Dear MICNP member,

The world of legislation is confusing and frustrating for those who live in a world driven by patient care and outcomes on a daily basis. Change in health care delivery not only occurs within the health care facility but occurs outside, in a legislative and regulatory arena. Therefore, it is essential, that we as NPs understand and act on legislation with a sense of purpose for our practice.

The tools in this kit will guide you in the legislative and regulatory world as you endeavor to make policy and practice changes that will impact patients, colleagues, and employers. The kit helps to guide MICNP in developing legislation that may benefit practice.

If you don’t understand how a bill becomes a law in Michigan.  You can read about it HERE. You can find the status of a bill HERE: Research the legislators in your district, and check what committees he/she are on. (www.house.michigan.gov or www.senate.michigan.gov)

We hope that this kit will be helpful to you as you develop legislative and regulatory advocacy for NP practice. As always, MICNP is here to help you.

Sincerely,

MICNP Legislative Task Force

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Why Full Scope of Practice? Page 3 How Do We Get There? Page 4 Preparing for Your Visit; A Guide to Meeting with Your Lawmakers Page 5 Leave Behind Talking Points Page 7 Elevator Speech Page 10Tips for Speaking with the Media Page 11Social Media Tips Page 12Guide to Writing Letters to the Editor Page 13

We have provided letter templates that may be used via email or sent in the mail.

Template Letter: Thank you Page 14Template Letter: Support Letter             Page 15Template Letter: Patient Letter Page 16Template Letter: Physician Letter Page 18Template Letter: Legislative Rejection Letter Page 19Guide to Writing Letters to the Editor Guide to Talking to the Media Social Media Tips

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Why Full Practice Authority?

Allowed to drive on all roads vs only dirt roads

Being able to practice at the level of your education and training without barriers

Allows NP’s to work how they would like to – flexibility and ability to choose practice setting

Having increased patient satisfaction, accessibility and improved health outcomes for patients

Working together with professionals from different disciplines to find the best options for patients

Having patients being able to locate us - being able to be credentialed by all insurance plans – no longer being invisible (negotiation with insurance companies that will need to occur after we have FPA)

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Removing of barriers to access – no longer will patients have to find a new provider if your supervising physician leaves the practice or decides he no longer wants to supervise

How Do We Get There?

Secure: A legislator(s) willing to introduce the bill (in process)

Finish: Collecting Data from NP’s & community organizations

Finish: Development of toolkits for chapters

Meet: With chapters, institutions, businesses & ask for their

support

Meet: With organizations who can help champion our agenda

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(ANA-MI, AAOM, AARP etc.)

Obtain: Letters & stories of support from organizations,

physicians, patients & other professionals

Attend: Legislative events and meet with your legislators

Develop: Strategies to neutralize our opponents

Write: The bill

Increase: PAC funding

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Secure… a legislator(s) willing to introduce the bill - (in process)

Finish… collecting data NP’sCommunity organizations

Finish… development of toolkits for chapters

Meet… with the chapters, institutions, businesses to ask for support.

Meet… with organizations who can help champion are agenda (ANA-Mi, AAOM, AARP, etc.).

Obtain…letters/stories of support from organizations, physicians, patients, others professionals

Attend… legislative events and meet with your legislators

Develop… strategies to neutralize our opponents

Write… the Bill

Increase… PAC Funding

Preparing for Your Visit:A Guide to Meeting with Your Lawmakers

Requesting a Meeting[1.] Send a letter or an email requesting a meeting. Most than likely you will be

communicatingbe communicating with the lawmaker’s scheduler. 1.[2.] Be brief, specific, and personal. 2.[3.] Include your contact information. (Name, address, email) 3.[4.] Address with only one subject or issue in your letter/email.

At the m M eeting in person or virtual meeting - You will have no more than 15-20 minutes with your lawmaker.

4.[5.] Be prepared to meet with staff personnel if your legislator is unable to make your appointment. It is not uncommon for scheduling conflicts to happen at the last minute.

[6.] Introduce yourself as one of their constituents (if that is the case) stating who you are, where you work and in what capacity, provide a business card and ask for a business card (if meeting in person). .

5.[7.] Prepare in advance becoming familiar with their interests both professionally and personally.

6.[8.] If they previously supported an issue that you also supported, mention it and thank him/her.

[9.] Make a personal connection with a common interest. For example, if you note a photo of the legislator fishing and you like to fish, mention it. However, keep it brief and move on to the reason for the visit.. 

