Health Policy Brief (one-page leave behind) Assignment. Please follow the instructions, sample and rubric.
Health Policy Brief -Assignment
Below is the link for the Health Policy:
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s3821/text
Purpose: This assignment is for you to prepare a policy brief. The assignment engages you in learning about an issue and to accurately and in a non-biased fashion — identify the policy and political issues that are central to that topic.
Guidelines:
You will select a current healthcare related bill
Review the resources provided regarding preparing a one-page policy brief.
You will prepare a one-page health policy brief, often referred to as a one-page leave behind.
Your design format does not have to be exactly like any of the samples provided but must contain the same information.
For the purposes of this assignment, you will assume the role of a group of registered nurses (should you decide that this is important to include in your brief).
Your audience will be your senator and local delegate that you will be meeting with (hypothetically) soon.
The sections must be divided by headings, as you will see in the examples.
You may single-space.
The brief should be visually pleasing and easy to read.
You may want to Include bullets instead of lengthy paragraphs.
Try to stick to only one or two references. There are to be in APA format (you may single-space.
*This is a sample layout. You can decide on your own design and even headings, as long as this information is provided.
Title: Name and number of Bill
Summary
Statement of the Issue/Problem (aka introduction). This should be a brief (2-3 sentence) describing the issue.
Begin with a brief overview of the policy issue and state the
problem you hope to solve or the objective you hope to achieve.
Map where your argument will take the reader and explicitly
outline your thesis/key point.
Background & Evidence
An explanation of the problem and its significance.
Briefly explain the history of the policy issue.
Persuasively outline why your policy recommendation(s) will solve the problem or achieve the objective you highlighted in your introduction.
Use evidence from research studies, case studies, legislative experiences of other jurisdictions, reputable polling/surveys and other sources to support your perspectives and advance your credibility.
Recommendation
List recommendations about what you want your senator and delegate to do.
Reference(s) (of your information)
NOTE: See attachments for sample and rubric.
Fighting the Opioid Epidemic:
Access to Naloxone in Virginia Schools
HB 2318: Naloxone; Possession and administration by school nurses and local health department.
Overview of Policy
The Naloxone bill was first introduced to the house on January 08, 2019 and was sponsored by Virginia House
Delegate John McGuire.
The bill involves school nurses, local health department employees and other school board employees or
school board contracted employees.
This bill allows properly trained school health officials to have Naloxone on hand and administer it when
individuals in their care show signs and symptoms of opioid overdose.
Background
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention
states that Opioid Use Disorder is a problematic
pattern of opioid use that causes significant
impairment or distress (CDC, 2017).
It is estimated that between 2009 and 2014,
approximately 2.1 million children lived with at
least one parent who specifically had a
prescription drug or illicit drug use disorder
(Lipari and Van Horn, 2017).
The school system in the country plays an
important role in the participation of the opioid
awareness and prevention within the
communities (USDE, 2018).
From 2015 to 2016, Virginia experienced 34.7%
increase in drug overdose deaths (CDC, 2018).
In 2017, the government declared the opioid
crisis a national public health emergency
(USDE, 2018).
Evidence
The first health professional that responds to
school emergencies is the school nurse.
It is difficult to identify an opioid overdose, but
it is important to not delay treatment in case of
doubt (CDC, 2019).
If promptly used, intranasal naloxone can help to
prevent drug overdose deaths (Rando et al., 2015).
The National Association of School Nurses
(NASN) published a position statement in
support of school nurses having access to
naloxone in June 2015.
States that have passed legislation to address the
opioid epidemic in their schools include:
Delaware House Bill No. 388 (2014)
Maryland Senate Bill No. 1082 (2017)
West Virginia Senate Bill No. 36 (2017)
New Jersey House Bill No. 1830 (2018)
Recommendations
We recommend the bill be passed due to the Opioid epidemic in our country that does not discriminate
against age; affecting young people in our school systems.
