Nurses have a long history of political activism; Florence Nightingale actively lobbied for better sanitation on the grounds of public health, and signed her name to petitions for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom. Lavinia Lloyd Dock, Lillian Wald, Ethel Gordon Fenwick and many others were similarly active. Despite this historic basis, there remain inherent tensions between nursing and politics, which have resulted in underrepresentation at the level of national political office. Nurses have been elected to serve as members of legislatures and have served as ministers of health.

The most prominent tension relates to gender. Nursing is one of the largest professions in the world, with approximately 29 million nurses worldwide in 2025. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 90 percent of the global nursing and midwifery workforce is female, and 10 percent is male, yet only 25 percent of leadership roles in health are held by women. Women remain similarly underrepresented in nationally elected parliaments; as at 2026, only 27.5 percent of parliamentarians were women, up from 11 percent in 1995. Historically, women's suffrage was not guaranteed globally; for example, Florence Nightingale did not have the right to vote within her lifetime. In the list below, the first identified nurse elected at a national level in politics was Kyllikki Pohjala in Finland as late as 1933.

There is also a difference in how the professions of nursing and politics are perceived. In a 2025 US Gallup Poll, 76 percent of the respondents said nurses were highly rated for honesty and ethical standards, making it the most trusted profession for 23rd consecutive year, while state office holders were rated at 14 percent and members of Congress were rated 8 percent. In 2024, the UK Ipsos veractity index rated nurses as the most trusted at 94 percent, against politicians as the least trusted at 11 percent.

There is a tension that comes from being a profession that provides care without fear or favour. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in the UK recognises the right of individual nurses to hold political beliefs, also maintains that the NMC Code requires nurses to uphold standards of profession and not "impact their fitness to practise". In 2026 the UK government published a report recommending prohibiting National Health Service staff from wearing political badges on their uniforms.

There are some countries where this perception is being challenged; the American Association of Nurse Practitioners's Code of Ethics 9.5 states, "Nurses have a role at every level of the democratic process". In 2026, there are 4.3 to 5 million registered nurses in the United States. Despite their numbers, nurses remain under-represented in politics,Summers, Lisa and Gordon, Kimberly. "Nurses in Politics". Nursing Management vol. 55, no. 6 (June 2024): p 56. DOI: 10.1097/nmg.0000000000000140 with none serving in the United States Senate, 3 serving in the United States Congress, and 86 serving in state legislatures.

Beth Haney says that nurses are especially suited for political office, being highly educated, having the public trust, and demonstrating a sense of duty and responsibility through their profession.Haney Beith. "Making a difference by serving in public office: Why we need more nurses in politics". Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, vol. 34, no. 8 (August 1, 2022):951-953. doi: 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000748. PMID: 36330548. Monica Barfield notes that the low numbers of nurse-politicians is "a critical missed opportunity for health care reform and equitable policy development." The American Nurses Association Advocacy Institute, American Association of Nurse Practitioners Political Action Committee, Healing Nurses, the International Council of Nurses Global Nursing Leadership Institute, and Nurses on Board Coalition are national and global initiatives to prepare nurses for political engagement.

List Following is a list of notable trained or registered nurses who have served in government and/or been elected to national or subnational political offices, as of August 2026.

