This assessment requires you to describe the legislative process and the role of the nurse as a healthcare policy advocate. Your paper will consist of two parts:
Part 1:
A clear and complete discussion of the legislative process
Part 2:
You will choose one of the political issues listed in Burkhardt & Nathaniel on pages 392-393
Tie that political issue to current legislation being debated in your own state’s house or senate
Describe both sides of that issue – for and against – clearly and thoroughly
Explain your own position, and explain why using research-based fact, not just your own opinion.
Make sure you also include a clear, separate introduction and conclusion as a part of this assignment, as these are worth separate points on the grading rubric.

NOTE: Please avoid the following topics, as these do not demonstrate research into current legislation in health care and are more “hot button” issues that do not often result in a strong paper:
Abortion
Staffing ratios/mandatory overtime
Physician assisted suicide

Objectives
This assessment is aligned with the the course objective 4 and the following module objective:
Students will be able to examine legislative and regulatory processes relevant to the provision of healthcare.
Discuss the role of the nurse as a healthcare policy advocate.
Points: 40
References
Minimum of four (4) total references: two (2) references from required course materials and two (2) peer-reviewed references. All references must be no older than five years (unless making a specific point using a seminal piece of information)
Peer-reviewed references include references from professional data bases such as PubMed or CINHAL applicable to population and practice area, along with evidence based clinical practice guidelines. Examples of unacceptable references are Wikipedia, UpToDate, Epocrates, Medscape, WebMD, hospital organizations, insurance recommendations, & secondary clinical databases.

Textbooks:
Nursing: Scope and Standards of Clinical Nursing Practice
Read Pages 1-30 from the book (CO 3 & MO c)
Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing
Read chapter 14 (Health Policy Issues) – (CO 4 & MO d)