Legislative Action Letter Assignment

Course Objectives: Student...

Professional development

Recognizes the impact of economic, political, social, and demographic forces on the

delivery of healthcare.

Assignment Learning Objectives: Student...

Identifies a relevant issue that affects nurses and clients.
Demonstrates commitment to an opinion on a health care policy issue that concerns professional nurses.
Produces a professionally written message that is clear, brief and specific to the selected issue for submission to a legislator, regarding pending legislation.

Methodology:

  1. Select a relevant health care policy topic (review topics from class or in newspapers and/or news media).
  2. Research the topic in order to present a well-expressed opinion.
  3. Review suggestions for “how-to” write email "letters" to policy makers in the 
recommended textbook by Cherry (Ch. 23); review samples of “letters to the editor” 
from newspapers and in nursing journals.
  4. Obtain lists of names and addresses of legislators (Mass.gov, Mass ANA or MNA 
websites are sources) for writing to a legislator in Massachusetts.
  5. Submit a one-page letter to instructor on or before due date. NOTE: Even if you intend to send an email to your legislator, please format in letter style, and submit in hard copy for grading.
  6. Due date April 2

Grading Criteria:                                              

The Legislative Action Letter is 10% of the course grade for NUR 204
Grading will be based on the clarity of your opinion statement in the letter, organization, scholarly presentation, proper spelling and grammar. See grading rubric for specifics.