only individual patient outcomes but also the systems that shape community well-being.

The Bottom Line

Nursing has always been about more than just clinical care. It’s about advocacy, education, and empowerment. In that sense, voting and civic engagement aren’t extras — they’re extensions of our professional values.

If we can show up for our patients every day, we can show up at the ballot box, too. Together, we can build healthier communities and a healthier democracy.

Stay tuned for our upcoming podcast episode, Vote in Scrubs: Why Civic Health Is Public Health, and follow the #CareVoteRepeat campaign all month long. Because when nurses vote, patients win.

Connect with Vot-ER

Want to stay involved and access more tools? Follow Vot-ER on their official channels:

• 🌐 Website: vot-er.org

• 📱 Instagram: @vot_er_org

• 🧵 Threads: @vot_er_org

• 💼 LinkedIn: Vot-ER

• 🐦 X (Twitter): @Vot_ER

Join the conversation, share resources, and help make civic health a cornerstone of public health.

🤔Nurses, how do you see civic engagement as part of your role in advocating for healthier communities? Share your thoughts in the discussion forum below!