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Agenda Comparison Grid and Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief

It may seem to you that healthcare has been a national topic of debate among political leaders for as long as you can remember.

Healthcare has been a policy item and a topic of debate not only in recent times but as far back as the administration of the second U.S. president, John Adams. In 1798, Adams signed legislation requiring that 20 cents per month of a sailor’s paycheck be set aside for covering their medical bills. This represented the first major piece of U.S. healthcare legislation, and the topic of healthcare has been woven into presidential agendas and political debate ever since.

As a healthcare professional, you may be called upon to provide expertise, guidance and/or opinions on healthcare matters as they are debated for inclusion into new policy. You may also be involved in planning new organizational policy and responses to changes in legislation. For all of these reasons you should be prepared to speak to national healthcare issues making the news.

In this Assignment, you will analyze recent presidential healthcare agendas. You also will prepare a fact sheet to communicate the importance of a healthcare issue and the impact on this issue of recent or proposed policy.

To Prepare:

Review the agenda priorities of the current/sitting U.S. president and the two previous presidential administrations.
Select an issue related to healthcare that was addressed by each of the last three U.S. presidential administrations.
Reflect on the focus of their respective agendas, including the allocation of financial resources for addressing the healthcare issue you selected.
Consider how you would communicate the importance of a healthcare issue to a legislator/policymaker or a member of their staff for inclusion on an agenda.

The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Comparison Grid, 1-Page Analysis, and 1-page Fact Sheet)

Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid

Use the Agenda Comparison Grid Template found in the Learning Resources and complete the Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid based on the current/sitting U.S. president and the two previous presidential administrations and their agendas related to the public health concern you selected. Be sure to address the following:

Identify and provide a brief description of the population health concern you selected and the factors that contribute to it.
Describe the administrative agenda focus related to the issue you selected.
Identify the allocations of financial and other resources that the current and two previous presidents dedicated to this issue.
Explain how each of the presidential administrations approached the issue.

Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis

Using the information you recorded in Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid on the template, complete the Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis portion of the template, by addressing the following:

Which administrative agency would most likely be responsible for helping you address the healthcare issue you selected?
How do you think your selected healthcare issue might get on the agenda for the current and two previous presidents? How does it stay there?
Who would you choose to be the entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue you selected for the current and two previous presidents?

Part 3: Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief

Using the information recorded on the template in Parts 1 and 2, develop a 1-page narrative that you could use to communicate with a policymaker/legislator or a member of their staff for this healthcare issue. Be sure to address the following:

Summarize why this healthcare issue is important and should be included in the agenda for legislation.
Justify the role of the nurse in agenda-setting for healthcare issues.

Part 2:

Which administrative agency would most likely be responsible for helping you address the healthcare issue you selected?
How do you think your selected healthcare issue might get on the agenda for the current and two previous presidents? How does it stay there?
Who would you choose to be the entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue you selected for the current and two previous presidents?

Please be specific in this section.

Part 3: Talking Points Brief

Develop a 1-page Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief that you could use to communicate with a policymaker/legislator or a member of their staff for this healthcare issue. You can use Microsoft Word or PowerPoint to create your Fact Sheet or Talking Point Brief. Be sure to address the following:

Summarize why this healthcare issue is important and should be included in the agenda for legislation.
Justify the role of the nurse in agenda-setting for healthcare issues.

You need to read the DeMarco and Tufts (2014) article.

It must be formatted with an Executive Summary, Background and Significance, and a Position Statement.
The bullets in the syllabus are included in the DeMarco and Adams format. i.e. why this health care issue is important and should be included in the agenda for legislation.
Justify the role of the nurse in agenda-setting for health care issues (this is straight out of your book).

Remember in this section you are talking to your legislators. Please do not use I, We, etc.

PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AS INDICATED BELOW:

1). ZERO (0) PLAGIARISM

2). 5 REFERENCES, NO MORE THAN 5 YEARS

3). PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING ATTACHED: RUBRIC, THE PREVIOUS PRESIDENTIAL AGENDAS GRID TEMPLATE YOU DID EARLIER, DeMarco and Tufts (2014) Article to complete part of the assignment.

4). PLEASE WRITE PART 3 AS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AS INDICATED IN THE ASSIGNMENT.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS PARTICULAR ASSIGNMENT STARTS FROM PART 2 OF THE AGENDA COMPARISON GRID TEMPLATE, AND YOU HAVE DONE MOST OF IT EARLIER. PLEASE FOLLOW THROUGH.

Thank you so much.

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NURS_6050_Module01_Week02_Assignment_Rubric

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Excellent Good Fair Poor

Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid-

-Identify a population health concern

-Describe the Population Health concern you selected and the factors that contribute to it.

