Requirements
NURS 4340 - Influencing Health Policy
Webster University 
Spring II 2004

These requirements are intended to be individualized by each student and are designed to be met independently. Please seek clarification for any item you do not understand or for any assistance you may need. Help is available upon request. 

Evidence of each of the requirements is to be kept as a notebook, preferably in a loose leaf binder. Divide into State and Federal, labeling each section and subsection. Notebooks will be reviewed during individual appointments, weeks 4 or 5 of the term, and again when submitted, week 8. Students need to include specific information about all items, with personal comments and reflections where appropriate. The final grade, for 2 credits, is based on attendance/participation at class and the Field Trip, and the completeness of the notebook.

In addition to attendance*, students enrolled for two credit hours must meet the following requirements: 

1. Identify your state Senate and Congressional districts. 
• Identify your state Senator and Representative.
• List committees/ leadership positions of the Senator and Representative.
2. Identify your federal Senate and Congressional districts. 
• Identify your federal Senator and Representative.
• List committees/ leadership positions of the Senator and Representative.
3. For both state and federal levels identify 3-4 health-related bills under consideration in the current session. Obtain copies of the bills.
4. Identify at least one health-related bill at each level (state and federal) that personally interests you. Monitor progress of the bill, include copies of actions, fiscal notes, etc.
5. Draft a letter / information sheet for either your State or Federal Senator or Representative, a bill sponsor, or member of the appropriate committee about the particular issue and your position on the bill. If State, Deliver in person or fax to the individual.
6. Review the nursing literature within the past 5 years for 5 articles pertaining to lobbying, political action, health care reform, and/or particular health problems/issues that may affect the state or federal legislative agenda. Write a 1 paragraph (75-100 word) summary of each article and a 1 page personal reaction/response. Summaries and reaction/responses must be typed. Include copies of the articles and a reference list in APA format.
7. Field trip to Jefferson City. Make personal contact with either your state Senator or Representative and discuss the specific health related issue previously selected (number 4 above). Write a report on the day with personal comments and reflections on each experience. 

Students enrolled for 3 credit hours, in addition to the above requirements, may choose from several options:

• May read additional 5 articles pertaining to health issues and the political process. Articles may focus on either state or national issues. The articles are not the same as those chosen for the assignment for 2 credits. Articles must come from nursing journals and be within the last five years. Articles are read and then an abstract is written in APA format for each article. Specific directions will be given during the first class. Abstracts and copies of the articles are due at the time of the individual appointment, Week 4 or 5. Abstracts will be returned at the last class meeting.
• Other independent activities, in lieu of abstracts, will be individually considered. Students have done things like: creating a political game and having the class play; attending a lecture or workshop related to health care and politics; hosting and directing a brown bag lunch with nurses to discuss political action and politics.
• Other independently designed activities will be individually considered.  
• Options and details will be discussed at the first class session