7.[10.] Represent the profession well. Dress and act as you would for a job interview. Never share any negative opinions about the profession with the legislators. We need to present a united front. 

8.[11.] Avoid getting off topic and keep the conversation concise; legislators are busy and want the key points.

9.[12.] Memorize, rehearse, and deliver the elevator speech (available on page 6); keep the message simple, succinct, and clear.

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10.[13.] Know the topic well and be 100% sure of the facts you present; providing false information affects future trust.

11.[14.] Admit if you do not know the answer to their questions and commit to obtaining the information for them.

12.[15.] Prepare and share a personal story about patient access to care barriers due to restrictive laws and regulations. The focus is on what is in the best interests of patients: access to affordable, safe, competent, and compassionate care.

13.[16.] Know what the opposition to the bill is and be prepared to preemptively counteract their argument.

14.[17.] If you do not know how your legislator stands on the issue, ask. If you disagree do so respectfully.

15.[18.] Know the bill number, the sponsor, and the status of the bill.16.[19.] ASK for what you want: their vote on this specific bill.17.[20.] Remain calm & avoid getting emotional; keep it professional and part on good terms

thanking them for their time and express appreciation if they are supporting your issue.18.[21.] Leave them with the MICNP talking points. If the meeting is virtual, ask if you can

email them the talking points. 19.[22.] Volunteer to be a resource for your area of expertise for consultations about

information they might need in the future.20.[23.] Follow up with a thank you note or email within 24 hours of the visit.21.[24.] Fill out Legislative Outreach Form (after your meeting) on MICNP website:

https://micnp.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_mcform&view=ngforms&id=2019030#/

22.[25.] If they vote for the bill, be sure to send a thank you for doing so.

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Nurse Practitioners: Improving Access to High Quality,

Cost Effective Care in Michigan

OUR OBJECTIVE: To ensure that all Michigan residents have access to high quality, affordable healthcare.

OUR SOLUTION: Full scope of practice for nurse practitioners (NPs) in Michigan prioritizes patient care needs, helping to relieve the shortage of heath care providers and benefitting all Michigan residents.

FACT: Michigan has a shortage of physicians.

○ Michigan’s severe shortage of physicians is expected to worsen due to physician retirement. By 2025, it is projected that Michigan will have a shortage of approximately 1,000 primary care physicians1.

○ Michigan’s aging population requires primary and specialty care to manage their chronic illnesses. Individuals who are uninsured and underinsured (Medicaid and Medicare) have increased difficulties in accessing specialty and mental health care2.

○ Primary care and specialist physician shortages are severe in the majority of rural and urban areas in the state, requiring residents to travel farther than the next county to receive appropriate care3,5

○ Underserved rural regions are associated with higher chronic disease burden and higher cost of care7,9,10

1FACT: Michigan is one of the most restrictive states for NP practice.

○ Michigan is one of 11 states with the most restrictive scope of practice regulations, limiting nurse practitioner’s ability to work at their full scope of education, training and experience.8

○ Restrictive scope of practice regulations limit nurse practitioner’s ability to practice in underserved rural and urban areas due to physician supervision requirements.

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FACT: Nurse Practitioners will help fill the gap.

○ Nurse practitioners are highly educated clinicians who traditionally practice in underserved rural and urban areas delivering high quality, cost-effective care equal to or better than physician-delivered care6,8.

○ Research shows that in states with full scope of practice, more nurse practitioners practice in health professional shortage areas1010.

○ Full scope of practice for nurse practitioners in Michigan would ensure the most vulnerable Michiganders (older adults and children living in poverty) have greater access to healthcare5,7,1111

○ Mortality rates for cancer, heart disease and stroke patients have been found to be lower in those parts of the U.S. that have increased access to primary to care.

○ In critical care settings, research has shown that NPs reduce length of stay, time to consultation and treatment, mortality, improved patient satisfaction and cost savings. 13151315

○FACT: Significant support exists for full practice authority.

○ The Michigan Task Force on Nursing1313 recommended that the State remove barriers to nurse practitioner practice that put Michigan at a disadvantage in cultivating an adequate nurse practitioner workforce.

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○ The Institute of Medicine1414 recommended that nurse practitioners be utilized to their full potential based on their education and experience.

○ Johnson & Johnson advocates for the use of nurse practitioners to fill the need for specialized, knowledgeable clinicians4.

○ Several other national leaders and national organizations such as the National Academy of Medicine and AARP support full practice authority for nurse practitioners.

References

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. 2016. State-Level Projections of Supply and Demand for Primary Care Practitioners: 2013-2025. Rockville, Maryland.