Points:

Points Range:
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)

The response clearly and accurately identifies and describes a population health concern.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)

The response vaguely identifies and describes a population health concern.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)

The response inaccurately identifies and describes a population health concern.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
0 (0%) – 3 (3%)

Identification and description of a population health concern is missing or incomplete.

Feedback:

Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid-

– Describe the administrative agenda focus related to this issue for the current and two previous presidents.

– Identify the allocations of financial and other resources that the current and two previous presidents dedicated to this issue.

– Explain how each of the presidential administrations approached the issue.

Points:

Points Range:
18 (18%) – 20 (20%)

The response clearly and accurately describes the presidential administrations’ focus related to the concern, the financial and resource allocation dedicated to the concern, and explains how each of the presidential administrations approached the issue. At least 3 resources are used.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
16 (16%) – 17 (17%)

The response vaguely describes the presidential administrations’ focus related to the concern, the financial and resource allocation dedicated to the concern, and explains how each of the presidential administrations approached the issue. Only 2 resources are used.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
14 (14%) – 15 (15%)

The response inaccurately describes the presidential administrations’ focus related to the concern, the financial and resource allocation dedicated to the concern, and how each of the presidential administrations approached the issue. Only 1 resource is used.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
0 (0%) – 13 (13%)

The description of the presidential administrations’ focus related to the concern, financial and resource allocation dedicated to the concern, and explanation for how each of the presidential administrations approached the issue is missing. No resources are used.

Feedback:

Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis- Address the following:

-Which administrative agency would most likely be responsible for helping you address the healthcare issue you selected?

-How do you think your selected healthcare issue might get on the agenda? How does it stay there?

-Who would you choose to be the entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue you selected for the current and two previous presidents?

Points:

Points Range:
23 (23%) – 25 (25%)

-The response clearly and accurately identifies an administrative agency most likely to be responsible for addressing the selected healthcare issue.
-Response clearly and accurately explains how the healthcare issue gets on the agenda and remains there.
– The response clearly and accurately identifies the entrepreneur/champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue selected.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
20 (20%) – 22 (22%)

-The response vaguely identifies an administrative agency which may be responsible for addressing the selected healthcare issue.
-Response adequately explains how the healthcare issue gets on the agenda and remains there.

-Identification of the entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue selected is vague.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
18 (18%) – 19 (19%)

-Identification of an administrative agency responsible for addressing the selected health care issue is inaccurate.
-Explanation of how the healthcare issue gets on the agenda and remains there is vague or inaccurate.
-Identification of the entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue selected is inaccurate or does not align with the healthcare issue.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
0 (0%) – 17 (17%)

-Identification of an administrative agency responsible for addressing the selected healthcare issue is missing.
-Explanation of how the healthcare issue gets on the agenda and remains there is vague and inaccurate or is missing.
-Identification of the entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue selected is vague and inaccurate or is missing.

Feedback:

Narrative:

Based on your Agenda Comparison Grid for the healthcare issue you selected, develop a 1-2-page narrative that you could use to communicate with a policy-maker/legislator or a member of their staff for this healthcare issue.

-Summarize why this healthcare issue is important and should be included in the agenda for legislation.

-Justify the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues

Points:

Points Range:
32 (32%) – 35 (35%)

Creates a well-developed, accurate, and narrative.

The response provides a complete, detailed, and specific synthesis of two outside resources reviewed on why this healthcare issue is important and should be included in the agenda for legislation. The response fully integrates at least 2 outside resources and 2-3 course specific resources that fully supports the summary provided.

Responses accurately and thoroughly justify in detail the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
28 (28%) – 31 (31%)

Creates an accurate and thorough narrative.

The response provides an accurate synthesis of at least one outside resource reviewed on why this healthcare issue is important and should be included in the agenda for legislation. The response integrates at least 1 outside resource and 2-3 course specific resources that may support the summary provided.

Responses accurately justify the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
25 (25%) – 27 (27%)

Creates a narrative that is partially accurate or incomplete.

The response provides a vague or inaccurate summary of outside resources reviewed on why this healthcare issue is important and should be included in the agenda for legislation. The response minimally integrates resources that may support the summary provided.

The responses partially justifies the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
0 (0%) – 24 (24%)

The response provides a vague and inaccurate summary of no outside resources reviewed on why this healthcare issue is important and should be included in the agenda for legislation, or is missing. The response fails to integrate any resources to support the summary provided.

Responses justifying the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues is inaccurate and incomplete or is missing.

Feedback:

Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization:

Paragraphs make clear points that support well developed ideas, flow logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused–neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction is provided which delineates all required criteria.

Points:

Points Range:
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)

Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity.

A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion is provided which delineates all required criteria.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)

Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time.

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is stated, yet is brief and not descriptive.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)

Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%- 79% of the time.

