Abood, S. (2007). Influencing health care in the legislative arena. Online Journal of

Issues in Nursing, 12(1), 12 pp.

Article is available as FULLTEXT in CINAHL or CLICK on the following link: Retrieved from:

https://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJI

N/TableofContents/Volume122007/No1Jan07/tpc32_216091.aspx

---Using the above two (2) article(s), develop a plan for influencing votes of legislators on nurse-patient

ratios. Limit your submission to two (2) pages. You MUST include the following:

Title of Paper (top of page 2, centered) Advocacy and Nurse-Patient Ratios

1. PAGE 1 HEADING: [Level 1] My Personal/Professional Strategies to Increase My Power ONE PAGE

ONLY

 Using the Abood article as a reference, describe the strategies and/or the "power(s)" YOU would use

professionally and or personally as a nurse to persuade that a busy legislator. Use "I would/will..."

terminology," NOT "the nurse/nurses" or "you" terminology (referring to the reader).

 How would you prepare YOURSELF, i.e., more education, organization memberships, etc.? Be specific.

 How would YOU involve other nurses and potential patients (the public) in your strategies. i.e.

petitions, meetings, etc.? Be specific.



2. PAGE 2: HEADING: [Level 1] Legislator Information Sheet ONE PAGE ONLY

 Using the Aiken et al. article as a reference, compose a one (1) page legislator information sheet on

nurse-patient ratios for a busy state legislator who will only have time to read bullet points:

 Bullet points ( ● ) are brief, pertinent, accurate, research-and/or data based statements that

emphasize the advantages to his/her constituents (patients). Summarize and paraphrase. Be convincing!

Citations are required for each of the bullet points. NOTE: Bullet points can be easily inserted into a

document using MS WORD.

 INCLUDE AN INTRODUCTION: To provide context for the legislator, include a short (1-2 sentences)

introductory statement at the top of page 2 to the legislator which explains the purpose for the bullet

points below.

 FOCUS ON PATIENTS/FAMILIES: Compose nurse-patient ratio statements that focus on advantages to

patients/families, not nurses. An example: Higher nurse-patient ratios increase nurse burnout. Nurse

burnout results in higher attrition and less job satisfaction which impacts the continuity and quality of

patient care.

 APA FORMAT CITATIONS NOTE: Many other research studies are cited in the Aiken et al. article. If you

cite these other research studies, they are considered secondary sources (See APA Manual, p. 178,

6.17). For example, the following is an example of a bullet point with a citation from a secondary source:

Patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction had a lower mortality rate as the number of

registered nurse hours per patient day increased (Sochalski et al. [as cited in Aiken et al., 2010]).

Aiken at al. is then used as the source on the reference list.

e) Use the above headings in your paper. In-text citations and a reference list MUST be found in your

paper. Fifteen (15) points will be deducted for incorrect citations and/or references. See the Nursing

Student Writing Guidelines Checklist for APA formatting.

f) EVALUATION: Paper: Advocacy & Nurse-Patient Ratios (500 words min) Critical Thinking Skills/Content

Development/Organization/References (60%): Introduction; Bullet-Points

Format/Computer Technology Skills (40%)