Nurses already possess the education and training needed to properly assess for signs and symptoms of
suspected opioid overdose.
After providing sufficient training, school employees and health department personnel should have access
and be able to administer Naloxone to individuals in their care.
References
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2017). Overdose Prevention. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prevention/index.html
Lipari, R. N., & Van Horn, S. L. (2017). Children living with parents who have a substance use disorder. The CBHSQ
Report: August 24, 2017. Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration
National Association of School Nurses. (2015). Naloxone use in the school setting: The role of
the school nurse (position statement). Silver Spring, MD: Author.
Rando, J., Broering, D., Olson, J.E., Marco, C., Evans, S.B. (2015). Intranasal Naloxone Administration by Police First
Responders is Associated with Decreased Opioid Overdose Deaths. American Journal of Emergency Medicine,
33(9), 1201-1204.
United States Department of Education (2019). Combating the Opioid and Other Substance Misuse: Schools, Students,
Families. Retrieved from https://www.ed.gov/opioids
https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prevention/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prevention/index.html
https://www.ed.gov/opioids
Rose, Donna L.
This could have been combined into one bullet
drose
Highlight
drose
Sticky Note
Yes, you are saying that in the information above. What do you want the legislator to do? Be straight and to the point here. You are asking him/her to support bill……..
drose
Sticky Note
Be clear; are you asking for the legislators support?
drose
Sticky Note
These last 2 bullets are really background not a recommendation
Points were deducted in the recommendation area. Because recommendation # 2 is
actually background information not a recommendation References
Aiken, L. H., Clarke, S. P., Sloane, D. M., Sochalski, J., & Silber, J. H. (2002). Hospital nursing staffing and patient mortality, nurse burnout, and job dissatisfaction. Journal of American Medical
Association. 288(16), 1987-1993. doi: 10.1001/jama.288.16.1987
Cole, A. (2014). Higher nurse to patient ratios on stroke units could cut one death in 25, research shows. British Medical Journal, 349, 5260. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g5260
Daleen, A. P. (2010). Nursing staffing and patient outcomes in critical care: a concise review. Critical Care Medicine, 38(7), 1521-1528. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181e47888
Driscoll, A., Grant, M. J., Carroll, D., Dalton, S., Dalton, S., Deaton, C., Jones, I., Lehwaldt, D., McKee, G., Munvombwe, T., & Astin, F. (2018). The effect of nurse-to-patient ratios on nurse-
sensitive patient outcomes in acute specialist units: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 17(1), 6-22. Doi: https://doi-
org.proxy.lib.odu.edu/10.1177%2F1474515117721561
Gutsan, E., Patton, J., Willis, W. K., & Coustasse, A. (2018, April). Burnout syndrome and nurse-to-patient ratio in the workplace. Retrieved from
https://mds.marshall.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1196&context=mgmt_faculty
H.R. 2581, 116th Cong. (May 8, 2019) (enacted).
What does this bill support?
Establishing requirements for staffing of RNs providing direct patient care in hospitals in the U.S. in the next 2 years/4 years
for rural areas (1 patient/nurse in trauma units, 1 patient/nurse in OR, 2 patients/nurse in CCU, 3 patients/nurse in ER, 4
patients/nurse in Med/Surg, 5 patients/nurse in rehab/skilled care, and 6 patients/nurse (3 couples) in post-partum and
well-baby nurseries
Nurses displaying competence while providing direct patient care within their scope of practice (inclusive of relief staff and
not including staff who do not provide direct patient care and/or area not RNs)
No mandatory overtime to meet requirements
Staffing committees composed of 50% RNs with at least 1 RN from each unit
Background:
Shortage of bedside nurses in the U.S. is attributed to nurse burnout a chronic response to work-related stress
comprising three components or dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal
accomplishment (Gutsan, Patton, Willis, & Coustasse, 2018)
Regulated nurse to patient ratios will decrease burnout resulting in retention of direct-care nurses. Retention of
nurses will result in continuity of care, therefore improving quality and safety of patient care.