2. CHRT, University of Michigan, Access to Health Care in Michigan, February 2019.

3. Buerhaus P. Nurse practitioners: A solution to America's primary care crisis. Missouri State Board of Nursing Newsletter. February, March, April 2019;21(1):16 - 23.

4. Nursing JJ. Nurse practitioners. https://nursing.jnj.com/specialty/nurse-practitioner. Published n.d. Accessed2020.

5. Michigan CRCo. Where are the primary care doctors? A Look at Michigan's Primary Care Physician Shortage. 2015.

6. Budzi D, Lurie S, Singh K, Hooker R. Veterans' perceptions of care by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians: a comparison from satisfaction surveys. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. 2010;22(3):170-176.

7. Buerhaus P. Nurse practitioners: A solution to America's primary care crisis. Missouri State Board of Nursing Newsletter. 2019;21(1):16 - 23.

8. Patel EY, Petermann V, Mark BA. Does state-level nurse practitioner scope-of-practice policy affect access to care? Western Journal of Nursing Research. 2019;41(4):488 - 518.

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9. Practitioners AAoN. State practice environment. https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/state/state-practice-environment. Published 2018. Accessed.

10. Xue Y, Kannan V, Greener E, et al. Full scope-of-practice regulation is associated with higher supply of nurse practitioners in rural and primary care health professional shortage counties. Journal of Nursing Regulation. 2018;8(4):5 - 13.

11. Haney B. I'll take full practice authority for 500, Alex! The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. 2018;14(5):430 - 433.

12. Governor GWf. Get it done: Healthy Michigan, healthy economy. In: Governor GWf, edn.d.

13. Practice MDoCHTFoN. Final Report and Recommendations. 2012.14. Institute of Medicine x. The Future of Nursing: Leading Chage, Advancing Health.

Washington, D.C: The National Academies press; 2011.15. ICN-Guidelines on Advanced Practice Nursing. 2020; 21

MICNP Full Practice Authority

Elevator Speech for Legislators and Community

Michigan has a severe shortage of primary and specialty care physicians which has resulted in poor access to care for many citizens. This shortage is most severe in underserved rural and urban areas as well as areas with poverty. Those primarily affected are older adults, children, and minority groups. The devastation of poor access to care has been particularly evident with the recent coronavirus pandemic.

Nurse Practitioners are a high quality and cost-effective solution to the health care provider shortage in our state.

Michigan is rated as one of the 11 worst states that severely limit the Scope of Practice of Nurse Practitioners.

Research shows that in states with Full Practice Authority, Nurse Practitioners provide high quality and cost-effective care in areas with health care provider shortages.

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Two separate reports by the Michigan Task Force on Nursing have recommended that barriers to Nurse Practitioner practice be removed in order to adequately recruit and retain Nurse Practitioners in the State of Michigan.

Passage of SBX & HBX will have a positive and significant impact on the health and well-being of many disadvantaged Michiganders.

Tips for Speaking with the Media

Gather as much information as you can about the issue before speaking. Reach out for assistance by contacting the Public Relations office of the Media to help guide and prepare you.

Prepare for the interview and identify 3-4 points you want to convey and practice delivering them.

Know your audience. Speak in lay terms. Avoid jargon. Stay calm, professional, and factual. Remember to relax but speak with confidence. Smile. Listen carefully to the person interviewing you. Always think before you speak and ask for clarification if you don’t fully understand the

question. Take your time when answering a question. It is ok to take a moment to gather your thoughts

before providing an answer. Get to the point and start strong with a brief personal story, statistics, or fact which will add

authority to your interview. Take pauses between key points. Correct mistakes. If you misspeak, simply say so and correct your response. No need to

apologize. If the interviewer presents incorrect information, mention the error and provide the correct data.

Remember interviews are a conversation not a debate.

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Do not say anything you don’t want published. Assume you are being recorded. Do not provide confidential information about patients, your employer, or colleagues. Do not speak negatively about your employer or colleagues.

Source: BU Public Relations Forbes Inc.com

Social Media Tips

Nursing is the most trusted profession with nurses being held to a high standard which includes communication on social media.

The standards of professionalism are the same online as in any other circumstances. Always maintain professionalism in person and online.

