Motivation and Stress in the Workplace an Example of the Topic Career by

Motivation and Stress in the Workplace When one thinks of stress, there is an immediate negative connotation to the word. However, there are select times when stress is seen in another light. To put explain the point, Theodore Roosevelt once said, "Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty" (Quote DB). Though not many realize it, stress may actually be a means of motivation. Need essay sample on "Motivation and Stress in the Workplace" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Undergraduates Frequently Tell Us: Who wants to write assignment for me? Specialists advise: Professionals Are Creating Successful College Custom Essays! If one is not motivated to perform, it would be fair to assume that one would not produce as much output in either skill or goods, as compared to one who is motivated. There is a certain degree of pressure or stress that would motivate an employee. Three theories may explain motivation, the first being Traditional Theory X, which is mostly attributed to Sigmund Freud and is most commonly known as the "stick and carrot" concept. This concept mostly views people to be motivated by rewards or would like to avoid punishment. Another theory is Theory Y by Douglas McGregor which plays on his belief that a person works for self-improvement and does not rely so much on salary or benefits as one would think (Accel-Team). Last, is Theory Z by Maslow, in which his most well-known work, his hierarchy of needs, is in focus. Maslow's hierarchy of needs plays upon the idea that people are motivated to meet certain needs, and when one is stable for a certain level of needs, one would naturally work out the next level in search of fulfillment (Romando, 2007). With all theories, one thing stays the same - one is pressured to meet a goal, be it for a reward, self-development, or to meet a certain level of needs for fulfillment. When met with stress in work, personally, it is better to stop first, avoid further strain and to try another approach to the situation. In the future, an effective technique may be to consider what the rewards and consequences are in the situation, how the situation would aid in self-development, and consider what needs it would fulfill. References: Accel-Team (n.d.) Employee Motivation: Theory and practice. Retrieved May 23, 2010, from http://www.accel-team.com/motivation/index.html Quote DB (n.d.) Theodore Roosevelt. Retrieved May 23, 2010, from http://www.quotedb.com/quotes/1254 Romando, R. (2007, January 8). Motivation Theory. Retrieved May 23, 2010, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Motivation- Theory&id=410700

buy custom Sale of Fashionable Wedding Collections essay

buy custom Sale of Fashionable Wedding Collections essay There is nothing as much glorifying as a superb wedding; after all, it is the most special days of ones life. Even more alluring is the manner in which the bridal unit dresses. Are you gearing up for the perfect wedding soon? Or do you have a friend for whom you would go to any lengths to guarantee happiness? Look no further than Fantasy Bridals. We deal in the latest wedding paraphernalia, ranging from womens, mens, and childrens clothes, wedding flowers, wedding bands, fashion jewelry, and shoes. My firm has researched on and sold wedding collections for 37 solid years to clients all over America and other parts of the world. From our long experience in the wedding business, we have come to conclude that a few things are of concern to every persn planning a wedding. The wedding gown Even before you plan the venue of your wedding, or even what the guests will eat, you should worry about the look of the bride. She must look amazing in a well-fitting gown. My company has the most fashionable wedding gowns that come in all sizes, colors, and designs. You would not like the video to capture you in a rather shabby, substandard gown, or spoil your wedding photography pieces, would you? Then, hurry to our stores and grab your best pick for the lowest prices you could get anywhere else. a)Grooms attire Picture a wedding in which the bride looks stunning in a beautiful, perfectly fitting gown. Conversely, thee groom fails the fashion test. Extremely embarrassing, isnt it? My company deals in a variety of stylish mens suits mostly made of linen, perfect for beach weddings. We also sell super light weight, light color mens suits perfect for outdoor weddings, all at discounted prices. We specialize in stylish Italian-made suits that are very durable. Throughout our business You will have yourself to congratulate for a spectacular wedding. In the same way, you are to blame for a messy wedding, which you do not deserve. That is why my company would be honored if you offered us a chance to make your wedding a success, like we have done for many others. Pick up your phone now and give us a call to place an order, and you can be assured of a wedding that will make you the envy of your friends. Buy custom Sale of Fashionable Wedding Collections essay

Database Design Concepts British Insurance Company Assignment

