Week 1 Discussion: Presidential Agendas
Discussion Title: Presidential Agendas (Module 1: Agenda Setting)
Regardless of political affiliation, every citizen has a stake in healthcare policy decisions. Healthcare issues often become hotly debated agenda items at the presidential level. It is little wonder why.
To Prepare:

Review the Learning Resources and reflect on the importance of agenda setting.
Consider how federal agendas promote healthcare issues and how these healthcare issues become agenda priorities.

By Day 3 of Week 1
Post your response to the discussion question:
Consider a population health topic (or healthcare issue) that rises to the presidential level.
How did each of the presidents (typically referencing the current/sitting U.S. President and the two previous ones, such as Trump, Obama, and Bush in older terms, or updated to include Biden/Trump/current as appropriate) handle the problem?
What would you do differently?
Support your post with evidence from the Learning Resources and at least one additional scholarly source. Use proper APA citations and references.
By Day 6 of Week 1
Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days (not on the same day as your initial post).

Expand on their response by providing an example that supports their explanation, or
Respectfully challenge their explanation and provide an example.

Discussion Requirements:

Your main post must be posted by Day 3 of Week 1.
Minimum of two substantive responses to colleagues on two different days by Day 6.
Posts should be professional, demonstrate critical thinking, link to population health outcomes (cost, quality, access, equity), and highlight the role of nurses in agenda setting and advocacy.
Typical main post length: 300–500+ words (robust paragraph format), though not strictly word-limited.

Grading Criteria (from standard rubric):

Quality and depth of analysis of presidential approaches.
Integration of course resources and scholarly evidence.
Nurse advocacy perspective and proposed actions.
Timeliness and engagement with peers.
APA formatting and scholarly tone.

Important Notes:

This discussion directly prepares you for the Week 2 Assignment (Agenda Comparison Grid and Fact Sheet/Talking Points Brief). Many students use insights or the same population health topic from their Week 1 post in the grid.
Common topics chosen by students include: opioid epidemic, mental health access, prescription drug costs, maternal mortality, health equity, chronic disease management, or telehealth.
Always check your specific course shell in Canvas for any minor term-specific updates (e.g., exact presidents referenced or additional prompts about social determinants). The core structure above has remained highly consistent.

Quick Tips for a Strong Post

Choose a clear, timely population health issue.
Objectively compare how different administrations addressed it (agenda focus, resources allocated, legislative/regulatory actions, outcomes).
End with your nurse advocate perspective: What would you do differently and why (grounded in evidence and nursing expertise).
Cite the course textbook (Milstead & Short, Health Policy and Politics: A Nurse’s Guide) and other required media/resources.

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