Use of Nursing Uniform for Political Campaign; a spat on the noble profession.

Written by Prince Assandoh-Mensah in August 2020

It is 2020, an election year, and once again, despite the challenges associated with Covid-19 pandemic, politicians are still finding different ways to sell their messages to the electorates.

Over the years, nursing issues have been on the menu of every campaign season. Issues like nursing student’s allowance, enrollment in nursing school, recruitment of nurses and the likes are important dishes that keep reappearing on the list.

As it is often done, several political campaigns and promotions will contain elements of nursing. Both side of the political divide will echo appealing messages to win the sympathy of the nurse. Yet, shortly after the election, the fate of the nurse is left to the mass’s plea.

Already, pictures of individuals in nursing uniforms are flooding on social media with campaign captions of political parties. Yet, nursing leadership remain unperturbed about this disheartening situation. Nothing seem to be wrong with it, but a video of a nurse who decides to release stress by dancing in uniform will trigger an official response from the same quarters.

In the same strength that we condemn ethically unacceptable acts spearheaded by individuals in nursing uniforms, let also condemn politically motivated acts seeking to selfishly benefit from the nobility of the nursing profession.

The politician must also understand that nurses and nursing students are members of the community, just like any other citizen of the country, and that every effort contributed to improving the life of the nurse will be seen by other members of the community. It will not necessarily require the nursing uniform to do the bidding.