Database Design Concepts British Insurance Company - Assignment Example The second screenshot illustrates the working of the function "Add new customer". When the system admin will click on the "Add new customer", he will be redirected to this page. The page will inquire about the following details. System Admin can also upload the picture of a customer. Once all the details have been provided, the admin will click on the "save" button in order to record the details in the database. The third screenshot illustrates the working of the Product's Section. When the system administrator will click on the "Products" button located at the in the main panel, he will be redirected to the Product's Section. Here, the admin will be able to add new Products, view existing Products, make a web search to update the product's details and delete a Product. An admin will also be able to perform a Product related search in the search box provided at the bottom of the page. When the admin will click on any of the buttons, he will be redirected to the related page.  Ã‚   Screenshot 2: This Screenshot shows the working of the Product module. A manager or admin of the system can add the new product, view existing products, delete a product or make a web search to gather details for the product through the buttons on the page. A manager or admin can also make a search for any query regarding the product to make a quick search. Screenshot 3 When the admin clicks on the button "Add new customer", he will be redirected to the "Add new customer" page. The admin has to enter the mentioned details and click on the "Save" button in order to create a new customer account. Task 2A: Data Dictionary: Table Field Type Field Size Field Description Customer Text Up to 500 characters The details of the customers will be stored in the Customer table Product Memo Up To 64,000 characters The details of the customers will be stored in the Customer table Quotation Text Up to 1000 characters The quotations made by the advisors will be saved in the quotations table Advisor T ext Up to 255 characters Names of the advisors will be saved in the advisor table Task 2B: The tool used to create the ER diagram is Microsoft Visio. ER Diagram: 5 entities have been considered in the ER diagram. The product entity contains the following attributes; Description, Product No., and Name. The Database Admin entity contains the following attribute; ID Number. The Customer entity contains the following attributes; Name, reg no, age, address, contract number, date and advisor. The quotation entity contains the following attributes; reg no, client name, advisor name, estimate, and date. Similarly, the web search entity will make searches for a product from the internet in order to update the details of a product.  

A short review of Nancy Folbre, Valuing Domestic Product New York Term Paper

A short review of Nancy Folbre, Valuing Domestic Product New York Times, May 28, 2012 - Term Paper Example One of its major points is the significant economic effects of domestic work to the economy. This is because the unpaid domestic workers offers a supplementary role to the employed member of households, roles that would have been paid for if they were for example taken over by a house help. The article illustrates this with the example of marrying a paid worker thereby ceasing to pay. This will reduce the gross domestic product while a divorce in the arrangement to effect payments for the services would increase the gross domestic product. This identifies the significance of unpaid domestic work to the gross domestic product (Folbre, 2012). Another identified issue in the article is the undervaluation of the value of unpaid domestic works. One of the reasons for the underestimation of the unpaid domestic work is its equivalent rating with average rate for commercial household workers. The difference in family based skills, and probably self-interest in the unpaid domestic work, howev er illustrates a higher value for the unpaid work. As a result, published estimates are less than the actual value of unpaid domestic work. ... Similarly, those who still dedicate to it have a reduced invested time in the work. The reason for such reduced time is the technological developments that provide time efficiencies and cheaper substitutes. These have also led to loss of significance of unpaid domestic work (Folbre, 2012). The article also explains the role of homemakers, as unpaid domestic workers, as social and economic equalizers. This is because their shift from the domestic chores into paid works leads to a significant difference across households a factor because of the less volatility in the value of domestic chores as compared to employment opportunities (Folbre, 2012). Why full time homemakers are income equalizers Full time homemakers are income equalizers because the value of domestic roles and domestically generated products are less volatile that the value in employment opportunities and market products. This means that the homemakers generate almost equal utility levels to harmonize the differences from the breadwinners’ market income. The transition from full time homemakers to the employment market however increases wage rate inequality. Similarly, the shift from a full time homemaker into an employee means that market products whose values are highly volatile substitute the almost uniformly valued domestically produced products. The volatility factor that is less significant in domestic roles than in the market therefore explains the role of full time homemakers as income equalizers (Folbre, 2012). Unpaid household work in Canada The value of unpaid household work in Canada is estimated to fall within the range of between 35 percent and 55 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (Perelman, 2011).