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is vague or off topic.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
0 (0%) – 3 (3%)

Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity < 60% of the time.

No purpose statement, introduction, or conclusion was provided.

Feedback:

Written Expression and Formatting – English writing standards:

Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation

Points:

Points Range:
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)

Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)

Contains a few (1-2) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)

Contains several (3-4) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
0 (0%) – 3 (3%)

Contains many (≥ 5) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding.

Feedback:

Written Expression and Formatting – The paper follows correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbers, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list.

Points:

Points Range:
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)

Uses correct APA format with no errors.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)

Contains a few (1-2) APA format errors.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)

Contains several (3-4) APA format errors.

Feedback:

Points:

Points Range:
0 (0%) – 3 (3%)

Contains many (≥ 5) APA format errors.

Feedback:

Show Descriptions

Show Feedback

Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid-

-Identify a population health concern
-Describe the Population Health concern you selected and the factors that contribute to it.
—
Levels of Achievement:

Excellent
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)

The response clearly and accurately identifies and describes a population health concern.

Good
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)

The response vaguely identifies and describes a population health concern.

Fair
3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)

The response inaccurately identifies and describes a population health concern.

Poor
0 (0%) – 3 (3%)

Identification and description of a population health concern is missing or incomplete.

Feedback:

Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid-

– Describe the administrative agenda focus related to this issue for the current and two previous presidents.
– Identify the allocations of financial and other resources that the current and two previous presidents dedicated to this issue.
– Explain how each of the presidential administrations approached the issue.

—
Levels of Achievement:

Excellent
18 (18%) – 20 (20%)

Good
16 (16%) – 17 (17%)

Fair
14 (14%) – 15 (15%)

Poor
0 (0%) – 13 (13%)

Feedback:

Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis- Address the following:

-Which administrative agency would most likely be responsible for helping you address the healthcare issue you selected?
-How do you think your selected healthcare issue might get on the agenda? How does it stay there?
-Who would you choose to be the entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue you selected for the current and two previous presidents?
—
Levels of Achievement:

Excellent
23 (23%) – 25 (25%)

Good
20 (20%) – 22 (22%)

-Identification of the entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue selected is vague.

Fair
18 (18%) – 19 (19%)

Poor
0 (0%) – 17 (17%)

Feedback:

Narrative:

-Summarize why this healthcare issue is important and should be included in the agenda for legislation.

-Justify the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues–
Levels of Achievement:

Excellent
32 (32%) – 35 (35%)

Creates a well-developed, accurate, and narrative.

Responses accurately and thoroughly justify in detail the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues.

Good
28 (28%) – 31 (31%)

Creates an accurate and thorough narrative.

Responses accurately justify the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues.

Fair
25 (25%) – 27 (27%)

Creates a narrative that is partially accurate or incomplete.

The responses partially justifies the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues.

Poor
0 (0%) – 24 (24%)

Responses justifying the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues is inaccurate and incomplete or is missing.

Feedback:

Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization:

Excellent
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)

Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity.

A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion is provided which delineates all required criteria.

Good
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)

Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time.

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is stated, yet is brief and not descriptive.

Fair
3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)

Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%- 79% of the time.

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is vague or off topic.

Poor
0 (0%) – 3 (3%)

Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity < 60% of the time. No purpose statement, introduction, or conclusion was provided. Feedback: Written Expression and Formatting - English writing standards: Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation -- Levels of Achievement: Excellent 5 (5%) - 5 (5%) Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors. Good 4 (4%) - 4 (4%) Contains a few (1-2) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Fair 3.5 (3.5%) - 3.5 (3.5%) Contains several (3-4) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Poor 0 (0%) - 3 (3%) Contains many (≥ 5) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding. Feedback:

Written Expression and Formatting – The paper follows correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbers, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list.–

Levels of Achievement:

Excellent
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)

Uses correct APA format with no errors.

Good
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)

Contains a few (1-2) APA format errors.

Fair
3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)

Contains several (3-4) APA format errors.

Poor
0 (0%) – 3 (3%)

Contains many (≥ 5) APA format errors.

Feedback:

Total Points: 100

Name: NURS_6050_Module01_Week02_Assignment_Rubric

American Academy of Nursing on Policy

The mechanics of writing a policy brief

Rosanna DeMarco, PhD, RN, PHCNS-BC, APHN-BC, ACRN, FAANa,*,

Kimberly Adams Tufts, DNP, WHNP-BC, FAANb
a Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA

b Community and Global Initiatives, School of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

According to Nannini and Houde (2010), reports
addressing the interests and needs of policy makers
are frequently referred to as policy briefs

These reports
are intended to be short and easy to use, containing
information that can be reviewed quickly by policy
makers. The contents of these reports are based on
systematic reviews of the literature addressing
refereed, rigorously evaluated science to advance pol-
icy making based on the best evidence. In a very
important way, policy briefs give policy makers context
to the issues that are intended to be addressed in their
roles. Policy brief writers typically used this genre of
communicating ideas and opinions when they argue a
specific solution to a problem while addressing the
audience outside of their organization or common
worldview. Today, policy briefs have become popular
tools for corporations and professional organizations,
especially on the Internet but also in other readily
accessible written formats, in that they promote the
mission and vision of organizations through public
sharing of ideas based on compelling evidence (Colby,
Quinn, Williams, Bilhelmer, & Goodell, 2008).

