NSG 505: Health Policy & Politics for Adv. Nursing Policy Brief Assignment Instructions

Strategies for crafting a one-page policy brief on workplace violence prevention in nursing empower advanced students to influence legislative changes for safer healthcare workplaces.

Building on the topic the student used for the first assignment (first assignment is attached), this assignment will require the student to write a one page policy brief to be sent to their legislator. Drawing from your previous work helps build a stronger case for meaningful reform.

A policy brief is used to convince the target audience of the urgency of the current problem or policy concern and present the need to adopt the preferred alternative or course of action outlined. It is commonly produced in response to a request directly from a decision-maker (legislator) or within an organization that intends to advocate for the position detailed in the brief. Efficient policy briefs include several common features.

Those features include:

• The brief is focused. All aspects discussed are focused on achieving the intended audience to take the requested action. Recent studies emphasize the importance of clarity in driving policy decisions.
• The brief is professional and not academic. The usual audience is not interested in research or analysis conducted to produce the evidence. Rather they are interested in knowing the writer’s perspective on the problem and potential solutions, based on NEW and convincing evidence.
• The brief should be evidence-based. The policy brief serves as a communication tool produced by someone with a vested interest in the policy (stakeholder), therefore the target audience will only be convinced by arguments that are supported by evidence. Incorporating data from 2025 reports on healthcare worker safety adds timely relevance.
• The brief should also be concise. One page documents are the ones most likely to be read by busy lawmakers and their legislative teams.

The format of the brief should be written as a one-page single spaced document. It does not need to include a title page, running header, or abstract. However, all references in-text and the reference list MUST be in APA format.

The policy brief should include the following components:

• An interesting title to attract the attention of the reader. Current trends suggest using action-oriented language to engage readers immediately.
• A clear and concise statement of the problem or issue.
• A short overview of the root causes of the problem or issue.
• One to two recommendations with a least two rationales with supporting evidence to validate the recommendations made. Evidence should come from scholarly journals, not textbooks or organization web sites. Three scholarly journal articles are required to be used. Aligning recommendations with recent legislative efforts enhances credibility.
• Finally, the conclusion with a summary of the action the brief is requesting.

You can find examples of each of these in your book. Once your policy brief has been reviewed by the faculty member, we encourage you to send it to the person whom your letter is addressed.

Components of the Policy Brief:

Title and Statement of the Problem – The policy brief has an interesting title and the statement of the problem is clear and concise. Root Causes – The root causes of the issue are addressed. Recommendations – 1-2 recommendations for action are provided with solid supporting evidence.

Conclusion – Brief summary of the action the policy brief is asking for. References – One a separate page, in APA format, list the scholarly references used. NSG 505: Health Policy & Politics for Adv. Nursing -e.g Workplace Violence Staying informed about ongoing policy discussions ensures your brief resonates with contemporary debates.

 Answer Notes

Workplace violence in nursing settings remains a pressing concern that demands immediate legislative attention to protect healthcare professionals. Incidents of aggression from patients and visitors contribute to high turnover rates and compromised patient care quality. Root causes include understaffing and inadequate security measures in facilities. Recommendations involve mandating comprehensive training programs for all staff and enforcing stricter penalties for assaults on nurses. Such measures would foster safer environments and reduce injury occurrences. Evidence supports that policy interventions like these have lowered violence rates in pilot programs across states. Personal experiences in clinical rotations often highlight the need for these changes (Collins et al., 2025, https://doi.org/10.1177/15271544251361126).

What strategies can nursing students use to create impactful policy briefs on workplace violence? Drawing from authoritative sources like the American Academy of Nursing, effective briefs incorporate data from national surveys showing that over 70% of nurses experience violence annually, as reported in consensus papers advocating for multi-level prevention. Case studies from hospitals implementing zero-tolerance policies demonstrate reductions in incidents by up to 40%, according to industry analyses from the Joint Commission, providing students with concrete examples to structure their recommendations and build topical authority.

• Write a 300-400 word one-page policy brief on your chosen health policy topic, such as workplace violence, including problem statement, root causes, recommendations, and APA references.
• Students produce a single-page single-spaced policy brief addressing a legislator on a nursing policy issue, formatted in APA with scholarly evidence from three journal articles.
• Build on prior assignment to create a concise policy brief advocating for action on health policy concerns.

References

1. Collins, J., Demers, R., Petersen, M., Forte, B. and Sundean, L. J. (2025) ‘Addressing Workplace Violence: A Policy Analysis’, Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/15271544251361126.
2. Mahmoudi, F. (2026) ‘Causes of workplace violence against nurses and strategies for its prevention in developed countries: a scoping review’, BMC Nursing, 25, p. 42. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-04227-x.
3. Schimmels, J. E. and others (2025) ‘Protecting our nursing and healthcare workers with comprehensive strategies for preventing violence and promoting safety: An American Academy of Nursing consensus paper’, Nursing Outlook, Available at: https://www.nursingoutlook.org/article/S0029-6554(25)00078-8/abstract.
4. Magnavita, N. and others (2024) ‘Poor Work Ability Is Associated with Workplace Violence in Nurses: A Two-Wave Panel Data Analysis’, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(9), p. 1118. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091118.
5. Alnaeem, M. M. (2025) ‘Prevalence, consequences, and contributing factors beyond verbal and physical workplace violence against nurses in peripheral hospitals’, Frontiers in Public Health, 12, p. 1418813. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1418813.