Just and Unjust Ruler in Plato's Republic Article

Just and Unjust Ruler in Plato's Republic - Article Example It covers the questions about nature and about human and the soul of the human, and the cognition, and about the socio-political system, and the language, and art, sculpture, painting, music, eloquence, and education. The socio-political philosophy of Plato, his theory of politics, is an integral part of Plato’s philosophy. The world of ideas is an ontological framework and the semantic context of world affairs and phenomena, according to Plato’s idealism, therefore, the idea emerges as guidelines, standards, model and an example of organizing. The socio-political issues are reflected in several works by Plato: â€Å"Republic†, â€Å"Laws† and â€Å"Politics†. In these works he discusses the model of ideal and the best state, according to the philosopher; it is a perfect reflection of the essence, the implementation of the ideas of the world. Highlighting the project of an ideal, just state, Plato speaks about the connection of the cosmos as a whole, the state, and the individual human soul. The three principles of human souls are rational, violent and lusting. These principles are very similar to the state three beginning - deliberative, protective and business and the latter correspond to the three classes - the rulers, warriors, and producers (craftsmen and farmers). (Marinoff,2000) â€Å"What is justice?† - Plato asked in his most famous work â€Å"Republic†. In this dialogue, he describes a dinner at the house of the merchant with the presence of Socrates and several other characters. From time to time Socrates interferes into a conversation, and the company agrees that there is no reason to discuss the notion of justice without regard to society. Socrates then begins to describe his idea of a just society. The early dialogues by Plato in which Socrates is present, usually contain the ideas of Socrates. In the middle and later dialogues, there is some transformation, and the ideas uttered by Socrates belong to Plato. â€Å"

Reflection Has Become An Important Concept In Nursing Nursing Essay

Reflection Has Become An Important Concept In Nursing Nursing Essay Introduction In recent years, reflection has undoubtedly become an important concept in nursing, stimulating debate and influencing nursing practice and education around the world. Much has been written about the theory of reflection, the majority of which has been applied to the educational setting (Price 2004). However, the process of reflecting has been described as a transferable skill which may be incorporated into clinical practice, enabling practitioners to better understand themselves and others, and solve problems (Mantzoukas Jasper 2004). Indeed, the capability to reflect consciously upon ones professional practice is generally considered important for the development of education and, hence, for clinical expertise (Mamede Schmidt 2004). Reid (1993) defines reflection as a process of reviewing an experience of practice in order to describe, analyse, evaluate and so inform learning about practice (Reid 1993, p. 305). The nursing profession seems to advocate the need for nurses to be educated and practice in ways that develop their critical thinking, autonomy and sensitivity to others (Reed Ground 1997). Bulman (2004) contends that reflective practice may provide a means of achieving this. Within an intensive care setting, some evidence exists to suggest a strong relationship between lived experience and learning, with most critical care practitioners learning from previous experience (Hendricks et al 1996). More recently, reflection has been closely associated with the concepts of critical thinking and deconstruction. It is argued that a combination of these principles create a retrospective and prospective dimension, giving the practitioner the ability to deconstruct events, to reason the origins of situations, and to consider what has gone before and what may happen yet (Rolfe 2005). In order to be effective in practice there is a requirement to be purposeful and goal directed. It is suggested therefore that reflection cannot just be concerned with understanding, but must also focus on locating practice within its social structures, and on changing practice (Bolton 2001). This suggests that a structured approach to reflection is of benefit to the practitioner. Indeed the use of a model or framework of reflection is advocated as a tool which can aid and facilitate the practitioner in reflection, promoting a process of continuous development (Bulman 2004). Reflection is seen as a dynamic process and not a static one (Duke 2004), and thus the use of a framework which adopts a cyclic approach to reflective practice seems appropriate. One such framework is Gibbs (1988) Reflective Cycle, which is adapted form a framework of experiential learning, and uses a series of questions to guide, and provide structure for the practitioner when reflecting on an experience. Gibbs (1988) highlights 6 important areas of consideration when reflecting on a specific situation, encouraging the practitioner to consider what happened, why it happened and what could be done differently in the future. The 6 components of the Reflective Cycle are outlined below: Description What happened? Feelings What were you thinking and feeling? Evaluation What was good and bad about the situation? Analysis What sense can you make of the situation? Conclusion What else could you have done? Action Plan If the situation arose again, what would you do? It is clear that the idea of reflective practice has come to have a considerable impact on the nursing profession. This paper will focus on 2 clinical scenarios occurring within an intensive care