NURS 6050 – Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health

Week 4 Assignment: Legislation Grid and Advocacy Statement on a Health Policy Bill

Course and Assessment Overview

Course: NURS 6050 / NURS 6050N – Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health

Assessment Type: Week 4 written assignment – Legislation Grid plus 1-page Advocacy Statement

Length: 4–6 page paper (approximately 2–3 pages for the completed legislation grid and 1–2 pages for the advocacy statement, excluding title page and references), which mirrors common NURS 6050 assignment samples

Format: Word-processed document, double-spaced, 12-point font, current program referencing style (APA or Harvard)

Submission: Upload to the Week 4 Assignment area in the learning management system by the specified deadline (commonly Day 7 of Week 4)

Assignment Context

Health care policy shapes cost, quality, access, and equity in every practice setting, and NURS 6050 consistently asks students to analyse real bills and programs, compare policy agendas, and advocate for change using an evidence-informed lens. In this Week 4 assignment, you will critically examine a current health-related bill, complete a legislation grid that captures its key features and impacts, and develop a concise advocacy statement to support your position on the bill for a policymaker audience.

Task Instructions

Step 1 – Select a Current Health-Related Bill

Select a current federal or state health-related bill that affects population health, nursing practice, or health care delivery (for example, bills related to mental health access, prescription drug pricing, maternal health, public health preparedness, or the primary care workforce).

• The bill should be active or recently introduced in the current or most recent legislative session.

• Use official legislative websites (for example, Congress.gov or state legislature sites) to obtain accurate, up-to-date information.

Step 2 – Complete the Legislation Grid (Approximately 2–3 Pages)

Construct a structured grid in table form within your document. At a minimum, include the following elements, which align with recurrent NURS 6050 legislation grid templates:

• Bill Identification: Bill number, title, and jurisdiction (federal or state)

• Bill Summary: Brief description of the bill’s purpose, target population, and key provisions

• Policy Drivers: Identify whether the bill primarily addresses cost, quality, access, equity, or a combination, and briefly justify your response

• Stakeholders: Identify key stakeholders (patients, nurses, other health professionals, payers, advocacy groups, and communities) and summarise their likely interests or positions

• Potential Impact on Nursing Practice and Population Health: Describe anticipated positive and/or negative effects on nursing roles, care delivery, and population health outcomes

• Evidence and Data: Identify at least two data sources or research findings supporting the need for the bill (for example, epidemiological data, quality indicators, or cost analyses)

• Status and Political Feasibility: Note the bill’s current legislative status and briefly comment on its likelihood of passage based on sponsorship, bipartisan support, and policy context

Step 3 – Write a 1-Page Advocacy Statement (Approximately 1–2 Pages)

Using a persuasive yet concise style, write a 1-page advocacy testimony or policy brief suitable for presentation to a legislator, committee, or policymaker.

1. Position: Clearly state your position (support or oppose) on the bill in the opening paragraph

2. Problem and Evidence: Briefly describe the health care problem or gap the bill addresses and present 2–3 key statistics or research findings supporting policy action

3. Implications for Nursing and Population Health: Explain how the bill affects nurses’ roles, patient outcomes, and population health indicators, linking your argument to nursing values and ethical responsibilities

4. Response to Opposing Views: Acknowledge at least one opposing argument and provide an evidence-informed rebuttal

5. Call to Action: Conclude with a specific request directed at the policymaker (for example, co-sponsorship, voting in favour, strengthening provisions, or advancing hearings)

Step 4 – Evidence, Referencing, and Presentation

• Integrate at least 3–5 current scholarly or authoritative sources (2018–2026), in addition to legislative documents

• Use a consistent academic referencing style (APA or Harvard)

• Maintain a formal, professional tone with clear headings and logical organisation

Marking Rubric – Week 4 Legislation Grid & Advocacy Statement

Criterion 1: Bill Selection and Accuracy of Policy Description (20%)

• Excellent (90–100): Selects a current, relevant health-related bill and accurately describes its purpose, provisions, target population, and legislative status using authoritative sources

• Proficient (80–89): Appropriate bill selected with accurate description; minor details may be missing

• Basic (70–79): Bill is relevant but description is general or partially unclear

• Below Expectations (<70): Bill is outdated, poorly described, or lacks relevance

Criterion 2: Depth and Clarity of Legislation Grid Analysis (30%)

• Excellent (90–100): Grid is complete, well-organised, and demonstrates nuanced analysis of policy drivers, stakeholders, and impacts on nursing practice and population health

• Proficient (80–89): Grid includes required elements with clear explanation but limited depth in some areas

• Basic (70–79): Mostly descriptive with limited analysis

• Below Expectations (<70): Incomplete or superficial grid

Criterion 3: Quality and Persuasiveness of Advocacy Statement (25%)

• Excellent (90–100): Clear position, compelling evidence, effective response to counterarguments, and strong call to action

• Proficient (80–89): Persuasive with minor gaps in depth or cohesion

• Basic (70–79): Position stated but limited persuasive structure or evidence

• Below Expectations (<70): Vague or unsupported advocacy statement

Criterion 4: Use of Evidence and Policy/Advocacy Concepts (15%)

• Excellent (90–100): Integrates multiple high-quality sources and applies advocacy frameworks effectively

• Proficient (80–89): Appropriate evidence with reasonable integration

• Basic (70–79): Limited or uneven evidence use

• Below Expectations (<70): Inadequate or inappropriate sources

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Criterion 5: Organisation, Writing Quality, and Referencing (10%)

• Excellent (90–100): Clear, coherent writing; effective use of headings and tables; accurate referencing

• Proficient (80–89): Minor writing or referencing issues

• Basic (70–79): Noticeable problems with clarity or referencing

• Below Expectations (<70): Poor organisation and significant errors

Chronic shortages of accessible community-based mental health services continue to contribute to preventable hospitalisations, crisis presentations, and widening health disparities. Legislation that expands school- and community-based mental health programs directly addresses this gap by funding evidence-based interventions, strengthening workforce capacity, and integrating behavioural health into primary care settings. Effective implementation of such policy aligns with nursing’s ethical mandate to promote equity, protect vulnerable populations, and advocate for system-level change that improves long-term population health outcomes.

This assignment is designed to strengthen your ability to translate clinical insight into effective policy advocacy, a core competency for graduate-prepared nurses. By systematically analysing legislation and crafting a concise, evidence-based advocacy statement, you develop skills essential for influencing health policy decisions that shape practice environments and population outcomes. Engaging with real-world policy processes reinforces the nurse’s role as a change agent who not only delivers care but also actively participates in shaping equitable, sustainable health systems.

 Recent References

• American Nurses Association (ANA) (2019) Nurses’ role in shaping health policy. Silver Spring, MD: ANA.

• Arabi, A., Rafii, F., Cheraghi, M.A. and Ghiyasvandian, S. (2019) ‘Nurses’ policy influence: A concept analysis’, Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 24(6), pp. 383–390.

• Williams, S.D., Phillips, J.M. and Koyama, K. (2018) ‘Nursing and health policy perspectives: Nurses’ role in reducing health disparities’, Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(3).

• Schmidt, N.A. and Brown, J.M. (2021) Evidence-based practice for nurses. 5th edn. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

• U.S. Congress (ongoing) Congress.gov: Legislation and records.

• Milstead, J.A. and Short, N.M. (2019) Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide. 6th edn. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.