Policy & Advocacy for Improving Population Health NURS 6050 Week 9 Assignment

Week 9 focuses on policy/program evaluation. The main deliverable is the Portfolio Assignment: Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation, typically due by Day 7 of Week 9 (or sometimes extended into Week 10 depending on the term). There is also a Discussion in Week 9 on “The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy Evaluation.”
Exact Assignment Prompt
Assignment: Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation
Program/policy evaluation is a valuable tool that can help strengthen the quality of programs/policies and improve outcomes for the populations they serve. Nurses bring expertise and patient advocacy that can add significant insight and impact. In this Assignment, you will practice applying this expertise and insight by selecting an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation and reflecting on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program/policy.
To Prepare:

Review the Resources and reflect on the role of professional nurses in policy evaluation.
Select one existing healthcare program or policy evaluation (local, state, or federal level) that you would like to analyze.
Review the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template provided in the Resources (a Word document you must complete and expand upon).

The Assignment (use the provided template; final paper is typically 2–4 pages plus the completed template sections):
Complete the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template by addressing the following:

Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation
Description of the program/policy (what it is, when/why it was implemented).
The problem/issue the program/policy was designed to address.

Outcomes
What was the overall goal or intended outcome?
What specific outcomes were measured?

Evaluation
How was the program/policy evaluated?
What data/sources were used?
Who conducted the evaluation?

Results
What were the key findings/results of the evaluation?
Were the outcomes achieved?

Recommendations
Based on the evaluation results, what recommendations would you make for the program/policy?
How could it be improved?

Role of the RN/APRN
Explain the role of the nurse (or APRN) in the design, implementation, and/or evaluation of this program/policy.
How can nurses advocate for or influence future evaluations?

Additional Requirements:

Use APA 7th edition formatting for any narrative sections, in-text citations, and references.
Support your analysis with evidence from the literature and course resources (e.g., Milstead & Short textbook, CDC evaluation framework, or specific program reports).
Save your assignment using the naming convention: WK9Assgn+LastName+FirstInitial.extension (e.g., WK9AssgnSmithJ.docx).
Review the Week 9 Assignment Rubric carefully (it evaluates completeness of the template, depth of analysis, critical thinking on nursing role, use of evidence, and APA/writing quality).

Key Notes from the Course

Use the official Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template provided in your classroom Resources — do not create your own table.
Common programs/policies students evaluate: Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicare/Medicaid expansions, telehealth policies during COVID, nurse staffing ratio laws, vaccination programs, mental health parity, or hospital readmission reduction programs.
Focus on actual evaluation data (outcomes, metrics, successes/challenges) rather than just describing the program.
Emphasize the nurse’s role in evaluation — this is a key grading area.

Important: Exact wording, template details, or page expectations can vary slightly by instructor or term updates. The core focus—selecting and analyzing an existing program/policy evaluation using the provided template—has been consistent in recent cohorts. This is the Module 5 Portfolio Assignment.