setting. The issues raised will be discussed within the context of Gibbs (1988) Reflective Cycle. The aim in doing so is to highlight the benefits of a structured reflective process, and to identify ways in which clinical practice may be improved in the future. Scenario 1 Description The first scenario concerns the care of an elderly, critically ill patient, who was being treated in a surgical intensive care unit. At the time of this scenario the patient had been in intensive care for almost 3 weeks, having been admitted with respiratory failure requiring intubation, and displaying clinical symptoms consistent with sepsis. The patient had many other underlying medical problems, was morbidly obese, and despite antibiotic therapy was requiring high levels of inotropic and ventilatory support. Despite the patients symptoms, no definite source of sepsis had been identified. The above patient was being cared for by the author on a 12 hour day shift and at the morning ward round it was noted that the patients condition had deteriorated significantly over the previous 2 days, with increased inotrope dependence and worsening renal function. With few treatment options left to try, the consultant anaesthetist decided that the patient should have a CT scan to identify or rule out an abdominal problem as a source of the sepsis. The patient was reviewed by a consultant surgeon who felt that in view of the patients co-morbidity, surgery of any kind would not be appropriate, despite potential positive findings on CT. Knowing that a CT scan had been carried out 1 week previously with no significant findings, the author raised concerns about the benefit of such a procedure, and suggested that at the very least the patients family should be informed or consulted about the planned investigation. The patients son had been spoken to the previous day and informed that the prognosis was very poor. Withdrawal of treatment had been mentioned as a possibility in the event of no improvement in the patients condition. The son however was not informed about the scan which went ahead the same day. Transferring the patient to the radiology department for scan proved difficult. The patient was sedated for transfer resulting in a need for increased inotropes due to further hypotension caused by the sedation. The patients large size also created a problem in finding an appropriate transfer trolley to take the patients weight. Again the author voiced concerns, stating that perhaps transfer was inadvisable in view of the patients unstable cardiovascular status. The anaesthetist decided that we should proceed with the scan. The patient remained unstable throughout the transfer, requiring a further increase in inotropes on arrival at scan. Whilst on the CT table, the patient became dangerously hypotensive and bradycardic, and it seemed that cardiac arrest was imminent. Adrenaline boluses were administered, and large fluid boluses of gelofusine were also given. In view of this, the CT scan was abandoned midway, and the patient was quickly transferred back to ICU. Further adrenaline boluses were needed during transfer. On arrival back to ICU, the author was met by the patients son, who was not aware that the patient was being scanned. He was made aware of the patients poor condition. Back in ICU it was decided that further resuscitation was not appropriate. The son was present when the patient died a few minutes later. Feelings On the day these events took place, the predominant thoughts and feelings of the author were ones of guilt and inadequacy. Having considered the multiple health problems faced by the patient at this time, the author felt that the process of transferring the patient to CT scan and carrying out the scan itself may cause the patient stress, discomfort and potential danger, and ultimately be of little or no benefit. During the transfer and scanning process, the author became increasingly anxious about the immediate safety of the patient, and the potential for deterioration in the patients condition. When the patient became dangerously bradycardic and hypotensive, the authors thoughts were concentrated on trying to prevent cardiac arrest. On returning to ICU and meeting the patients son, it seemed that neither the dignity of the patient or the concerns of the family had been respected. The author felt an inadequacy and felt that the interests of the patient had not been properly advocated. The patient passed away in a distressing and undignified manner, and the son did not have the opportunity to spend personal time with the patient prior to this happening. The author felt guilty, as it seemed that the CT scan should not have happened and that the undignified circumstances surrounding the patients death need not have occurred. Evaluation Looking back on the events of scenario 1, it seems that there were both positive and negative aspects to the experience. During transfer to CT scan and the emergency situation which followed, the author felt that there was good teamwork between the different professionals involved in the care of the patient. Because of this, prompt action was taken, preventing cardiac arrest. However, it seems that this situation may have been avoided, which in turn raises many questions relating to the care of the patient. Ethically, one must question how appropriate it was to scan a severely septic, unstable patient, especially when corrective treatments would have been inappropriate in the event of an abnormality being discovered. Should the author have advocated the interests of the patient and family more forcefully? Was there a lack of communication and consensus between the critical care team? The events of this incident culminated in a clinical emergency situation which