Typically, the purpose of a policy brief is to create a
short document providing findings and recommenda-
tions to an audience who may not be experts in an area
of interest. The brief serves as a vehicle for providing
policy advice; it advocates for the desired solution to a
particular problem or challenge. The audience for a pol-
icy brief can be the general public or particular entities of
interest that seek solutions to problems or needs or who
may require to be convinced of a different way of looking
at an area of interest (i.e., exposure to a new paradigm).
In order to persuade the targeted audience, the brief
must focus on their needs. If the brief addresses prob-
lems that readers want to solve, they will read the policy
brief looking for a new way to view a solution. Otherwise,
the policy brief may not be read and may even be
ignored. It is important to emphasize the readers’ in-
terests rather than those of the writer when composing
this type of document while supplying credible evidence
to support change in policy (Pick, 2008).

Students in policy courses, professional organiza-
tions, policy institutes (i.e., “think tanks”), and

* Corresponding author: Rosanna DeMarco, 100 Morrissey Boulevard,
ton, Boston, MA 02135.

E-mail address: rosanna.demarco@umb.edu (R. DeMarco).

0029-6554/$ – see front matter � 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2014.04.002

legislators are among those who most often write
policy briefs for the purpose of giving succinct evidence
to support actions that ideally should be taken to
address an issue. The main purpose of giving the evi-
dence in a succinct form is to make a convincing
argument to inform policy making while considering
all the salient aspects of an issue from a position of
expertise. Policy briefs are written to inform others of a
specific viewpoint, to frame discussions, and to show
credibility and expertise on a certain subject matter
(Chaffee, 2007).

There are many examples of policy briefs. We focus
on one policy brief that was produced by the American
Academy of Nursing’s expert panel addressing
emerging and infectious diseases (DeMarco, Bradley
Springer, Gallagher, Jones, & Visk, 2012) (Figure 1).
Other examples are readily available outside of the
American Academy of Nursing and can be accessed for
comparison, such as a policy brief on the consolidation
of school districts that was written by the National
Education and Policy Center (Howley, Johnson, & Petrie,
2011) and a policy brief that was generated as the end
product of a funded research project addressing rural
considerations related to globalization (DERREG, 2011).
Each of these policy briefs shows the structure of a
typical brief with some key variations that will be
addressed and explained. What is often lacking in the
literature is guidance on how one creates effective pol-
icy briefs (i.e., the structure and mechanics of devel-
oping the brief itself) and how there may be differences
in the physical presentation across business and pro-
fessional groups as well as national versus international
approaches. This article highlights the overall frame-
work for crafting an effective policy brief by using the
three briefs mentioned previously as examples.

Step 1: Considerations before Writing a Policy
Brief

The informed writer of a policy brief gives attention
to two major considerations before drafting the brief:

301-22 Science Center Building, University of Massachusetts Bos-

mailto:rosanna.demarco@umb.edu

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2014.04.002

Figure 1 e Excerpts from Executive Summary, Background and Significance, and Position Statement (DeMarco
et al., 2012).

N u r s O u t l o o k 6 2 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 2 1 9 e 2 2 4220

(1) the interests and expertise of the target audience
and (2) the timing of delivery for the brief. Consider-
ation must be given to the target audience for the brief
so that the level of writing, explanations, and exam-
ples will be geared to the needs of that group. For
example, a policy brief focusing on infectious disease
transmission that is directed to a nonscientific group
interested in volunteerism will require more expla-
nation of terms than would be the case with a scien-
tific research group. Do research to determine how
knowledgeable the group is about the topic. This
research is highly significant because if readers are
highly knowledgeable, simplified concepts may be
interpreted as patronizing. The writer must consider
how much persuasion is needed in order to convince
the reader of the policy brief to take the endorsed
approach and/or action. The reader may be more open

to the message and the message viewed as more ur-
gent during times of crisis (e.g., gun control when an
episode of gun violence has made national news). At
other times, the writer may need to provide more
evidence and more carefully consider alternative
perspectives.

