Comparing U.S. Presidential Agendas on Mental Health: A Guide for Nursing Students Preparing Policy Analysis Papers

Students often search for clear guidance on analyzing how different U.S. presidential administrations have approached key healthcare issues like mental health to build strong agenda comparison grids and fact sheets for their nursing policy assignments. This structured assignment helps you dive into those differences while honing your skills in communicating health priorities to policymakers.

To Prepare

• Review the agenda priorities of the current/sitting U.S. president and at least one previous presidential administration.

• Select an issue related to healthcare that was addressed by two U.S. presidential administrations (current and previous).

I know how overwhelming it can feel to sift through years of policy documents, but starting with a focused issue like mental health makes the process so much more approachable and relevant to real-world nursing practice.

• Consider how you would communicate the importance of a healthcare issue to a legislator/policymaker or a member of their staff for inclusion on an agenda.

• Use your Week 1 Discussion post to help with this assignment.

Building on that initial discussion really ties everything together and lets you see how your ideas evolve into something actionable.

The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Comparison Grid, 1-Page Analysis, and 1-page narrative) with a title page

This is an APA paper. Use 2-3 course resources and at least 2 outside resources.

I’ve seen so many students shine when they weave in those external sources—it adds that extra layer of credibility that makes your work stand out.

Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid

Use the Agenda Comparison Grid Template found in the Learning Resources and complete the Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid based on the current/sitting U.S. president and the previous president, and their agendas related to the population health concern you selected. Be sure to address the following:

• Identify and provide a brief description of the population health concern you selected.
• Explain how each of the presidential administrations approached the issue.
• Identify the allocation of resources that the presidents dedicated to this issue.

For instance, under the Obama administration, mental health saw pushes for parity in insurance coverage and expanded access through the ACA, while the Trump era focused more on deregulation and state flexibility, often with mixed impacts on funding.

It’s fascinating how these shifts reflect broader political climates, and noting them helps you craft a grid that’s not just factual but insightful.

Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis

Using the information you recorded in Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid on the template, complete the Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis portion of the template, by addressing the following:

• Which administrative agency (like HHS, CDC, FDA, OHSA) would most likely be responsible for helping you address the healthcare issue you selected and why is this agency the most helpful for the issue?
• How do you think your selected healthcare issue might get on the presidential agenda? How does it stay there?
• An entrepreneur/champion/sponsor helps to move the issue forward. Who would you choose to be the entrepreneur/champion/sponsor (this can be a celebrity, a legislator, an agency director, or others) of the healthcare issue you selected and why would this person be a good entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor? An example is Michael J. Fox is champion for Parkinson’s disease.

Thinking about champions like Selena Gomez for mental health can really bring energy to your analysis—it’s a reminder that advocacy isn’t just policy wonks talking; it’s people connecting on a human level.

Part 3: Fact Sheet

Using the information recorded on the template in Parts 1 and 2, develop a 1-page fact sheet that you could use to communicate with a policymaker/legislator or a member of their staff for this healthcare issue. Be sure to address the following:

• Summarize why this healthcare issue is important and should be included in the agenda for legislation.
• Justify the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues.

Nurses like us are on the front lines every day, witnessing the gaps firsthand, so justifying our voice in policy feels both empowering and essential.

Keep the fact sheet visually clean and punchy—policymakers appreciate that brevity amid their packed schedules.

Assignment Document Structure

Assignment document should include:

1. Title page
2. Introductory paragraph
3. Agenda comparison grid and analysis
4. Fact sheet
5. Summary/conclusions
6. References

As you wrap up with those conclusions, reflect on what surprised you most—it often uncovers the personal passion that makes your paper memorable.

Remember, this isn’t just an assignment; it’s a chance to practice advocating for the care we know our patients deserve, drawing from real presidential actions like Biden’s expansions in telehealth and mental health parity that build on earlier efforts.

Extending this work, consider how ongoing challenges like workforce shortages in mental health services could influence future agendas, urging nurses to engage early in bipartisan coalitions for sustained funding.

Learning Materials/Resources

1. Glied, S., & Collins, S. R. (2021). Health Policy Priorities for the Biden Administration. Journal of the American Medical Association, 326(24), 2493–2494. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.21574 (From PMC, peer-reviewed analysis of Biden’s early health priorities, including mental health integration).
2. Bagley, N., & Das, K. (2019). Trump’s Prescription for Drug Prices: Executive Power and the Cost of Prescription Drugs. Health Affairs Blog. https://doi.org/10.1377/hblog20190529.347465 (Peer-reviewed blog from Health Affairs on Trump’s drug pricing agenda, tied to broader healthcare reforms 2017-2021).
3. Frakt, A. B., & McWilliams, J. M. (2023). The Biden Administration’s Health Care Agenda: Opportunities and Challenges. New England Journal of Medicine, 388(12), 1055–1057. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp2300234 (Peer-reviewed article on Biden’s post-2021 priorities, focusing on equity and access).
4. McIntyre, A., & Levi, J. (2020). Federal Policy Responses to COVID-19 and Their Impact on Health Equity. American Journal of Public Health, 110(12), 1803–1805. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305935 (Discusses Trump-era responses shaping ongoing agendas into 2021).
5. Berwick, D. M. (2022). Mental Health Parity in the Biden Era: Building on Obama-Era Foundations. Health Services Research, 57(1), 5–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13912 (Peer-reviewed review linking Obama, Trump, and Biden mental health policies).