Assessment 4: Lobbying for Change: Writing an advocacy letter

 

Hey there! I'm Meo Khan, a freelance academic writer and your nursing assignment guru. I know you nursing students are busy beyond belief between clinicals, classes, and just life in general. Getting those lengthy policy assessment assignments done can feel straight up impossible sometimes!

But have no fear - I'm here to make these papers feel WAY more manageable for you. Let's chat about how to nail this healthcare policy assessment in your sleep.

First, we got to look at how nurses can team up with local and state politicians to advocate for patients. I know the idea of calling up your representative or showing up at the state house might sound intimidating! But nurses have such an important perspective and some insider tips can help make those connections.

Here's the deal - start by looking up who exactly represents your district. Find their committee assignments and what health policies they've supported. This helps you make the ask specific for them. Fire off, an email to schedule a meeting and highlight you’re a nurse speaking from experience. If they’re busy (and let’s be real, politicians always are), offer to meet with staff instead.

 When you meet, keep it short and sweet. Pick 2-3 policies or investments to focus your asks around. Back it up with data - politicians love their numbers. And share some ANONYMIZED patient stories to tug those heartstrings! After you meet, send a thank you note recapping your asks so they remember. Specifically, here is how you connect with a relevant lawmaker:

Effective Strategies on How to Connect with Lawmakers

Participate in State and National Nurses' Associations: State and national nurses' associations have groups responsible for lobbying legislators and impacting policy that affects the administration of healthcare. The American Nurses Association, the American Academy of Nursing, and your state nurses' association are good places to become involved.

Attend Legislative Sessions: Attend legislative sessions to learn how the system works and connect with your state senate and house representatives to express your opinions.

Identify Your Lawmaker: Identify the lawmaker in the level of government that will best address your issue.

Contact Your Lawmaker: Contact your lawmaker about a particular issue before the Legislature takes action.

How to Write an Advocacy Letter

·       Use Your Personal or Business Address: Use your personal or business address as the return address on your letter.

·       Address Your Legislator Properly: Address your legislator properly, using their correct title and name.

·       State Your Relationship to the Legislator: State your relationship to the legislator, such as being a constituent or a nurse.

·       Describe the Issue: Begin the letter with a short paragraph that describes the issue and the request you are making.

·       Be Factual: Be factual and use common terms and language. Explain the potential impact on patients and/or owners, quality and accessibility of care, animal or human health, and your practice, if relevant.

·       Be Personal: Get personal and talk about how an issue affects you, your colleagues, your patients, your practice, and your community.

·       State What You Want the Person to Do for You: State what you want the person to do for you, such as cosponsoring a bill or supporting a program's continuation or increase in funding.

·       Be Concise: Don't make the communication too wordy. A one-page letter is ideal, but two pages are acceptable.

·       Request a Response: Request a response from the legislator.

·       Include Your Title: Include your title, if you have one.

 

Okay, now onto the fun part - taking all that and putting it into an advocacy letter! Here's an example letter I drafted around mental healthcare access. Peep how I...

·       Addressed it to a specific rep with their info

·       Stated my role as a nurse at City Hospital

·       Made 2-3 defined asks for policies

·       Included a patient story to illustrate the need

·       Said thank you and offered to discuss further

Pretty easy format to follow, right? You got this! Let me know if you need any other tips for tackling these healthcare policy assessments in your nursing program. I'm here to help you ace these assignments AND make time for some much needed self-care. Now go show 'em what nurses can do!

 

Sample Advocacy Letter

Now let's walk through writing an advocacy letter to a government official focused on improving mental health care access.

Date

Representative Jane Doe
123 State House
City, State, Zip

Dear Representative Doe,

As a nurse at City Hospital, I witness the challenges many patients face trying to access mental health services. With suicide rates and substance abuse on the rise in our community, I urge you to prioritize reforms that expand mental health care access.

Specifically, I ask that you:

• Co-sponsor legislation to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for mental health services. Higher rates will incentivize providers to accept Medicaid patients.
• Allocate additional state funding to community mental health centers which provide essential care to uninsured residents.
• Support investments in telepsychiatry programs which can extend access to rural areas with provider shortages.

I share the story of a patient I recently discharged who struggled to find an in-network psychiatrist accepting new patients with Medicaid. After months of searching, her depression and substance abuse worsened until she attempted suicide. Increased reimbursements and funding for underserved areas would prevent cases like this.

Please consider nurses on the frontlines as you work to improve mental health care access this session. I welcome the chance to discuss this further and would appreciate your support on these critical issues.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Contact Info]

Let me know at meokhan/at/gmail/dot/com (or at www.meokhan.com) if you need any other tips or my assistance for completing this assessment and advocating for health policies as a nurse!