NURS 6050 – Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health (Walden University)

Module 1 / Week 2 Assignment (2026): Agenda Comparison Grid and Fact Sheet / Talking Points Brief

Course and Assessment Positioning

Course: NURS 6050 – Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health (MSN core)
Assessment: Module 1 / Week 2 Assignment – Agenda Comparison Grid and Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief (individual written assignment)
Level: Graduate (MSN, including APRN and non-clinical tracks)
Length: Completed Agenda Comparison Grid (approximately 1–2 pages within the template) plus a 1–2 page Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief (roughly 500–700 words)
Timing: Week 2 (Module 1), early in the course after introductory content on policy processes, policy actors, and agenda setting

This assignment reflects current NURS 6050 expectations in which students compare how different elected officials or levels of government prioritize a specific health issue and then synthesize that comparison into a concise advocacy-focused brief.

Assignment Overview

You will select one priority national or state health issue and use a provided template to compare how at least two elected officials or political actors address that issue on their policy agendas. You will then create a concise Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief that summarizes the issue, contrasts the agendas, and highlights implications for nurses as advocates.

Learning Outcomes Assessed

  • Identify how health issues appear on the agendas of different elected officials or political bodies.

  • Compare positions, priorities, and policy approaches related to a single health issue.

  • Summarize complex policy information into a concise Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief suitable for advocacy.

  • Describe opportunities for nurses to engage with policymakers on the selected issue.

Task Instructions

1. Select a Priority Health Issue

  • Choose a clearly defined health policy issue with population-level implications, such as prescription drug costs, the opioid crisis, mental health parity, maternal mortality, gun violence, vaping, or Medicaid expansion.

  • Ensure that public statements or policy documents are available from at least two elected officials or relevant political actors.

2. Identify Policy Actors for Comparison

  • Select at least two policy actors for comparison, such as the U.S. President and a governor, two senators from different political parties, or a federal leader and a state legislator.

  • Gather publicly available information on their agendas related to your selected health issue, including official websites, press releases, policy briefs, or campaign platforms.

3. Complete the Agenda Comparison Grid (Template)

Download and complete the official Agenda Comparison Grid template provided in the course. Typical fields include:

  • Selected health issue

  • Policy actor names, roles, and level of government

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  • How each actor frames or defines the issue

  • Specific policy goals, proposals, or legislative actions

  • Political or ideological orientation and key stakeholders or interest groups

  • Any available information on cost, population impact, or feasibility

Use concise statements and avoid copying lengthy text from external sources.

4. Analyze and Compare Agendas (within the Grid)

  • Identify at least two key similarities and two important differences in how the selected actors prioritize and approach the issue.

  • Indicate which agenda appears more likely to improve population health and equity, with a brief rationale grounded in evidence or reputable commentary.

5. Develop the Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief (1–2 Pages)

Using information from your grid and course readings, prepare a clear Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief that includes:

  • Issue Overview: Define the health issue and explain why it matters, including one or two key data points.

  • Policy Actor Positions: Summarize how each actor addresses the issue, focusing on practical implications rather than exhaustive detail.

  • Population Health and Equity Implications: Identify who benefits or may be disadvantaged and how disparities could be affected.

  • Nurse Advocate Perspective: In one to two short paragraphs, explain how nurses could engage policymakers through communication strategies, coalition efforts, or clinical storytelling.

Write for an educated but non-specialist audience using direct, accessible language.

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Assignment Requirements

  • Length: Agenda Comparison Grid (1–2 pages) plus a 1–2 page Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief (approximately 500–700 words for the brief).

  • Format: Use the official grid template and organize the brief with clear headings and concise paragraphs or bullet points.

  • Sources: Use at least two to three current scholarly or credible sources (2018–2026) in addition to official policy documents or websites.

  • Academic Integrity: Summarize agenda positions in your own words and do not copy completed grids or briefs from online sources.

  • Submission: Submit both the completed grid and the Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief together via the Week 2 assignment link.

Module 1 / Week 2 Rubric (2026)

Issue and Actor Selection (15%)
Appropriateness and clarity of the selected health issue and policy actors.

Grid Completion and Accuracy (25%)
Completeness, accuracy, and clarity of information in the agenda comparison grid.

Comparative Analysis of Agendas (20%)
Depth and insight of comparison, including population health implications.

Quality of Fact Sheet / Talking Points Brief (25%)
Clarity, organization, accessibility, and relevance for advocacy purposes.

Use of Evidence and Writing Quality (15%)
Appropriate use of sources, graduate-level writing quality, and correct citation practices.

Short Sample Content (Indexing Excerpt)

Policy agendas often seem abstract until multiple elected officials are placed side by side, revealing who prioritizes reducing out-of-pocket drug costs, who emphasizes market competition, and who minimally addresses patient impact. A strong NURS 6050 Week 2 Agenda Comparison Grid and Fact Sheet distills these contrasts into a clear visual grid and a concise brief that a nurse could realistically use during a legislative meeting to explain why one policy approach may better reduce financial toxicity or improve access.

Added Paragraph with In-Text Citation

Agenda comparison assignments also help nurses translate complex political messaging into actionable advocacy by clarifying where policy priorities align—or conflict—with patient and population needs. By systematically comparing agendas, nurses can tailor their communication strategies to emphasize shared goals such as affordability or access while addressing ideological differences that may otherwise limit policy progress (Milstead and Short, 2019).

Suggested Recent References (Harvard Style)

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NURS 6050 – Week 1 Discussion: Presidential Agendas (Module 1)

Type: Week 1 graded discussion – “Presidential Agendas” / “Policy & Advocacy in Population Health.”

Task:

Select a population health topic that has risen to the presidential agenda (for example, opioid crisis, prescription drug prices, ACA, mental health, gun violence).

Compare how at least two or three presidents (commonly Bush, Obama, Trump; sometimes including the sitting president) approached the issue in their agendas, speeches, or policies.

Explain what you would do differently as president to address the issue.

Length: Initial post about 300–500 words, plus at least two peer responses on two different days (≈150–200 words each).
​

Sequencing:

By Day 3 of Week 1: Post your initial response on presidential agendas for the selected issue.

By Day 6 of Week 1: Post at least two substantive responses to colleagues on different days.

​You then use this Week 1 work as a foundation for the Week 2 Agenda Comparison Grid and Fact Sheet / Talking Points Brief.