This approach is highlighted in the examples pre-
sented in this article. In Figure 1, the authors discuss
HIV testing at a critical point wherein the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention had recently released
information about transmission trends and related
those trends to individuals who did not know their
status and therefore might be transmitting infectious
diseases unknowingly. Thus, there was a perceived
immediate need to protect individuals from height-
ened vulnerability and to decrease the prospective
health and personal costs related to chronic disease

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2014.04.002

Figure 1 e (continued).

N u r s O u t l o o k 6 2 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 2 1 9 e 2 2 4 221

care through policy change. Finally, a balanced brief
shows both sides of a complex issue. Including the
benefits and advantages or barriers and facilitators to a
solution is very important as can be seen in Figure 1. It
underscores the position but also embodies a sense of
fairness in putting forth that position.

Step 2: Four Sections to a Policy Brief

Generally, there are four sections to a policy brief: (1) an
executive summary; (2) background and significance;
(3) a position statement highlighting the actions the
reader should take; and (4) a timely, reputable refer-
ence list. One of the challenging issues of writing a
policy brief is that it should be brief. A policy brief
should be a “stand-alone” document focused on a
single topic that is no more than two to four pages in
length or 1,500 words (International Development

Research Center, 2013) (Figure 2). The example in
Figure 1 (DeMarco et al., 2012) is a good example of how
to achieve brevity.

Executive Summary

This section represents the distillation of the policy
brief. It provides an overview for busy readers and
should be written last. The executive summary is
similar to an abstract. It should be a paragraph or two
and only take up half of a double-spaced page. It
should stand alone and help the reader to understand
the background, significance, and position taken in a
short brief statement. The executive summary should
answer the following question: What is the policy
brief really about? In Figure 1, in the case of universal
testing for HIV, the authors include statements that
summarize the need for testing from the perspective
of not knowing one’s testing status and how
dangerous this is while explaining the difficulty in

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2014.04.002

Figure 1 e (continued).

N u r s O u t l o o k 6 2 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 2 1 9 e 2 2 4222

harnessing real data regarding the incidence and
prevalence of infection and coinfections (DeMarco
et al., 2012).

Background and Significance

This section creates curiosity for the rest of the brief. It
explains the importance and urgency of the issue and
answers “why?” In addition, it describes issues and
context and should not be overly technical. The rule of
thumb is to progress from the general to the specific.

The purpose and/or focus of the policy brief must
immediately be apparent to the reader. This is essen-
tial to crafting an effective and persuasive brief.
Therefore, limiting the supporting evidence to one or
two paragraphs is critical as shown in Figure 1.

If available, it is also important to include references
from lay publications with a wide sphere of influence
(e.g., The New York Times, The Washington Post, and so
on). The use of such references informs the reader that
the topic is current and in the public purview. Using
current references defines the challenge and facilitates

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2014.04.002

Figure 2 e Key elements of a policy brief.

N u r s O u t l o o k 6 2 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 2 1 9 e 2 2 4 223

an understanding of the extent of the challenge. Cur-
rent references also elucidate why this challenge is
perhaps more important than other challenges. Using
statistics from respected published sources that are
current, reputable, and peer reviewed is an effective
way to accomplish this. Statistics are frequently used
in the examples in Figure 1. These data highlight that
many people are affected or potentially affected by
these infections, and particular health care costs are
either mentioned or identified by naming states that
have instituted changes in these areas of interest. In
the examples, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and the European Commission are quoted
as foundational national and international authorities.
After presenting the context and background in the
opening paragraphs, the writer can then move on to
“bring home the point” by highlighting the key con-
cerns surrounding the issue in the next section of the
document.

Highlight the key concerns via bulleted points
(Figure 1). This is the place to illustrate the broad
impact of the issue to focus attention on multifaceted

aspects. The impact of an issue, whether it be positive
or negative, is rarely limited to one facet. The ramifi-
cations are frequently multifaceted, with health, the
economy, professional autonomy of providers, human
rights of care recipients, environmental consider-
ations, and social implications being among them.
Consider the case for promoting universal testing for
HIV infection. Although universal testing for HIV will
result in increased numbers of persons being aware
they are infected, lead to decreased community levels
of HIV because of decreased transmission, and facili-
tate earlier enrollment in HIV care and treatment
(DeMarco et al., 2012; Figure 1), there are also other
implications in addition to the impact on health out-
comes. A more persuasive argument might also
include information about increased labor productivity
and quality of life. A well-written policy brief presents
a variety of consequences related to the issue at hand.
Hence, clearly explicated key concerns are easily
linked to the writer’s recommendations for addressing
the issue (i.e., position statement). The position state-
ment constitutes the third section of the policy brief.

