The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is encouraging its members to vote for nurses who are standing for election to district health boards (DHB).

President Nano Tunnicliff says nurses are the frontline health professionals with the greatest knowledge of patients' needs and with the best understanding of health services and how they are provided.

"Put simply, nurses know what works for patients and what doesn't in our health services. They also understand the needs of the nursing workforce, which is the largest workforce in the health sector. They can provide strong clinical leadership at board level," she said.

Nurses have a broad range of skills to bring the board table. "Generally, nurses are resilient, innovative, are good communicators, are patient advocates, strategic thinkers and aware of the need to be fiscally responsible. These are all important attributes that would enhance board decision-making," Tunnicliff said.

Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said nurses also had a good understanding of the effects of a range of social factors on the health and well-being of communities.

"Nurses are well aware of the barriers many New Zealanders face in accessing affordable and appropriate health care and how that can affect their health. That is a very important perspective to have at DHB level," she said.

Nuku said nurses on DHBs have a responsibility to ensure health dollars were used widely to address inequalities, for both patients and health workers.

"Even though Māori and iwi health providers are funded by DHBs, their staff earn up to 25 percent less than their counterparts in DHBs. Nurses elected to DHBs can make the case for equitable funding and pay parity for their colleagues working for Māori and iwi providers."

A handful of nurses are elected DHB members, and several more are standing for the first time these elections. Postal voting for DHB and local body elections closes on October 9.