Evidence:
40% of nurses working more than 12 hours per shift and over 40 hours per week are three times more likely to make an error
(Daleen, 2010)
7% increased mortality rate of patients for every additional patient added to a nurses workload over four patients on a
surgical ward, increases to 14% & 31% when ratios are 6:1 & 8:1 (Aiken, Clarke, Sloane, Sochalski, & Silber, 2002)
Aiken et al. (2002) also found that nurses with high patient ratios are twice as likely to experience burn out and job
dissatisfaction, leaving within a year
Cole (2014) found that increasing nurse-to-patient ratios may prevent 1 in 25 deaths on stroke units
79% of patients are less likely to experience pneumonia, as well as a 31% reduction risk for decubitus ulcers with higher
nurse to patient ratios (Driscoll, Grant, Carroll, Dalton, Deaton, Jones, Lehwaldt, McKee, Munyombwe, & Astin, 2018)
Driscoll et al. (2018) found that every additional patient per nurse, patients are 22% less likely to experience excellent to
good quality care and 35% more likely to experience a longer than expected hospital stay
Recommendations:
Contact your legislators, committee members, representatives, and governor to support this bill.
Keep track of this bills progress at www.congress.gov
VOTE!!!
H . R . 2 5 8 1 Nurse Staffing Standards for
Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of
2019
http://www.congress.gov/
donna
Sticky Note
see comments on the last page
References
Aiken, L. H., Clarke, S. P., Sloane, D. M., Sochalski, J., & Silber, J. H. (2002). Hospital nursing staffing and patient mortality, nurse burnout, and job dissatisfaction. Journal of American Medical
Association. 288(16), 1987-1993. doi: 10.1001/jama.288.16.1987
Cole, A. (2014). Higher nurse to patient ratios on stroke units could cut one death in 25, research shows. British Medical Journal, 349, 5260. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g5260
Daleen, A. P. (2010). Nursing staffing and patient outcomes in critical care: a concise review. Critical Care Medicine, 38(7), 1521-1528. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181e47888
Driscoll, A., Grant, M. J., Carroll, D., Dalton, S., Dalton, S., Deaton, C., Jones, I., Lehwaldt, D., McKee, G., Munvombwe, T., & Astin, F. (2018). The effect of nurse-to-patient ratios on nurse-
sensitive patient outcomes in acute specialist units: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 17(1), 6-22. Doi: https://doi-
org.proxy.lib.odu.edu/10.1177%2F1474515117721561
Gutsan, E., Patton, J., Willis, W. K., & Coustasse, A. (2018, April). Burnout syndrome and nurse-to-patient ratio in the workplace. Retrieved from
https://mds.marshall.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1196&context=mgmt_faculty
H.R. 2581, 116th Cong. (May 8, 2019) (enacted).
Lost points in these areas
1. Recommendations are somewhat vague. Clearer and more directive
recommendations will help guide the legislators next steps.
2. Visual appearance, the small font size limits ease of readability, impacting the
potential appeal of the message.
Evidence: S.1357 – Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019, Senator Tim Kaine
Nurse Staffing Standards: Better Outcomes
For our Nation
Introduction
Adequate nurse staffing benefits patients, staff, and the facility that results with less medical and medication
errors, patient mortality, hospital readmissions, LOS, preventable accidents and injuries, and other complications
related to inadequate staffing levels (American Nurses Association, 2019).
Background
Nurse staffing shortages have resulted from several increasing factors
such as company decisions to cost-cut and an increase in our countrys
aging population, increased care complexity causing unsafe conditions
for nursing staff, and patients with a higher risk in medical errors with
low nursing staff on the unit (American Nurses Association, 2019).
Current federal regulation for nursing staff ratios requires Medicare-
certified hospitals to “have adequate numbers of licensed registered
nurses, licensed practical nurses, and other personnel to provide
nursing care to all patients as needed, and is vague (42CFR 482.23).
