Be factual and concise. Don't load you letter with trivia. Make you points clearly without wasting words. While remembering that brevity is a Virtue, remember too, that a good letter persuades no one by vague opinion or expressions of emotion, but reason, logic and common sense. In giving reason, it is very effective, whenever possible, to cite specific local situations which will be affected by the particular legislation, or ways in which you own practice as a nurse would be affected.
Legislators are human.
Many of the letters they receive are critical and quite a few are tactless. As a matter of fact, you can usually be more influential by praise of good things than by criticism of the actions you don't approve. Nearly every bill is amended, usually several times during its progress through the two houses of legislature. Sometimes the reverse is true. Obviously there is no way you could anticipate the possible amendments to a bill when you write about it.