Planning Your Visit

Worksheet #2 (ungraded)
Specific Requirements
Review what has been done in the past by others regarding your chosen policy issue. What was the result of their actions related to this policy issue? Why is this

issue important to nursing?
Who are thefederal, state, and local policymakers involved in your chosen policy issue? How can you contact your policymaker? Do you have phone numbers, addresses,

immediate staff contacts, and more? Be sure you single out a policymaker whom you know is interested in your issue.
What will bethe plan for your legislative visit?  When, where, and how?
What is the message you want to give to your selected policymaker/legislator? Can you present a compelling ‘story’? Can you convey your passion and experience with the

policy issue? Can you present basic research data in an easy-to-understand and interesting way? What is your ‘Ask’? What are you recommending? Please review the

examples of a policy brief in your text or on the American Nurses Association website. What are your expectations of the policymaker and for your visit in general?
How do you plan to convey your message? What considerations must you have in place with respect to time constraints, availability of policymaker, and contingency

plans?
Can you include a presentation using PowerPoint, flip chart, or overheads in some way (email or mail ahead of the call)? Include the actual presentation slides (max of

5 slides) in your final course presentation due week 7 (total 15 slides).
What feedback did you get from your policymaker? What actionsare you expecting of him/her/them? How did you leave things? Carefully review the Guidelines and Example

below.
Guidelines for Legislative Visits
Most nurses are uncomfortable approaching policymakers, regardless of how prepared they are and how knowledgeable or passionate they are about their policy issue.

Nurses tend to grossly underestimate their power and don’t initially understand that policymakers are receptive and anxious   to have their input.
After you have selected your policy issue and have thoroughly researched it, develop a message or proposal that is clear and succinct.  Be sure that you know the

appropriate policymaker and the staff that you approach for your issue.  Most students in this course will select a local-level policymaker such as a member of their

city council or their local school board.
Example
Student Y is enrolled in NR506: Healthcare Policy. This student has worked for several years as an emergency department nurse at a local hospital and also volunteers

his time at the local community teen center. Student Y is passionate about preventing motor-vehicle accidents in the teen population. He has adolescent children of his

own and has seen firsthand the tragic results of careless/distracted driving among teens. Of special interest to student Y is the issue surrounding using cell phones

and especially text messaging while driving. Student Y believes this to be a significant and growing problem—both locally and nationally.
After carefully researching the issue, Student Y identified his local city-council representative(s) as a policymaker to plan a meeting with. He is interested in

proposing a city ordinance that will stop the use of handheld cell phones while driving within city limits. He has analyzed this policy issue, researched what has been

done in other parts of the country, and has also researched nursing organizations’ websites in order to assess/track any legislation related to this issue. Student Y

carefully strategizes his plan for approaching his policymaker(s), and constructs a compelling story and proposal for change He schedules the meeting as soon as

possible, given time constraints of all parties, and prepares for all aspects of the meeting prior.
Student Y uses his experiences from the emergency department to illustrate and describe how devastating and common these accidents are, especially among teens (this

adds credibility). He mentions in his presentation that he himself has adolescent children and that he also volunteers at ateen center,which shows personal involvement

and commitment. His research data is simple and easy to follow, and his presentationdiscusses how other regions of the country have passed legislation and the outcomes

of that legislation. He also identifies in his presentation materialthat his nursing organization (Emergency Nurses Association) is stepping up lobbying efforts at

both state and national levels regarding this issue,which adds professionalism and strength to his message. He makes a clear recommendation and then asks for feedback

and suggestions for his continued advocacy efforts.
While it may take months or possibly years for this issue to be satisfactorily addressed, student Y has done a fine job in preparing forhis advocacy efforts. He can

continue to track legislation via websites and email alerts, and he can make calls and writeletters- at all phases of this process. Perhaps these policymakers would

have suggested that he also make this presentation to the local school board. Perhaps, he may also want to ask his state lawmakers to introduce a bill targeting this

issue. He can also prepare to address his nursing organization at a meeting or conference and even publish this project. In the meantime, he can also address teens at

the community center, as well as in their schools.
There are countless ways to make change happen!

Planning Your VisitGuidelines

Graded Assignment 2
Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to: (a) identify and articulate a plan for a legislative/policy making visit (CO #2);(b) deliver a message andask/recommendations (CO

#2,3), and (c) communicate ideas in a clear, succinct, and scholarly manner. (CO#3)
Course Outcomes
This assignment enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:
(CO #2) Employ strategies to affect the development, implementation, and consequences of policies at the institutional, local, national, and international levels. (PO

4, 8, 10)

(CO #3) Communicate with policymakers to advocate for effective policies that affect nurses and nursing, consumers, or the health care system. (PO 2,3,10)

(CO #4) Analyze the historical, ethical, and political contexts of health care policy and the consequences of policy implementation. (PO 6, 10)

(CO #5) Advocate for institutional, local, national, and international policies that influence health care and its consumers and nurses and their nursing practice.