DNP 7200 Healthcare Policy & Advocacy

Course Overview
DNP 7200 prepares doctoral nursing students to engage as informed, influential advocates in the development, analysis, and implementation of healthcare policy at local, state, national, and global levels. Students examine the policy process, political landscape, regulatory environment, and the social determinants of health that drive health equity challenges. Drawing on the DNP Essentials and the ANA Scope and Standards, students will develop the competencies to translate evidence into policy, engage diverse stakeholders, and testify or communicate effectively with legislative and regulatory bodies. The course integrates principles of political science, health law, and health economics to equip DNP graduates to lead policy change within and beyond their clinical settings.

Learning Outcomes
•Analyze the stages of the healthcare policy process and the political, economic, and social forces that shape policy outcomes.
•Evaluate major federal and state healthcare legislation and regulatory frameworks affecting nursing practice and patient outcomes.
•Apply health equity frameworks and social determinant analysis to identify policy gaps and advocate for vulnerable populations.
•Develop evidence-based policy briefs and position statements on priority healthcare issues.
•Design stakeholder engagement and coalition-building strategies to advance nursing-led policy initiatives.
•Articulate nursing's value and advocacy role before legislative, regulatory, and organizational decision-makers.
•Formulate a personal policy agenda aligned with DNP competencies and specialty practice priorities.

Weekly Schedule & Assignments
Each week builds sequentially toward course and program competency goals. Complete readings before engaging in assignments.

Overview of Health Policy & the Policy Process
Using Longest's Policy Cycle or the Kingdon's Streams Framework, analyze how a specific health policy (e.g., ACA, Nurse Staffing legislation, telehealth expansion) moved from agenda-setting to implementation. Write a 2-page analysis identifying the key actors, windows of opportunity, and policy drivers at each stage.

Political Landscape of Healthcare in the U.S.
Select a current federal healthcare policy debate (e.g., Medicare for All, drug pricing reform, mental health parity). Map the key political actors (legislators, agencies, interest groups, professional associations, patient advocates). Create a stakeholder influence map and write a 1-page narrative on the political dynamics shaping the debate.

Major Federal Healthcare Legislation Landmark Legislation Timeline & Analysis
Create an annotated timeline of at least 10 landmark federal healthcare laws from the Hill-Burton Act (1946) to present. For each law, provide a 3-sentence annotation covering the problem it addressed, key provisions, and impact on nursing practice. Append a 1-page reflection on legislative trends.

Nursing Scope of Practice & Regulatory Policy State Scope of Practice Comparative Analysis
Compare your state's APRN scope of practice regulations with two other states representing full and restricted practice environments. Use an AANP or NCSBN framework. Identify specific regulatory barriers and opportunities. Write a 2-page policy analysis with recommendations for legislative action in your state.

Social Determinants of Health & Health Equity Policy Health Disparities Policy Brief
Select a documented health disparity affecting a population in your practice setting. Analyze the social determinants driving the disparity. Identify at least two existing policies that address (or fail to address) the disparity. Write a 2-page policy brief recommending a targeted policy intervention with evidence support.

Health Economics & Policy Financing
Compare two healthcare financing models (e.g., fee-for-service vs. value-based care; public option vs. private insurance). Analyze each model's impact on access, cost, quality, and equity. Write a 2-page policy analysis memo. Include data from at least three peer-reviewed or government sources.

Regulatory Agencies & the Rulemaking Process Federal Rulemaking Comment Exercise
Locate an active or recent proposed rule from CMS, FDA, or OSHA relevant to your nursing specialty on regulations.gov. Write a formal public comment letter (1–2 pages) that identifies your professional standing, supports or opposes specific provisions with evidence, and proposes specific language changes.

Evidence-Based Policy Development Policy Brief Development
Develop a 3-page evidence-based policy brief on a healthcare issue of your choice. Use the standard policy brief format: executive summary, problem statement, policy context, evidence summary (≥5 sources), policy options with pros/cons, and a clear recommendation. Format for a legislative or organizational audience.

Advocacy Strategies & Coalition Building Advocacy Campaign Plan
Design a 2-page advocacy campaign plan for a nursing-priority policy issue. Include: policy goal, target decision-makers, coalition partners, key messages, communication channels, timeline, and a call-to-action strategy. Identify potential opposition and your counterargument approach.

Legislative Engagement & Testifying Before Committees Legislative Testimony Draft
Write a 2-page formal legislative testimony on your policy brief topic, structured as if you were presenting before a state or federal legislative committee. Include: opening identification, statement of problem with data, personal clinical example, policy recommendation, and a clear closing ask. Practice delivering it within a 3-minute oral format.

Global Health Policy & International Frameworks
Compare how two countries (other than the U.S.) address a shared global health challenge (e.g., maternal mortality, antimicrobial resistance, mental health care access). Analyze the policy approaches, outcomes, and transferable lessons for U.S. healthcare policy. Write a 2-page comparative analysis with scholarly citations.

Technology, AI & Emerging Healthcare Policy Emerging Policy Issue Analysis
Select an emerging technology policy issue in healthcare (e.g., AI in diagnostics, telehealth reimbursement, electronic health record interoperability, genetic data privacy). Analyze current policy gaps, regulatory considerations, and ethical dimensions. Write a 2-page policy analysis with recommendations for proactive regulatory action.


Nursing Political Action & Professional Advocacy Organizations Professional Organization Policy Engagement Plan
Research the policy agenda of two professional nursing organizations (e.g., ANA, AACN, specialty nursing associations). Identify three policy priorities each organization is actively advancing. Write a 1-page plan for how you will personally engage with one organization's advocacy efforts within the next 12 months.

Organizational Policy & Institutional Advocacy Internal Policy Proposal
Identify a policy gap or needed policy change within your own healthcare organization. Write a formal internal policy proposal (2–3 pages) including: rationale, supporting evidence, affected stakeholders, proposed policy language, implementation steps, and evaluation metrics. Format per organizational policy standards.

Personal Policy Agenda & Advocacy Portfolio Policy
Compile a Policy Advocacy Portfolio including: your completed policy brief, legislative testimony draft, advocacy campaign plan, and a 2-page Personal Policy Agenda statement articulating your top three policy priorities as a DNP-prepared nurse, your sphere of influence, and your 3-year action plan for policy engagement.