led to the patients death. Thus, the author feels that the patients clinical condition and the ethical issues and dilemmas surrounding the patients care must be examined and discussed, in the hope that lessons can be learned through the reflective process. Analysis Sepsis Most illness and death in patients in intensive care is caused by the consequences of sepsis and systemic inflammation. Indeed, sepsis affects 18 million people worldwide each year (Slade et al 2003), with severe sepsis remaining the highest cause of death in patients admitted to non-coronary intensive care units (Edbrooke et al 1999). Sepsis is a complex condition that results from an infectious process, and is the bodys response to infection. It involves systemic inflammatory and cellular events that result in altered circulation and coagulation, endothelial dysfunction, and impaired tissue perfusion (Kleinpell 2004). Dellinger et al (2004) define sepsis as the systemic response to infection manifested by 2 or more of the following: High or low temperature (>38 °C or Heart rate > 90 beats per minute Respiratory rate > 20 breaths per minute or PaCO2 High or low white blood cell count (> 12,000 or In severe sepsis impaired tissue perfusion along with micro vascular coagulation can lead to multiple organ system dysfunction, which is a major cause of sepsis-related mortality (Robson Newell 2005). While all organs are prone to failure in sepsis, pulmonary, cardiovascular, and renal dysfunction occur most commonly (Hotchkiss Karl 2003). When multiple organ system dysfunction occurs, Dolan (2003) promotes evidence-based sepsis treatment whereby patients should receive targeted organ support. This includes mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, fluids, vasopressor or inotropic administration, and blood product administration, to maximize perfusion and oxygenation. In recent years new therapies have emerged which have been shown, in some cases, to increase the chance of survival from severe sepsis. Recombinant human activated protein C has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic and pro-fibrinolytic properties (Dolan 2003). In a randomised controlled trial, Bernard et al (2001) found a significant reduction in the mortality of septic patients who had been treated with activated protein C. The National Institute for clinical excellence (2004) now recommends this treatment for adult patients who have severe sepsis resulting in multiple organ failure, and who are being provided with optimal ICU support. Steroids, the use of which in ICU has long been debated, have also been shown, in low doses, to reduce the risk of death in some patients in septic shock (Annane 2000). Despite the development of specific treatments to interrupt or control the inflammatory and procoagulant process associated with sepsis, its management remains a major challenge in healthcare (Kleinpell 2004). The patient in scenario 1 was clearly in a state of severe sepsis, with respiratory, cardiac and renal failure, and receiving some of the supportive treatments mentioned above. Indeed it seems that the severity of this condition should not have been underestimated. In view of this, the ethical issues surrounding the decision to take this patient to CT scan must now be considered. Ethical Dilemmas and Consensus Ethical issues have emerged in recent years as a major component of health care for critically ill patients (Friedman 2001). Thus, caring for these patients in an intensive care setting necessitates that difficult ethical problems must be faced and resolved (Fisher 2004). Traditionally, much of the literature in biomedical ethics comes from theoretical perspectives that include principled ethics, caring ethics and virtue ethics (Bunch 2002). Although these perspectives provide an ethical awareness, which can be helpful, they do not of necessity give much direction for clinical practice. Melia (2001) supports this notion, suggesting that many discussions of ethical issues in health care are presented from a moral philosophical viewpoint, which as a consequence leaves out the clinical and social context in which decisions are taken and carried through. Beauchamp Childress (1994) identify 5 principles pertinent to decision making in intensive care. These are: salvageability, life preservation, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice. Ethical dilemmas occur when two or more of the above principles come into conflict. The principles of beneficence (doing good), non-maleficence (doing no harm) and justice (fair treatment) are well established within the field of bioethics. Within a critical care context however, the dilemma between salvageability and life preservation becomes an important focus for health care professionals. Indeed, Prien Van Aken (1999) raise the question of whether all medical means to preserve life have to be employed under all circumstances, or are there situations in which we should not do everything that it is possible to do. This question becomes particularly relevant when a patients condition does not improve but rather deteriorates progressively. Curtin (2005) suggests that at some point in the course of t reatment, the line between treating a curable disease and protracting an unpreventable death can be crossed. In such incidences Prien Van Aken (1999) identify a transitional zone between the attempt to treat the patient, and the prolongation of dying, in which a conflict between the principles of life preservation and non-maleficence develops. These concepts seem particularly relevant to scenario 1 where the interests of the patient may have been neglected in favour of further attempts to treat the patients condition. This, in turn created a conflict between the