Description
Political Action Assignment 10% of course grade
Rubric to be used for evaluating the assignment Rubric-Political Action Assignment-NURS365-1.docxPreview the document
Part 1: Developing your position on a bill
After reading the bill from the Political Action activity section, use the worksheet template provided (link at the bottom of this section) to demonstrate your thinking that leads you to take a stand on the bill. Make sure you write this in APA format. The worksheet is just that a worksheet. Answer the questions in APA format.
Name & Number of Proposed Bill (use “Form for unenacted federal bills and resolutions” on page 222 of the APA Publication Manual).
Prepare a written summary in your own words of the bill. Include the purpose of the proposed legislation and the major components/stipulations (e.g. how will nurse staffing be decided, what protections are there to those who carry out or report violations to the bill, are there considerations for funding changes, etc.).
In table form (see table at end of assignment) identify your assessment of the impact of this bill (pro and con) for each of the following stakeholder groups – patients, nurses, hospitals, society – should the bill become a law. Use bullet points on the grid, you may have multiple points in each column. Show your thinking if you are the source of the idea or indicate your source if you are using a supporting point from another source (reading or professional organization). Indicate in the source column that it is your idea or the source it is from. You should have a source other than your own idea in each of the stakeholder rows. For example, if you have find a professional organization or other source for pro, you may provide a con argument of your own thinking or from your own experience. Do not use text from the bill itself to justify your views, only your own ideas or other resources.
Now state your overall assessment of the proposed legislation. What is your stand and why? What do other experts say about this bill? Use resources to support your assessment and your position or stand and cite the sources. This summary will be used to write a letter to your legislator.
Include a Reference list using APA style and format. References should include:
at least three current (2011 or later), topic specific references in addition to the selected bill.
You may use journal articles, professional organization fact sheets or information, newspaper articles, or other sources that reflect the position of the four stakeholders you are considering.
Include the unenacted bill in your reference list. See the APA Publication Manual p. 222 #15 for correct reference format for unenacted federal bills.
Complete Part 1 of the assignment on this template then upload it to the Canvas site. Federal Bill review worksheet.docxPreview the document
Part 2: Letter to Legislator
For guidelines on writing letters to legislators refer to:
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/letterscongress.htm (Links to an external site.)
http://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/how-to-write-402285.html (Links to an external site.)
Identify the appropriate federal legislator to receive your letter based on the chosen bill—house or senate bill? Refer to the federal legislators you identified in the “Who are your legislators” assignment section.
Senators will be contacted for a senate bill (preceded by “S”)
Representatives will be contacted for a house bill (preceded by “HR”)
You may want to review your senators’ or representative’s website to decide which bill (S or HR) to write about. If your legislator disagrees with your stand, you may decide to write a letter to change his/her thinking.
Use professional letter format and construct a one-page letter discussing the bill you selected: give a brief synopsis of the bill and whether you support or reject this legislation – then request support for your position. Be sure to include your contact information (home address, email, and phone). The body of the letter may be single spaced, with double spacing between paragraphs.
Identify yourself as a nurse in the legislator’s area of jurisdiction.
Include which professional organizations in nursing support or oppose the legislation (to support your stand).
Email the letter to your federal legislators. Print proof of your submission from your screen and submit this along with the formal copy of your letter when you submit your assignment.
Upload the proof of your letter submission and the copy of your letter (in the format as shown on the recommended websites).