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

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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.