Evidence
Evidence demonstrates that nursing care has a direct impact on the
overall quality of services received, and that when nurse staffing
is appropriate, adverse events decline and overall outcomes
improve (Avalere Health, 2018)
Appropriate nurse staffing is a critical requisite for the delivery of
safe, quality health care at every practice level and in every
setting.
Higher RN staffing levels are often associated with a reduction in
hospital length of stay and a reduction in hospital costs (Avalere
Health, 2018).
Quality measurements shared among the top performing hospitals
in our country that practice minimum nurse staffing standards
include the following: fewer complications, lower mortality,
lower readmission rates, shorter length of stay (LOS), higher
score on patient ratings, and higher average operating margins
than their peers (Avalere Health, 2018)
Recommendations
The nurse-patient ratio is a direct determinate of the effects of
wellbeing, health, and nurse productivity in the workplace that
determines the patients overall health (Gutsan, Patton, Willis, & Coustasse, 2018).
Nurses in Virginia support the nurse staffing standards proposed in this bill and ask you to do the same in
passing this bill without further delay.
Passing S.1357 will provide a spirit of hope and greater level of commitment in nurses and those entering
the workforce, increasing nurse retention and decreasing work-related injuries and burnout.
Author
this isn’t really a recommendation but more of a statement of the effects of the nurse:patient ratios
References
American Nurses Association. (2019, Oct 15). Nurse Staffing Crisis. Retrieved from American Nurses
Association: https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nurse-staffing/nurse-staffing-crisis/
Avalere Health. (2018). The Business Case for Higher Levels of Nurse Staffing in the Hospital Setting. Silver
Spring: American Nurses Association.
Gutsan, E., Patton, J., Willis, W. K., & Coustasse, A. (2018). Burnout syndrome and nurse-to-patient ratio in
the workplace. South Charleston: Marshall University.
S.1357. (2019). Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019, S.1357,
116th Congress.
Virginia Nurses Association. (2010). Facts about the shortage of nurses in Virginia.
http://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nurse-staffing/nurse-staffing-crisis/
http://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nurse-staffing/nurse-staffing-crisis/
Introduction
Background
Evidence
Recommendations
Passing S.1357 will provide a spirit of hope and greater level of commitment in nurses and those entering the workforce, increasing nurse retention and decreasing work-related injuries and burnout. How to Create
a One-Pager for
Policymakers:
Tips and Template
Advocacy Toolkit
http://www.iste.org
Advocacy Toolkit
How to Create a One-Pager for Policymakers: Tips and Template
iste.org/advocacy
1
Tips
Draft a one-pager for each of your main policy issues
Policymakers seldom have time to read all the literature related to a
specific policy question. To make well-informed decisions, they rely
on short, tightly written documents referred to as one-pagers. If you
bring a one-pager to a meeting with a staff person or policymakerr,
you will be able to make your case quickly and efficiently, and then
leave behind a document for the staff member or policymaker to
reference.
Keep the one-pager brief
A strong one-pager quickly and cogently makes a policy
recommendation, provides brief background on the issue and
includes analysis backed up by facts and data on why that policy
recommendation will help solve the policy question at hand. A one-
pager should not include a lengthy analysis of all available research
or list all possible arguments and counter-arguments that could be
made on the issue.
Template/general outline for a one-pager
Recommendations/message
Clearly state your policy recommendation(s) or message(s)
up front.
Introduction
Begin with a brief overview of the policy issue and state the
problem you hope to solve or the objective you hope to achieve.
Map where your argument will take the reader and explicitly
outline your thesis/key point.
Background
Briefly explain the history of the policy issue.
Analysis
Persuasively outline why your policy recommendation(s) will
solve the problem or achieve the objective you highlighted in
your introduction.
Use evidence from research studies, case studies, legislative
experiences of other jurisdictions, reputable polling/surveys and
other sources to support your perspectives and advance your
http://www.iste.org/about-iste/advocacy
Advocacy Toolkit
How to Create a One-Pager for Policymakers: Tips and Template
iste.org/advocacy
2
recommendations. It is critical to back up your recommendations
with solid facts and data.