Position Statement Directing Policy

This section expresses ideas that are balanced and
defensible but with strong assertions. One of the key
approaches is to let the reader know what could
happen if something does not change. In every case,
this section needs to be supported by evidence and be
replete with referenced sources. The position state-
ment section must also be clear and concise and is best
written without inflammatory language (Chaffee,
2007). The writer should use the active voice. Active
language can be quite persuasive, giving the impres-
sion that this issue is important. Keeping the focus of
the statement narrow also facilitates its effectiveness
by avoiding a potential dilution of the issue (Foley,
2007). Parsimony is a must; white space and bullets
are very useful techniques.

The position statement section of a policy brief
highlights the writer’s recommendations using clear,
concise, appropriate, and directly actionable language.
If writing a policy brief that is directed to a policy maker
(e.g., a congressman, city council member, and so on),
speak their language. Use policy-related language
when drafting recommendations for action. For
example, “write new guidelines to oversee the practice
of advanced practice nurses” might be more effectively
written as “promulgate new rules to regulate the
practice of advanced practice nurses.” For recommen-
dations that are directly actionable (Longest, 2010), one
might write, “Ensure that all FDA [Food and Drug
Administration]-approved prescription medications
must be available on all insurance company formulary
lists.” The term ensure leaves a lot to interpretation.
How might the availability of medications be ensured?
Will the availability be ensured by asserting pressure
on employers who provide insurance coverage, by
enlisting the assistance of consumers, or via

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2014.04.002

N u r s O u t l o o k 6 2 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 2 1 9 e 2 2 4224

authoritative agency oversight? A clearer and more
directive recommendation might read, “Draft new CMS
[Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services] regulations
mandating that all FDA-approved prescription medi-
cations be made available on all insurance company
formulary lists.”

Reference List

The formatting and style of references should also be
considered. The use of superscripts saves room in the
text of a policy brief, and sequential numeric refer-
encing in the reference list allows for an easy review of
the references as the reader examines the contents of
the brief. Figure 1 gives examples of the use of super-
scripts with sequential referencing to maximize space.

In addition to a reference list that encompasses
cited sources, an effective position statement should
be accompanied by an extensive bibliography. This is
where the writer of the statement is able to show his or
her in-depth grasp of the background for, context of,
and trends related to the issue. The bibliography
should be comprised of entries from journals, news-
papers, and books in addition to online sources.
Including this section goes a long way in creating
goodwill with staffers and agency personnel. A diverse
and comprehensive bibliography is especially helpful if
the recipient of the policy brief decides to investigate
the issue and potentially take action.

Design Choices

As has been discussed earlier, the use of bullets to
emphasize key sections of the policy brief, such as
specific policy suggestions made in the position state-
ment section, enables the reader to focus. However, the
bullets must express a complete thought and not be so
abbreviated that it is difficult to understand the point
being made (Figure 1). Using subtitles to break up text
or bold, underlined, or shaded/color-highlighted font
enhancements is also helpful. Boxing in areas to
emphasize examples or issues can create a focus in the
document as will using graphs and figures if they are
easy to read and labeled accurately. All verbs need to be
dynamic and allow the reader to feel propelled to do
something or think in a different way (Figure 1).

Conclusion

A well-written policy brief is a very effective advocacy
tool. Nurses are credible and respected authorities

who enjoy the public’s trust and confidence. Har-
nessing that expertise and using it to draft policy
briefs is a fantastic strategy for impacting health care
policy and health outcomes. Essentially, a well-crafted
policy brief takes a position, backs up that position
with solid evidence, is clear and succinct, and speaks
to potential objections before they surface (Chaffee,
2007). Hence, the policy brief is an excellent tool for
exerting influence in the increasingly complex health
policy arena.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the members of the
American Academy of Nursing Emerging & Infectious
Diseases Expert Panel for their guidance and assistance.

r e f e r e n c e s

Chaffee, M. W. (2007). Communication skills for political success.
In D. M. Mason, J. K. Leavitt, & M. W. Chaffee (Eds.), Policy &
politics in nursing and health care (pp. 121e134). St. Louis, MO:
Saunders Elsevier.

Colby, D. C., Quinn, B. C., Williams, C. H., Bilhelmer, L. T., &
Goodell, S. (2008). Research glut and information famine:
Making research evidence more useful for policymakers.
Health affairs, 27, 1177e1182.

DeMarco, R. F., Bradley Springer, L., Gallagher, D., Jones, S. G., &
Visk, J. (2012). Recommendations and reality: Perceived patient,
provider, and policy barriers to implementing routine
HIV-screening and proposed solutions. Nursing Outlook, 60,
72e80.

DERREG (Developing Europe’s Rural Regions in the Era of
Globalization). (2011). European Commission, European
Research Area, Social Sciences and Humanities. Retrieved
from http://www.derreg.eu/.