Maintain civility; always be polite online. Post only factual information; verify facts before posting. Language should be profession; do not use jargon word abbreviations, e.g., “u” rather

than “you”. Do not use all capital letters to make a point since it may be perceived that you are

yelling. Do not post anything that can reflect poorly on the nursing profession. Do not post anything you do not want to be permanent, shared, or published. Do not share or post information or photos gained from a nurse-patient relationship. Maintain professional boundaries in the use of electronic media. Online contact with

patients blurs this boundary. Do not make disparaging remarks about patients, employers, or co-workers, even if not

identified. Do not take photos or videos of patients on personal devices, including cell phones.

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Know the social media policy of your employer. Take advantage of privacy settings. Promptly report a breach of confidentiality or privacy to their employer.

Source: ANA Social Media Principles https://www.nursingworld.org/social

Guide to Writing Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor (LTEs) can be used to correct and clarify facts in a previous news story, oppose or support the actions of an elected official or agency, direct attention to a problem, spur news editors to cover an issue that is being overlooked, or urge readers to support your cause. LTEs are especially effective in local, community papers. You can send letters by fax, e-mail, or through the mail.

Pick a timely topicNewspapers rarely publish letters on topics that are not already being covered in the news.

Research GuidelinesMost paper’s length limit on LTEs is around 250 words. Stick to this so that an editor does not cut out the important points of your letter. Some papers require a typed letter. Others may want it sent over e-mail. Often newspapers want your address and phone number so they can verify that you wrote the letter. You can usually find a paper’s guidelines on the letters page. If not, call the paper directly or visit its website.

Assume NothingDo not assume that your readers are informed about your topic. Give a concise but informative background before plunging into the main issue. Refer to any newspaper article or editorial to

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which you are responding by date and title. Also include any relevant credentials that prove you are informed about your topic.

Be briefState your position as succinctly as possible without eliminating necessary detail. Most paper’s length limit on LTEs is around 250 words.

Find a local angleReaders are more interested in an issue when they see how it affects their lives and communities. Show how your issue will affect this particular readership.

Avoid form lettersDo not send the same letter to two competing papers in the same circulation area, or many copies of an identical letter to a single paper.

Source: ANA https://ana.aristotle.com/SitePages/toolkit.aspx

TEMPLATE for THANK YOU LETTER: AFTER VISIT

 Date 

 The Honorable NAMEState Senator or State Representative State Capitol P.O. Box 30036 P.O. Box 30014 Lansing, MI 48909-7536Lansing, MI 48909-7514 

 Dear Senator/Representative/Appropriate Title Last Name: 

 I am writing to express my gratitude to you/your staffer, First Name Last Name of Staffer, for taking time out of your/his/her busy schedule to meet with me on Month, Day, Year to discuss with you/First Name Staffer the various issues of priority to me and the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners (MICNP). I wanted to take this opportunity to reiterate my request that you: 

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1. List the item(s) you discussed and the specific action you wish the elected official to take. 

[2.] Support legislation that grants [ insert additional action item]. [Provide additional rationale/background for your requests. This is an opportunity to reiterate key points, or to mention items that you may have omitted during the in-person discussion.] 

 Thank you again for taking the time to meet with me. I am most appreciative to you/First Name Staffer for your consideration of my concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact me, should you have any questions about these or other [issue]-related matters. I would be happy to be a local resource for you. I look forward to hearing back from you regarding the status of our requests. 

 Sincerely, 

   

First Name Last Name, Degrees Title Home Address Phone, E-mail 

  

TEMPLATE for SUPPORT LETTER

    Date     

The Honorable NAMEState Senator or State Representative State Capitol State Capitol P.O. Box 30036Lansing, MI 48909-7536 Dear Representative/Senator (Name of Legislator), 

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I am a constituent of yours and I am asking you for your support of (insert bill number) 

[Insert paragraph about your own situation. Tell the legislator briefly about your issue or your patients issue and how it affects your daily life. Give as much information or as little information as you wish] 

 I hope I can count on you for your support. I can count on you for your support. Thank you.

Sincerely, 

First Name Last Name, Degrees Title Home Address Phone, E-mail 

TEMPLATE for PATIENT LETTER

Dear Patient,

I am asking for your support of a crucial issue affecting health care in the State of Michigan. SBX/HBX has been recently introduced. This bill clearly defines the role of a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and would enable NPs to practice to the full extent of their education, national board certification, training, and experience.

Numerous studies over the last 40 years have demonstrated the high-quality treatment provided by NPs. Many studies indicate high patient satisfaction levels with regards to the care they receive from NPs.

If you are happy and satisfied with the care that you receive from your NP, would you be willing to send a letter of support? These letters will then be forwarded to the Michigan legislators who will be voting on these bills soon.

