Analysis Outline and Paper Assignments
The purpose of the outline is to help plan out your analysis paper. By writing the paper, you will
apply the concepts of systems and policy to a specific problem, quality improvement, or safety
issue influenced by a policy.
Here are the components of your outline.
Element % Brief Description
Purpose
Statement 20%
Written to state your argument and to guide the reader about what the paper
addresses. See Continued Guidance document, Writer’s Reference, C2—a, & To
Make Your Case, Start with a PICOT Question found under Outline with
References within the Assignment Link.
Content 40% Answers prompts provided about the problem, the current policy &
recommendation, and change process in detail with flow of thought apparent.
References 20%
Course material (textbooks) used. At least 3 additional references are provided.
Linking the course concepts to the paper can best be accomplished by using the
textbooks or other resources provided while focusing on your particular issue
through the research literature. These may change as more research is done. May
be cited within outline.
Outline 10% Uses appropriate outline structure. See options for support posted under Outline
with References within the Assignment Link.
Grammar 5% Spelling, punctuation, word usage, grammar should be correct.
APA 5% Citations, references, title page, margins, font, line-spacing, headings should be
formatted per APA Manual 7th edition. See APA 7th ed. Guideline Checklist
To begin, choose a current health issue (identify a problem to be fixed) that you feel could be
improved by changing the policy surrounding the issue. The scope of the problem can be limited
to your unit (visitation policy), or as broad as an issue affecting the world (Climate change
policies). It can focus on your organization (paid sick leave), the city where you live (Soda taxes
would be a good example of this.), state policy (legalized marijuana), or federal policy (vaping
flavors).
The outline, and thus paper, should address the following topics and questions as the content:
1. The problem
Summarize the current scenario where you observe a need for change.
a. What needs fixing?
b. Who are the principal people involved?
c. How are the principal people affected?
2. What is the current policy regarding this issue?
a. What is the ‘type’ of policy? Is it a law? Regulation? Judicial Ruling?
b. Evaluate the policy in relation to the health problem.
3. The recommended change
Propose alternative health care policy at the unit, organizational, local, state, federal, or
international level that would help change the issue.
NURS 409 Health Policy, Economics, & Systems
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4.6.2020
a. Defend this change with current research and literature.
b. Provide data from studies that support your change.
4. The change process
Describe the process you would go through to implement this change in policy.
a. Name the system where the policy is implemented.
b. Describe the system structure;
i. How easy is it to make policy change based on the system?
ii. What lines of accountability (chain of command) need to be included?
iii. If at the unit level, can the Transforming Care at the Bedside (TCAB)
model be used?
c. How does the change fit within the system’s mission, vision & values, and/or
philosophy?
d. What cost (economic) considerations would there be to implement the change?
e. Address how long the change would potentially take.
f. Other considerations
Ask questions for clarification if needed.
The paper should be between 5–8 pages including the title page and references. For more
information on policy topics, writing a purpose statement, and general writing guidance, open the
other document entitled Continued Guidance.