Assignment Part 1,2,3 - Legislative Representatives and Policies

Purpose and goals of the assignment:

- Formulate written professional communication that advocates for a key nursing issue. Explore advocacy tools and resources for nurses

- Reflect on nursing leadership attributes and personal perspective r/t how each contributes to and influences healthcare policy, social justice, and professional nursing practice.

- Highlight the importance of nurse centered advocacy and identify that all nurses including students have a voice and expertise that is valued and can inspire change.

Instructions

1-This Assignment is laid out in 3 Essential Parts

2-Make sure to use appropriate APA formatting (References page)

Assignment Parts

Part I: Legislative Representatives and Policies. 

Identify 2 House of Representatives and 2 Senators from the State of Florida and review 2 bills that are sponsored or co-sponsored by the selected state House of Representatives official(s) and 2 bills that are sponsored or co-sponsored by the selected Senate Representative(s) resulting in a description of 4 total bills (see outline below). Then link these 4 bills to nursing, population, health and rational for choosing doing a detailed overview and description of each of the 4 bills.

PART 2:  Writing a Letter to the Selected Representative.

Write a persuasive letter to one of the chosen state Representatives identified in Part 1 regarding one of the selected 4 bills that you feel will have the most impact with a rationale for choosing the selected bill. You have to ensure recipient is the appropriate person for the bill/topic (state vs federal senator, representative, governor, etc.). The letter will be written in a business/personal correspondence style including name, contact information and professional salutation for the receiving party (to whom it may concern is not acceptable). Also include the zip codes for both the student and receiving party to verify that letter is addressed to an appropriate elected official and also who represents the student as a constituent.

Please see below more instructions and a template for writing this letter.

PART 3: Identify a nursing organization of your choice that has a policy advocacy section, then locate that section and find their current legislative/advocacy agenda and describe it, (the most recent).

Instructions for Part 2.

Tips for Writing Your Legislators

? Use their names. Do not send letters addressed to “Senator” or “Representative from District XX.”

? Use proper form of address and salutation on the letter and envelope (i.e., Honorable Jane Doe, or Honorable Senator Jane Doe).

? Clearly identify the issue or the bill you are writing about by its title and bill number to avoid any confusion.

? Make the letter timely.

? Make the letter accurate and sincere. Relate your concern as a personal one when possible, give reasons for your position, and tell how the bill or issue will impact you and others.

? Ask for specific assistance or support of your position.

? Individual letters are preferable. Double check the letter to make sure it is legible, professional, and well-written.

? Always include your mailing address, telephone number, and email address for a response. Make sure your return address is on the envelope.

? Don’t be rude or threatening – EVER!

Threatening letters go directly into the wastebasket.

? After the requested action, a letter to say

“thank you” is always appreciated.

Template for Part 2

( Robin Jones, RN 321 Broadway Lane Orlando, FL 32828 January 12, 2016 The Honorable Elaine Adams 100 Capitol Street Tallahassee, FL 32301 Dear Representative Adams: As a tered Nurse and parent living in your district, I see every day how important the children’s health provision in the Health Care Reorganization Act, HB 1234, would be in making sure that children receive preventive healthcare. Nurses and other healthcare providers spend great amounts of time caring for sick children who might not be sick if they had preventive healthcare. Children are brought to the emergency rooms at the last minute because they did not receive regular or preventive care. These emergency room visits cost society an inordinate amount of money. This money could be spent on other important things if children have adequate preventive healthcare! I urge you to support the children’s health provision in HB 1234. Thank you for your help with this important legislation. Florida’s nurses are working hard to support responsible healthcare policies. Sincerely, Robin Jones, RN )

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