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There are 3 ways that you can show your support of NPs in Michigan:

1. If you would like to write your own letter, expressing why you support NPs, the care that they provide, and changes to the Public Health Code; simply write a letter, print and sign your name and address and send it to: Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners 2501 Jolly Road Suite 110 Okemos, MI 488642. You can complete the letter below. Simply fill in the blanks on the attached draft letter and send it to the MICNP address above.3. Finally, you can email your letter to admin@micnp.org and we will forward it to the appropriate legislators.

If this legislation passes and the Public Health Code is updated, NPs will continue to provide excellent, low-cost, effective, autonomous, and compassionate care to the Citizens of Michigan without the restrictions currently limiting our practice in Michigan.

Please feel free to call or email with any questions that you have. Thank you very much for your support.

Please fill in the blanks and place an X mark next to all the responses that apply:

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to express my support of SBX/HBX, which would allow NPs in Michigan to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and scope of practice:

I have been a patient of a Nurse Practitioner for:

________ Years ________ Months

I choose to have my health care provided by a Nurse Practitioner because the care that I receive from my NP has been:

________ Comparable to the care I have received from other health care providers

________ Better than the care I have received from other health care providers

________ The best care that I have received from a health care provider

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Nurse Practitioners provide standard medical and nursing care but with a unique kind of treatment and approach which focuses on:

________ Health and wellness ________ Prevention

________ Nutrition ________ Teaching and educating

________ Holistic care which addresses the whole person and not just the disease state

________ Partnering and collaborating with the patient to reach health care goals

As a health care consumer, I want health care which is:

________ High quality ________ Cost efficient

________ Effective ________ Safe

________ Allows me to choose the health care provider that best meets my needs

I ask you to pass SBX/HBX because it is good for me as a health care consumer and good for Michigan!

Your name (please print clearly) _____________________________________________

Your address ____________________________________________________________

Your signature & Date ____________________________________________________

TEMPLATE for REJECTION LETTER

Date  The Honorable NAMEState Senator State Representative State Capitol State Capitol P.O. Box 30036Lansing, MI 48909-7536

 Dear Senator/Representative/Appropriate Title Last Name: 

 As a constituent and nurse practitioner, I am writing to express my disappointment that you did not  support [Issue or Bill]. I understand and appreciate that there are many reasons

19

why [Representatives/Senators] do not sign such letters.  However, I was not made aware as to the reason why you chose not to sign. As such, I respectfully request and would very much appreciate hearing from you as to why you did not join your colleagues in showing your support for this very important issue. 

 As a nurse practitioner, I know first hand the tremendous amount of resources that arenecessary to deliver quality health care to people of Michigan. [Make the case for the need for support].  

 I appreciate your attention to my concerns and I thank you in advance for responding to this correspondence. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have anyquestions about these or other issues. 

   

First Name Last Name, Degrees Title Home Address Phone, E-mail  

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1

TEMPLATE for PHYSICIAN LETTER

DATE

Dear__________________________,

My name is ______________________M.D./D.O. and I practice as a physician specializing in ______________________ in _________________, Michigan. In my experience with nurse practitioners, I have found that our roles are complimentary to each other as each profession (physician/nurse practitioner) brings a different skill set that makes us complement each other and thereby benefits the patient. Nurse practitioners are integral members of the health care team, and their educational preparation emphasizes collaboration with all necessary providers and the coordination of patient care.

It is with pleasure that I write this letter in support of changes to the Michigan Public Health Code that would enable advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to practice to their full education and nationally board-certified recognized scope of practice.

Changes in the Michigan Public Health Code would not disrupt the collaborative relationship that nurse practitioners and physicians currently share but would increase transparency by clarifying the roles of APRNs. This clarification would better assign responsibility for care and outcomes only to the clinician providing the care. Defining APRNs in the public health code will improve communication between all members of the health care team, the patientspatients, and their families.

I believe that these changes will facilitate improved care & enhanced communication, prevent unnecessary delaysdelays, and will positively influence access to care for the residents of Michigan.

Sincerely,

First Name Last NameDegrees Title Home Address Phone, E-mailil 

1315

13

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4

Dear Patient,

I am asking for your support of a crucial issue affecting health care in the State of Michigan. SBX/HBX has been recently introduced. This bill clearly defines the role of a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and would enable NPs to practice to the full extent of their education, national board certification, training, and experience.

Numerous studies over the last 40 years have demonstrated the high quality treatment provided by NPs. Many studies indicate high patient satisfaction levels with regard to the care they receive from NPs.