principles of salvageability and life preservation. The decision to perform a CT scan on a patient with such cardiovascular instability and a very poor prognosis, meant that the patient was subjected to dangers and harms when there were few, if any benefits to justify this. Hence, the conflict between the ethical principles was not resolved, and the professional duty of non-maleficence toward the patient was not respected. Such conflicts and dilemmas in intensive care can be made all the harder by the availability of advanced technologies. Callahan (2003) writes that one of the most seductive powers of medical technology is to confuse the use of technology with a respect for the sanctity of life. In addition, Fisher (2004) contends that it has become all too easy to think that if one respects the value of life, and technology has the power to extend life, then a failure to use it is a failure to respect that value. This is particularly true of diagnostic technologies (such as CT scanning) which must be used with caution, especially in cases where the diagnostic information will make little or no difference to the treatment of the patient, but can create or heighten anxiety and discomfort for the patient (Callahan 2003). Medical technology is a two-edged sword, capable of saving and improving life but also of ending and harming life (Curtin 2005). Good critical care medicine carries the responsibility o f preserving life, on the one hand, and making possible a peaceful death, on the other. Callahan (2003) concludes by warning that any automatic bias in favour of using technology will threaten that latter possibility. Consensus between members of the intensive care team is also highlighted as an important issue in ethical decision making. Effective communication and collaboration among medical and nursing staff are essential for high quality health care (Woodrow 2000). Collaboration can be seen as working together, sharing responsibility for solving problems, and making decisions to formulate and execute plans for patient care (Gedney 2000 p.41). In intensive care units where ethical problems are faced frequently, care has to be a team effort (Fisher 2004). In a qualitative study, Melia (2001) found that there was a strong desire within the intensive care team that ethical and moral consensus should be achieved in the interests of good patient care, even though it was recognised that there is no legal requirement for nurses to agree with ICU decisions. Cobaoglu Algier (2004) however, found that the same ethical dilemma was perceived differently by medics and nurses with the differences being related to the hospitals hierarchical structure and the traditional distinctions between the two professions. Similarly, it has been observed that differences between doctors and nurses in ethical dilemmas were a function of the professional role played by each, rather than differences in ethical reasoning or moral motivation (Oberle Hughes 2001). It seems therefore that while the medical and nursing professions share the same aims for patient outcomes, the ideas surrounding how these outcomes should be achieved may differ (Fisher 2004). These differences have contributed to the development of the concept of the nurse as patient advocate, which sees advocacy as a fundamental and integral role in the caring relationship, and not simply as a single component of care (Snowball 1996). The role of the nurse advocate should be that of mediator and facilitator, negotiating between the different health and illness perspectives of patient, doctor, and other health care professionals on the patients behalf (Mallik 1998). Empirical evidence is sparse and philosophical arguments seem to predominate in the field of patient advocacy. There is some evidence to suggest that nurse advocacy has had beneficial outcomes for the patient and family in critical care areas (Washington 2001). Hewitt (2002) however found that humanistic arguments that promote advocacy as a moral imperative are compelling. Benner (1984) writes of advocacy within the context of being with a patient in such a way that acknowledges your shared humanity, which is the base of nursing as a caring practice (Benner 1984, p. 28). It has been argued that advocacy, at least in a philosophical sense, is the foundation of nursing itself and as such should be regarded as an issue of great importance by all practitioners (Snowball 1996). Conclusion It can be concluded that sepsis in a critical care environment is a complex condition with a high mortality rate, requiring highly specialised treatments. As such, the ethical issues and dilemmas faced by health care staff caring for a septic patient can be both complex and far reaching. It must be noted, that there can be no general solutions for such ethical conflicts; each clinical case must be evaluated individually with all its associated circumstances. A study of ethical principles would suggest that it is important that the benefits of a specific treatment or procedure are established prior to implementation, and that these benefits outweigh any potential harms or risks to the patient. The ultimate decision maker in the scenario under discussion was the consultant anaesthetist, who should have provided a clearer rationale for performing a CT scan on such an unstable patient. As the nurse caring for the patient, the author recognises that the final decision regarding treatment rested with the anaesthetist. However, the author could have challenged the anaesthetists decision further, advocating the patients interests, with the aim of reaching a moral consensus within the team. Perhaps then the outcome would have been more favourable for all concerned. Action Plan By reflecting on this scenario, the