Preparing a Briefing Note and Advocacy Plan for a Global Health Issue

Issue/Problem Summary

Assignment: You are a nurse working for the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) in a policy position. You have been asked to prepare a briefing note for the CNA Board of Directors that offers background information, analysis and recommendations on a global health issue (taken from your topic/presentation). Your briefing note will be on an issue that is related to your presentation topic (it does not have to be on the entire topic area – but on a component related to your presentation). In addition to the briefing note, you are asked to draft a one-page advocacy letter to a relevant decision-maker that is related to the issues in your briefing note. Your briefing note should be a maximum of 5 pages (not including title page or references), and should include the following elements:

1. An introduction and brief summary of the issue/problem that the Canadian Nurses Association needs to address – for example: a. What is the problem? b. Why is it a problem/how & why is it linked to global forces? c. What are the health implications of this problem? For example: i. How does it affect global health equity/inequity? ii. Are problems experienced differently in developed versus developing countries? d. How does the problem/issue affect nursing on a global scale? i. What are the implications of this? 2. What solutions would address this global issue? Why (What is the evidence)?

3. A policy/advocacy plan for CNA to achieve one of these desired policy solutions. a. What specific policy/solution should CNA pursue to address this problem? b. Which organization/decision-makers should be the focus of the advocacy in order to achieve this solution? (e.g., federal or provincial governments, other decision-makers?) c. Discuss the specifics of the advocacy plan to achieve the solution i. What action/actions should be taken? ii. Should CNA involve provincial nursing associations; ICN, other health provider groups, community groups, etc.?)

Why? How? d. Include supporting evidence for your recommendations, and the implications of not following the recommendations. In addition to your briefing note, your one-page advocacy letter from you as a nursing student should be addressed to a policy maker (e.g., PM, Premier, Minister of Health etc.) encouraging/advocating for a specific policy action related to your briefing note. The letter should be properly structured & organized and should clearly articulate the policy action sought, and why it is recommended. The letter should be addressed to the decision maker that is appropriate for the policy sought.