Dates of post(s)Name CountryPositions1933–1963 Kyllikki Pohjala Parliament of Finland 1933–1962; Minister of Social Affairs and Health 1962–1963 1949–1960 Gerda Höjer Member of Parliament 1949–19601958–1959Mary McAlister first nurse to be elected Member of Parliament 1958–19591966–1979Alli Vaittinen-KuikkaParliament of Finland 1966–19791970–1977Jennifer MusaMember of Parliament 1970–19771978–1982 Carmen A. Kasperbauer senator in the Legislature of Guam 1978–1982()1984–1993Rosita ButterfieldParliament of the Turks and Caicos Islands 1984–1991; Speaker of the House in 1991–19931984–2004Lucie Pépin Member of Parliament 1984–1988; appointed to the upper house, 1997–2011; speaker pro tempore 2002–20041989–1993Anna KnysokSejm 1989–1993, Deputy Minister of Health 1997–20011989–2005John Alvheim Member of Parliament 1989–20051991–2007Maija Rask Parliament of Finland 1991–2007; Minister of education 1999–20031993–1997Margaret Bridgman Member of Parliament 1993–19971992–2023Eddie Bernice Johnson United States House of Representatives 1992–2023; first nurse elected to the United States Congress; chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; chair of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology1993–2008Jill Pettis New Zealand Parliament 1993–20081994–2002Nalin Pekgul Member of Parliament 1994–20021994–2009Beatrice Marshoff Parliament of South Africa 1994–1999 1996–1998Jill White New Zealand Parliament 1996–19981996-2015Carolyn McCarthyUnited States House of Representatives 1996-20151999–2015Leena Rauhala Parliament of Finland 1999–20152002–2008Lynne Pillay New Zealand Parliament 2002–20082004–2012Juliana Azumah-MensahParliament of Ghana 2004–2012; Minister for Tourism 2009; Minister for Women and Children's Affairs 2010–20122004–2014Laurie HardingNew Hampshire House of Representatives 2004–20142005–2013Laila Dåvøy Member of the Storting 2005–2013; Minister of Children and Family Affairs 2001–2005; Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs 1999–2000Kjetil Løset: Sp-topp trekker seg fra Stortinget (in Norwegian) TV2, June 25, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2012.2005–2017Sonja MandtStorting 2005–20172005–2023Nadine Dorries Member of Parliament 2005–2023; Minister of State for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health 2020-2021; Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 2021–20222005–2010Jim DevineMember of Parliament 2005–20102005–2012 Judith AdamsMember of the Australian Senate 2005–20122005–2019Anne MiltonMember of Parliament 2005–2019; Lord Commissioner of the Treasury 2012–2014; Vice-Chamberlain of the Household 2014–2015; Minister for Women 2017–2018; Minister of State for Skills and Apprenticeships 2017–20192006–2011Angufiru MargaretParliament of Uganda 2006–20112007–2015Özlem Cekic Member of the Folketing 2007–20152007–2015 Merja Kuusisto Parliament of Finland 2007–20152007–2015Sebahat TuncelGrand National Assembly of Turkey 2007–20152008–2021Cathy McLeod Member of Parliament 2008–20212009–to dateLicia Ronzulli Member of the European Parliament 2009–2014; Senate of the Republic 2018–to date Licia Ronzulli's history of parliamentary service on the homepage of the European Parliament (accessed on 5 February 2017)2009–2013Tove-Lise TorveStorting 2009–2013; member of The Justice Committee2009–2014Josefa Andrés BareaMember of the European Parliament representing Spain 2009–2025Olaug Bollestad Member of the Storting 2009–2025; Minister of Agriculture and Food 2019–2021; Minister of Children and Families 20212011–2019Thyra Frank Member of the Folketing 2011–2019; Minister for Elderly Affairs 2016–20192011–2019Christine MooreMember of Parliament 2011–20192011–to date Sirið StenbergMember of the Løgting 2011–to date; Minister of Health 2015–2019; Minister of Social Affairs and Culture 2022–to date2013–to date Emmi ZeulnerMember of the Bundestag 2013-; Karrieren: Die Brunzkartlerin, Der_Spiegel, 10 June 20132013–2021Kristin Ørmen JohnsenMember of the Storting 2013–2021; chair, Standing Committee on Family and Cultural Affairs 2017–20212015–2024Maria CaulfieldMember of Parliament 2015–2024; Minister of State for Health 2022; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Mental Health and Women's Health Strategy 2022–20242015–Marta Sibina CampsMember of Congress of Deputies 2015–2015-2023Isidro Martínez OblancaMember of Congress of Deputies 2015–2023.2016–2026Clare HaugheyMember of the Scottish Parliament 2016–2026; Minister for Mental Health 2018–2021; Minister for Children and Young People 2021–20232016–2020Polly CampionMember of the New Hampshire House of Representatives2017-to date Claudia Moll Member of the Bundestag 2017-; Commissioner for Long-Term Care at the Federal Ministry of Health in the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz 2022-2025.Rainer Woratschka (12 January 2022), Lauterbachs überraschender Personalentscheid: Einen "extrem engagierten" Industriemechaniker macht er zum Patientenbeauftragten Der_Tagesspiegel.2017–2021Michelle BallantyneMember of the Scottish Parliament2017–2022Nadia Ramassamy National Assembly2017–2019Karen Lee Member of Parliament2018–to dateSalihe Aydeniz Grand National Assembly of Turkey 2018–to date2019–to dateIsabella Dageago Member of Parliament Nauru 2019–; Minister of Health 2019–2022; Deputy Speaker of Parliament 2025–to date2019–2024Sarah AthertonMember of Parliament2019–to dateLauren UnderwoodUnited States House of Representatives 2019–to date2020-2025Peggy VidotMinister of Health2021–to dateAkanvariva Lydia Lamisi Parliament of Ghana 2021–to date2021–to dateKathy LieMember of the Storting 2021–to date2021–2026 Sylvia Bahireira TumwekwaseParliament of Uganda 2021–20262021–2025Cori BushUnited States House of Representatives 2021–20252022–2026Maria DurhuusMember of the Folketing 2022–20262022–2026Rosa EriksenMember of the Folketing 2022–20262022–to datePaulette Hamilton Member of Parliament 2022–to date; interim chair and deputy chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee 2025–2022–to date Young Syefura Othman Parliament of Malaysia 2022–to date2023–to dateJen KiggansUnited States House of Representatives 2023–to date2023–to dateEvie BrennanWyoming Senate 2023–to date2024–to date Pat CullenMember of Parliament 2024–to date2024–to date Sojan JosephMember of Parliament 2024–to date2024–to dateKevin McKenna Member of Parliament 2024–to date2025–to dateSheri BiggsUnited States House of Representatives 2025–to date2025–to dateTrish CookAustralian House of Representatives 2025–to date2026–to dateLise MüllerMember of the Folketing 2026–to date2026–to dateMichelle CampbellMember of the Scottish Parliament 2026–to date2026–to dateNancy TheriaultMaine House of Representatives 2026–to date

Further reading

Curley, Darlene J. and Stone, Patricia W. "Nurse State Legislators, 2013 to 2023". Nursing Outlook, vol. 72, no. 1, (2024). ISSN 0029-6554,doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2023.102102. Feldman, Harriet and Lewenson, Sandra B. Nurses in the Political Arena: The Public Face of Nursing. Springer Publishing, 2000. . Koff, Sondra Z. Nurse Educators and Politics. State University of New York Press, 2012. .

References