Visual
The one-pager should be visually pleasing and easy to read.
Include bullets instead of lengthy paragraphs.
Conclusion
Conclude with a persuasive argument and summary statement;
an ask such as please vote for or come and visit our school.
http://www.iste.org/about-iste/advocacy
Advocacy Toolkit
How to Create a One-Pager for Policymakers: Tips and Template
iste.org/advocacy
3
http://www.iste.org/about-iste/advocacy
Advocacy Toolkit
How to Create a One-Pager for Policymakers: Tips and Template
iste.org/advocacy
4
http://www.iste.org/about-iste/advocacy Health Policy Brief
Criteria
Exemplary
93-100%
Accomplished
85-92%
Developing
80-84%
Beginning
0-79%
Initial Submission of Bill Title / Number & representative
Via discussion board
5%
Complete Title and bill number & representative submitted via submissions tab
Submits Bill title & number, and representative via submissions tab; But bill title is written in layman terms.
Submits 2 of the 3 criteria:
1. title
2. Bill number
3. representative
Submits 0 to 1 of the criteria:
1. title
2. Bill number
3. representative
Summary/Introduction
20%
Brief overview of policy is discussed and:
1. indicates a
thorough
understanding of the bill.
2. is clearly stated with supporting details.
Brief overview of policy is discussed and:
1. indicates
some
understanding of the bill.
2. is clearly stated with
some
supporting details.
Brief overview of policy is discussed and:
1. indicates
vague
understanding of the bill.
2. is clearly stated with
limited
supporting details.
Brief overview of policy is discussed and:
1. does not indicate understanding of the bill.
2. No supporting details.
Background
25%
Discussion of the problem includes supporting details and shows significant insight
Includes
clear
discussion of history of the policy issue.
Discussion of problem includes
some
supporting details and shows
some
insight.
Includes
some
discussion of history of the policy issue.
Discussion of problem is vague with limited supporting details.
Includes limited discussion of history of the policy issue.
Problem is not discussed and/or without supporting details.
Does not include discussion of history of the policy issue.
Evidence
15%
Discussion of evidence is logical, well-articulated and includes appropriate evidence/data.
Discussion of evidence is somewhat logical, well-articulated and includes appropriate evidence/data.
Discussion of evidence is
vague
with limited evidence/data.
Discussion of evidence is not discussed and/or lacks supporting details.
Recommendation(s)
10%
Clearly and succinctly articulates recommendation(s).
Somewhat clearly and succinctly articulates recommendation(s).
Recommendation(s) is vague.
Missing recommendation(s).
Reference(s)
5%
Includes professional reference (s) on the brief
Includes reference, but it is not from a professional source.
Does not include reference on the brief
(automatic 0 points)
Does not include reference on the brief
(automatic 0 points)
Visual appearance
10%
Leave behind (Policy Brief) is very well organized and visually appealing.
Leave behind (Policy Brief) is somewhat well organized and visually appealing
Leave behind (Policy Brief) meet
s only one of the criteria:
1. well-organized
2.visually appealing
Leave behind (Policy Brief) unorganized and not visually appealing
Writing Quality
5%
Brief shows above exemplary writing style and clear standard English; Basically free from grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.
0-1 APA errors
Brief shows average writing style and clear standard English; Basically free from grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.
2-3 APA errors
Brief shows below average writing style and clear standard English; Basically free from grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.
2-3 APA errors
Brief shows poor writing style; Multiple grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.
3-4 APA errors
Submits to legislator
5%
Provides evidence of submission of REVISED brief to legislator
Does not provide evidence of REVISED submission to legislator
(automatic 0 points)
Does not provide evidence of REVISED submission to legislator
(automatic 0 points)
Does not provide evidence of REVISED submission to legislator
(automatic 0 points)
May 2020
