Political Advocacy Letter

NURS 412 – Ethics, Law, Economics, Policy

Purpose of Assignment
The purpose of this assignment is to provide the student the opportunity develop public
policy advocacy skills by writing and submitting a formal letter regarding a current legislative
bill to their appropriate legislator.

Student Approach to Assignment

I approached this assignment with minimal exposure to nursing law and policy. I
researched a bill that was of personal interest and wrote to the congressman of my district to
advocate for support. Nurse staffing ratios are a major patient safety issue and threat to personal
licensure for nurses. This assignment reflects my ability to stand for something I believe in and
advocate for nursing policy. Through this assignment, I learned how to write a formal letter to a
congressman and advocate for support of a bill that influences nursing practice.
Reason for Inclusion of this Assignment in the Portfolio
I included this assignment in my portfolio because it is an example of personal
accountability in addressing nursing policy. Most nurses are able to identify issues in practice
and policy. Doing something about those issues is what exemplifies nursing leadership. In
nursing school, I learned about nurse understaffing and the repercussions. It was not until I was a
nurse and nurse-patient ratios impacted me personally that I decided it was important to advocate
for proper staffing ratios. This assignment demonstrates my strengths as a leader and advocate
for nursing policy and practice.
• Professionalism
o Advocates for professional standards of practice using organizational and political
processes
- This assignment is an example of personally advocating for nurse staffing standards
through writing to the congressman of my district to ask for support of bill H.R.2392.
I used the political process of formal letter writing to advocate for a bill that could
influence the profession of nursing.

o Demonstrates accountability for one’s own professional practice

- Unsafe nurse-patient ratios are an issue that impacts my ability to safely take care of
my patients. I demonstrated accountability through recognizing an issue that
influences professional practice and advocated for change through writing a letter to
my congressman to ask for support of a bill that sets staffing standards for nurses.
o Understands the effect of legal and regulatory processes on nursing practice and health
care delivery, as well as limits to one’s own scope of practice
- In Virginia, there is not a law that identifies safe staffing ratios for nurses. As a result,
hospitals make patient assignments as they please. If a nurse refuses or suggests that
an assignment is unfair they risk losing their job. I wrote a letter to ask for support of
a bill that sets standards for nurse-patient ratios. Passing of this bill would positively
influence health care delivery.