Foley, M. (2007). Lobbying policymakers: Individual and collective
strategies. In D. M. Mason, J. K. Leavitt, & M. W. Chaffee (Eds.),
Policy & politics in nursing and health care (pp. 747e759). St Louis,
MO: Saunders Elsevier.

Howley, C., Johnson, J., & Petrie, J. (2011). Consolidation of schools and
districts: What the research says and what it means. Boulder, CO:
National Education Policy Center. Retrieved from http://nepc.
colorado.edu/publication/consolidation-schools-districts.

International Development Research Center (IDRC). (2013).
Toolkit for researchers: How to write a policy brief. Retrieved
from http://www.idrc.ca/EN/Resources/Tools_and_Training/
Documents/how-to-write-a-policy-brief .

Longest, B. B. (2010). Health policymaking in the United States (5th ed.)
Chicago: Health Administration Press.

Nannini, A., & Houde, S. C. (2010). Translating evidence from
systematic reviews for policy makers. Journal of Gerontological
Nursing, 36, 22e26.

Pick, W. (2008). Lack of evidence hampers human-resources
policy making. Lancet, 371, 629e630.

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http://www.derreg.eu/

http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0029-6554(14)00057-8/sref4

http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/consolidation-schools-districts

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2014.04.002

Agenda Comparison Grid Template

Title:

First Name Last Name

Walden University

Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health

NURS 6050

Date

Title of Paper

Introduction

Regardless of political affiliations, all citizens have a right to take part in healthcare policy-making. Over the years, the issue of abortion has always been significant in the healthcare industry and the U.S. department of care. Most recently, abortion has become a huge topic of discussion and controversy in the healthcare sector in the United States. Factors that lead to the urge for abortion include effects on birthrates, the economic influence, and sexual behavior changes amongst teens. As such, Fix et al. (2020) argue that 81% of people are likely to develop and experience different mental health disorders like depression, anxiety disorder, alcohol abuse, suicidal attempts, and stress after aborting. This shows that some studies encourage the legalization of abortion in the United States, while others oppose it.

Agenda Comparison Grid and Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief Assignment Template for Part 1 and Part 2

Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid

Identify the Population Health concern you selected.

Over the years, the issue of abortion has always been significant in the healthcare industry and the U.S. department of care. Most recently, abortion has become a huge topic of discussion and controversy in the healthcare sector in the United States.

Describe the Population Health concern you selected and the factors that contribute to it.

Factors that lead to the urge for abortion include effects on birthrates, the economic influence, and sexual behavior changes amongst teens. As such, Fix et al. (2020) argue that 81% of people are likely to develop and experience different mental health disorders like depression, anxiety disorder, alcohol abuse, suicidal attempts, and stress after aborting.

Administration (President Name)

President Trump

President Obama

President Bush

Describe the administrative agenda focus related to this issue for the current and two previous presidents.

In the annual Match for Life event in January 2018, President Trump spoke to the participants that included opponents of abortion, and ensured them that his administration is devoted to defending the first right in the Declaration of Independence, namely the right to life. He is an opponent of abortion and believes that there is no moral and legal basis for terminating the life of an innocent baby. The current president also believes in the protection of the sanctity of life and the family as the core foundation of the society.

Obama was pro-choice and supported safe abortion procedures since he believed it was the right of women to terminate pregnancies for any reason. He was among the key American leaders that prioritized the needs of the public without violating their needs. He also preserved women’s rights to affordable and free abortion without judgment and discrimination as promoted by tax-subsidized providers, such as Planned Parenthood (Annas, 2009).

Bush was in support of the constitutional amendment that made the procedure illegal. However, he partially supported abortion in cases of incest, rape, and instances when the life of a woman was in jeopardy. He also believed that Americans did not support his directive, and thus, there was no need to pursue it (Pro-life profiles).

Identify the allocations of financial and other resources that the current and two previous presidents dedicated to this issue.

He recently signed the executive order to reinstate the abortion ban that was removed by Barack Obama and withdrew the federal family planning funding that is deemed to provide abortion care (Freiburger, 2019).

The Obama administration reinstated the policy to fund legal family planning and safe abortion during his reign.

President Bush reinstated the ‘Mexico City Policy’ requiring NGPS that received federal funding to refrain from performance or promotion abortion services.

Explain how each of the presidential administrations approached the issue.

President Trump claimed that his administration is devoted to defending the first right in the Declaration of Independence, namely the right to life. As such, he does not promote funding for safe abortion and believes in pro-life decisions.

Obama was pro-choice and supported safe abortion procedures since he believed it was the right of women to terminate pregnancies for any reason. He was among the key American leaders that prioritized the needs of the public without violating their needs. He also preserved women’s rights to affordable and free abortion without judgment and discrimination as promoted by tax-subsidized providers, such as Planned Parenthood (Annas, 2009).

