NR551 Healthcare Systems, Politics,
and Policy
NR551 Week 7 Assignment Letter to Legislator or Policy Decision Maker
The Letter to Legislator or Policy Decision Maker assignment
is due by Sunday, 11:59 p.m. MT at the end of Week 7.
For this assignment, identify a healthcare policy of
interest and research the policy to determine your stand on the issue. You will
be advocating for the policy in the form of a letter to be either mailed or
e-mailed to a policy decision maker. Policy decision makers may be at the
institutional level or at the city, county, state, or federal legislative
level. The policy analyzed for Week 5 may be used for this assignment.
Additionally, the Library NR 551 LibGuide (Links to an external site.)Links to
an external site. is an excellent resource for your research.
Preventative screening for chronic diseases gives individuals clarity and a sense of security, protecting them, and allowing them to live a longer, healthier life. To achieve this, the word needs to be spread about these wonderful immunizations and screenings. One way to do this is by creating a patient profile. This patient profile would be essentially a portal with all of their medical info, immunizations, medical history, and family history. This patient portal will remind them of the dates to be tested. For example, every year a woman should have a pap smear. It will alert them when it is needed, while also showing various health centers near them. Another example would be when their immunizations expire, such as the Tdap and tetanus shots. Based on family history, it would alert you at certain ages to be tested or screened for cancer. For example, if you have a history of breast cancer, should be tested at 30 and every year after. There is a lot of information out there and it tends to get lost in translation. This app or patient profile helps track and keep your medical history up to date.
Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to: a) identify a healthcare
policy to engage in public advocacy for, b) identify healthcare policy decision
maker or legislator with which to correspond regarding the identified policy,
c) write a professional letter to healthcare policy decision maker or
legislator advocating for identified healthcare policy, and d) present ideas in
a clear, succinct and scholarly manner.
Course Outcomes
This assignment enables the student to meet the following
course outcomes:
(CO#5) Evaluate the relationships among nursing, health, and
public policy development within historical and current contexts (PO 1-5)
(CO#6) Demonstrate effective communication with sources of
healthcare policy (public, private, voluntary organization) (PO 1-5)
Due Date
Submit to the Dropbox by Sunday 11:59 p.m. MT at the end of
Week 7.
Students are given the opportunity to request an extension
on assignments for emergent situations. Supporting documentation must be
submitted to the assigned faculty. If the student’s request is not approved,
the assignment is graded and a late penalty is applied as follows:
Monday = 10% of total possible point reduction
Tuesday = 20% of total possible point reduction
Wednesday = 30% of total possible point reduction
If the student’s request is approved, the student will be
informed of the revised due date. Should the student fail to meet the revised
due date, the assignment is graded and a late penalty is applied as follows:
Monday = 10% of total possible point reduction
Tuesday = 20% of total possible point reduction
Wednesday = 30% of total possible point reduction
Total Points Possible 200
Requirements
Assignment Criteria for the Letter:
Search current healthcare policy/law initiatives involving
nursing and choose an initiative to advocate for. This may be a local, state,
or federal level policy and may be the same policy analyzed in Week 5.
Determine your position on the policy.
Identify the policy decision maker or legislator to
correspond with regarding the policy. If the policy decision maker is a
legislator identify the legislator of whom you are a constituent.
Prepare a professional letter advocating for the policy.
Follow tips/guidelines presented in lecture/lesson for Week
7. A sample letter from a professional organization may be utilized, but must
be personalized according to the guidelines presented in Week 7 lecture/lesson.
Letter should be no longer than 1 to 2 pages in length.
Submit documentation of utilization of a minimum of two
scholarly references excluding the course text. Citations and references are to
be included in the actual letter to the policy maker or legislator to show
evidentiary support.
Rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation are
consistent with formal written work.
Preparing the Letter
Letter should be no longer than 1 to 2 pages in length.
Include a minimum of two current references published within the past 5 years,
not including your textbook. References may include scholarly websites of
organizations or government agencies and must be presented using APA 6th edition
format for electronic media.