If you are happy and satisfied with the care that you receive from your NP, would you be willing to send a letter of support? These letters will then be forwarded to the Michigan legislators who will be voting on these bills in the near future.

There are 3 ways that you can show your support of NPs in Michigan:

1. If you would like to write your own letter, expressing why you support NPs, the care that they provide, and changes to the Public Health Code; simply write a letter, print and sign your name and address and send it to: Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners 2501 Jolly Road Suite 110 Okemos, MI 488642. You can complete the letter below. Simply fill in the blanks on the attached draft letter and send it to the MICNP address above.3. Finally, you can email your letter to admin@micnp.org and we will forward it to the appropriate legislators.

If this legislation passes and the Public Health Code is updated, NPs will continue to provide excellent, low-cost, effective, autonomous, and compassionate care to the Citizens of Michigan without the restrictions currently limiting our practice in Michigan.

Please feel free to call or email with any questions that you have. Thank you very much for your support.

Please fill in the blanks and place an X mark next to all the responses that apply:

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to express my support of SBX/HBX, which would allow NPs in Michigan to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and scope of practice:

I have been a patient of a Nurse Practitioner for:

________ Years ________ Months

I choose to have my health care provided by a Nurse Practitioner because the care that I receive from my NP has been:

________ Comparable to the care I have received from other health care providers

________ Better than the care I have received from other health care providers

________ The best care that I have received from a health care provider

Nurse Practitioners provide standard medical and nursing care but with a unique kind of treatment and approach which focuses on:

________ Health and wellness ________ Prevention

________ Nutrition ________ Teaching and educating

________ Holistic care which addresses the whole person and not just the disease state

________ Partnering and collaborating with the patient to reach health care goals

As a health care consumer, I want health care which is:

________ High quality ________ Cost efficient

________ Effective ________ Safe

________ Allows me to choose the health care provider that best meets my needs

I ask you to pass SBX/HBX because it is good for me as a health care consumer and good for Michigan!

Your name (please print clearly) ____________________________________________

Your address ___________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Your signature & Date ____________________________________________________

Guide to Writing Letters to the Editor

Writing letters to the editor of your local paper is a great way to energize the membership and promote Nurse Practitioner visibility in the community. Letters to the Editor (LTEs) can be used to correct and clarify facts in a previous news story, oppose or support the actions of an elected official or agency, direct attention to a problem, spur news editors to cover an issue that is being overlooked, or urge readers to support your cause. LTEs are especially effective in local, community papers. You can send letters by fax, e-mail, or through the mail.

Pick a timely topicNewspapers rarely publish letters on topics that are not already being covered in the news.

Research GuidelinesMost paper’s length limit on LTEs is around 250 words. Stick to this so that an editor does not cut out the important points of your letter. Some papers require a typed letter. Others may want it sent over e-mail. Often newspapers want your address and phone number so they can verify that you wrote the letter. You can usually find a paper’s guidelines on the letters page. If not, call the paper directly or visit its website.

Assume NothingDo not assume that your readers are informed about your topic. Give a concise but informative background before plunging into the main issue. Refer to any newspaper article or editorial to which you are responding by date and title. Also include any relevant credentials that prove you are informed about your topic.

Be briefState your position as succinctly as possible without eliminating necessary detail. Most paper’s length limit on LTEs is around 250 words.

Find a local angleReaders are more interested in an issue when they see how it affects their lives and communities. Show how your issue will affect this particular readership.

Avoid form lettersDo not send the same letter to two competing papers in the same circulation area, or many copies of an identical letter to a single paper.

Source: ANA

TEMPLATE for REJECTION LETTER

Date 

 The Honorable NAME

State Senator or State Representative State Capitol P.O. Box 30036Lansing, MI 48909-7536

 Dear Senator/Representative Last Name: 

 As a constituent and nurse practitioner, I am writing to express my disappointment that you did not support [Issue or Bill]. I understand and appreciate that there are many reasons why [Representatives/Senators] do not sign such letters.  However, I was not made aware as to the reason why you chose not to sign. As such, I respectfully request and would very much appreciate hearing from you as to why you did not join your colleagues in showing your support for this very important issue. 

 As a nurse practitioner, I know firsthand the tremendous amount of resources that are necessary to deliver quality health care to people of Michigan. [Make the case for the need for support].  

 I appreciate your attention to my concerns, and I thank you in advance for responding to this correspondence. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have anyquestions about these or other issues. 

  Sincerely, 

 First Name Last Name, Degrees Title Home Address Phone, E-mail