Reference no: EM133709137

Assignment:

1. A letter to your state legislator or a congressperson from your state regarding a national or state health policy.

• You may utilize web references provided in the text and/or professional groups such as the American Nurses Association (ANA). From the ANA home page, link to the State Government Affairs page and search current legislation.
• To identify state legislators, access your state's legislative home page.
• To identify members of Congress, visit Congress.org and enter your home zip code.

2. Satisfy the following requirements in your assignment:

The letter must express support for or opposition to a current piece of legislation.

• The letter must request a specific appropriate action. Support your "ask" with at least two convincing reasons/rationales.
• Reasons or rationales must be supported explicitly by evidence.
• The letter must indicate where the bill is in the legislative process and should demonstrate knowledge of the policy-making process.
• The letter should fit on one (1) page, using a standard letter format.
• Address the letter properly to your state legislator or member of Congress (see Step 1 above).
• Include with your assignment an additional one-page policy document (a brief) that summarizes your reason or rationale for support or opposition. Provide a concise overview of your rationale. Reasons/rationales should indicate the effect of the legislation on healthcare quality, safety, or outcomes and on diverse populations.
• Within the brief, include at least two scholarly references, that support your position. (Note: Scholarly references include journal articles and information from reputable websites and may include position papers from professional organizations.)

3. It is important to maintain a professional writing style when advocating with an official body, such as the legislature. A well-written letter presented in a professional manner is persuasive. For that reason, writing mechanics are weighted more heavily in this assignment than in the previous one.

New Jersey Congressperson: Cory Booker

Bill: The Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act (H.R.2530 and S.1113)