This is your first APA formatted paper and should include a title page, running head and page numbers, proper headings, and correct in text citations and references.  There is a Sample APA Paper in your APA Manual and on the Purdue OWL website; please review if you are unsure of what a title page should look like, or what information it should include.

You DO NOT need an abstract for any assignment in this course.  You DO need a separate introduction paragraph and conclusion paragraph.

This assessment requires you to describe the legislative process and the role of the nurse as a healthcare policy advocate. Your paper will consist of two parts:

Part 1:

*A clear and complete discussion of the legislative process

Part 2:

*You will choose one of the political issues listed in Burkhardt & Nathaniel on pages 392-393

*Tie that political issue to current HEALTHCARE legislation being debated in your own state’s house or senateinclude all pertinent information

*Describe both sides of that issue – for and against – clearly and thoroughly, and with references

*Explain your own position, and explain why using research-based fact, not just your own opinion.

NOTE:  Please avoid the following topics, as these do not demonstrate research into current legislation in health care and are more hot button issues that do not often result in a strong paper:

*abortion

*staffing ratios/mandatory overtime

*physician assisted suicide

*If you choose to pick a popular topic such as gun control, you need to ensure you have strong supporting evidence within healthcare.

References

Minimum of four (4) total references: two (2) references from required course materials and two (2) peer-reviewed references. All references must be no older than five years (unless making a specific point using a seminal piece of information)

Peer-reviewed references include references from professional data bases such as PubMed or CINHAL applicable to population and practice area, along with evidence based clinical practice guidelines. Examples of unacceptable references are Wikipedia, UpToDate, Epocrates, Medscape, WebMD, hospital organizations, insurance recommendations, & secondary clinical databases.
Number of Pages/Words

Unless otherwise specified all papers should have a minimum of 600 words (approximately 2.5 pages) excluding the title and reference pages.