He is the president that was probably the most sensitive on the subject of abortion when compared to the other two presidents. Bush was in support of the constitutional amendment that made the procedure illegal. However, he partially supported abortion in cases of incest, rape, and instances when the life of a woman was in jeopardy.

Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis

Using the information you recorded in Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid, complete the following to document information about the population health/healthcare issue your selected

Administration (President Name)

President Trump

President Obama

President Bush

Which administrative agency would most likely be responsible for helping you address the healthcare issue you selected?

I would rely on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which I the current government agency in charge of US abortion data.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would also be applicable when discussion the significant approval strategies for the use of medical abortions in the US.

The Department of Health and Human services would be incredible in addressing federal policies for abortions.

How do you think your selected healthcare issue might get on the agenda for the current and two previous presidents? How does it stay there?

President Trump always addressed abortion often during his bid for president. He has also addressed the issue in his administration.

Obama made it clear that he would support abortion during his campaigns and maintained the same goal during his administration. It was his priority to overturn the Mexico City Policy and fund legal family planning.

Abortion would be an agenda for George W Bush since he reinstated the Mexico City Policy to address the issue. Using this approach, Bush signed the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, in 2002 to extend legal protection of prematurely born babies.

Who would you choose to be the entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue you selected for the current and two previous presidents?

President Obama does not appear to perceive safe abortion as ethical even as a result of rape, hence he would not champion for healthcare.

President Obama’s firm stand on the legality of abortion does not value abortion as a choice of both partners, but the woman alone regardless of the reason.

I would choose President Bush based on his personal and sympathetic approach to abortion laws. He was very realistic and followed moral standards in his views and opinions.

Narrative with the Facts

President George W. Bush – he is the president that was probably the most sensitive leaders on the subject of abortion when compared to the other two presidents. Bush was in support of the constitutional amendment that made the procedure illegal. However, he partially supported abortion in cases of incest, rape, and instances when the life of a woman was in jeopardy. He also believed that Americans did not support his directive, and thus, there was no need to pursue it (Pro-life profiles). Additionally, he added that his Supreme Court nominees were not allowed to pass an anti-abortion policy. Bush was for the idea that babies could not die intentionally, but women have some rights to terminate pregnancies. However, since he was ant-abortion, he took away funding of the procedure and encouraged partial abortion for critical conditions.
President Barack Obama – Obama was pro-choice and supported safe abortion procedures since he believed it was the right of women to terminate pregnancies for any reason. He was among the key American leaders that prioritized the needs of the public without violating their needs. He also preserved women’s rights to affordable and free abortion without judgment and discrimination as promoted by tax-subsidized providers, such as Planned Parenthood (Annas, 2009). Obama felt that abortion was a moral issue and did not see it as a political issue of concern. As such, he enacted the freedom of choice Act to codify women’s rights to abort in 2008 (Bilger, 2018). He removed all federal and state-level restrictions on abortion.
Donald Trump – in the annual Match for Life event in January 2018, President Trump spoke to the participants that included opponents of abortion, and ensured them that his administration is devoted to defending the first right in the Declaration of Independence, namely the right to life. He is an opponent of abortion and believes that there is no moral and legal basis for terminating the life of an innocent baby. The current president also believes in the protection of the sanctity of life and the family as the core foundation of the society. He recently signed the executive order to reinstate the abortion ban that was removed by Barack Obama and withdrew the federal family planning funding that is deemed to provide abortion care (Freiburger, 2019).
Conclusion
Conclusively, if I were in a position to make a decision regarding the legalization of abortion, I would support what President Bush did. I am pro-life, but I believe that there should be reason for the termination of pregnancy. This is because of the family planning concerns and birthrates, as well as the critical conditions that might increase the need to abort. Therefore, I would pro-choice decisions and partially encourage abortion when it must happen. I would also encourage safe, legal abortion to save lives.

References
Annas, G. J. (2009). Abortion politics and health insurance reform. New England Journal of Medicine, 361(27), 2589-2591. DOI: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp0911513.
Bilger, M. (2018, December 13). Barack Obama, The Abortion President, Receives Human Rights Award. https://www.lifenews.com/2018/12/13/barack-obama-the-abortion-president-receives-human-rights-award/
Fix, L., Seymour, J. W., Grossman, D., Johnson, D. M., Aiken, A. R., Gomperts, R., & Grindlay, K. (2020). Abortion need among U.S. servicewomen: evidence from an internet service. Women’s Health Issues, 30(3), 161-166.
Freiburger, C. (2019, February 22). Trump admin cuts $60 million from Planned Parenthood. https://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Donald_Trump_Abortion.htm
Pro-life profiles. George W. Bush Former President of the U.S. (R) Tier 4 – Personhood Never. http://prolifeprofiles.com/george-w-bush-abortion
© 2020 Walden University 1

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