author has gained an understanding of sepsis and the potential ethical problems which may be encountered when caring for a septic or critically ill patient. As a result, the author feels more confident to challenge those decisions made relating to treatment, which do not seem to be in the best interest of the patient, or which have the potential to cause more harm than good. The author now has a greater understanding of the professional responsibility to advocate on a patients behalf, with the aim of safeguarding against possible dangers. It is hoped that this will result in improved outcomes for patients in the authors care. Scenario 2 Description This incident occurred in a surgical intensive care unit while the author was looking after a ventilated patient who had undergone a laparotomy and right sided hemi-colectomy 2 days previously. Around 10.30am the patient was reviewed by medical staff and was found to be awake and alert with good arterial blood gases, and requiring minimal ventilatory support. In view of this, it was decided that the patients support should be reduced further, and providing this reduction was tolerated, that the patient should be extubated later in the morning. In the intensive care unit in which the author works an intensive insulin infusion protocol is used (see Appendix A). This is a research based protocol which aims to normalize blood glucose levels and thus improve clinical outcomes for critically ill patients. All patients on this protocol require either to be absorbing enteral feed at à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥30ml/hr, on TPN or on 5% dextrose at 100ml/hr (Appendix A, note 2). The patient involved in this incident was receiving enteral feed via a naso-gastric tube, and was on an insulin infusion which was running at 4 U/hr. When it was decided that the patient was to be extubated, the author stopped the enteral feed as a precaution, to prevent possible aspiration during or after extubation. The author however did not stop the insulin infusion which breached the protocol guidelines. About 12 noon the patients blood gases showed that the reduction in support had been tolerated, and so the patient was extubated. Shortly after this the author was asked to go for lunch break and so passed on to a colleague that the patient had recently been extubated but was managing well on face mask oxygen. Returning from lunch 45 minutes later, the author found the patient to be disorientated and slightly confused. With good oxygen saturations, the author doubted that the confusion had resulted from hypoxia or worsening blood gases. The author then realised that the insulin infusion had not been stopped with the enteral feed earlier. A check of the patients blood glucose level showed that it was 1.2mmol/L. The author immediately stopped the insulin infusion, administered 20mls of 50% dextrose intravenously, as per protocol, and recommenced the enteral feed. Twenty minutes later, the patients blood glucose level had risen to 3.7mmol/L. The patient continued on the insulin protocol maintaining blood glucose levels within an adequate range. There were no lasting adverse effects resulting from the hypoglycaemic episode. Feelings When it was realised that the insulin infusion had not been stopped, the author felt a sense of panic, anticipating correctly that the patients blood glucose level would be dangerously low. Thoughts then became concentrated on raising the blood glucose level, to ensure that no further harm would come to the patient as a result of the authors mistake. Following the incident, when the patients glucose levels had risen, feelings of guilt were prominent. At this point the author realised how much worse the outcome could have been for the patient. The author felt incompetent, knowing that the patient could have been much more severely affected, or could even have died as the result of such a simple mistake. Evaluation The events of scenario 2 highlight the fact that clinical errors, while easily made, can have potentially disastrous consequences. This is especially true of those errors which involve the administration of drugs intravenously. In the interest of patient safety, it is important that all such errors are avoided. The clinical error outlined above could easily have been avoided. It seems that there was not sufficient awareness, on the authors part, of the insulin infusion protocol and the guidelines concerning the administration of insulin. As a result, the insulin protocol was not adhered to. The following analysis therefore will focus on the importance of insulin therapy in critical care areas, and will consider the safety issues surrounding intravenous drug administration. Analysis Blood Glucose Control in Intensive Care It is well documented that critically ill patients who require prolonged intensive care treatment are at high risk of multiple organ failure and death (Diringer 2005). Extensive research over the last decade has focused on strategies to prevent or reverse multiple organ failure, only a few of which have revealed positive results. One of these strategies is tight blood glucose control with insulin (Khoury et al 2004). It is well known that any type of acute illness or injury results in insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and hyperglycaemia, a constellation which has been termed the diabetes of stress (McCowen et al 2001). In critically ill patients, the severity of this condition has been shown to reflect the risk of death (Laird et al 2004). Much has been learned recently about the negative prognostic effects of hyperglycemia in critically ill patients. Hyperglycaemia adversely affects fluid balance, predisposition to infection, morbidity following acute cardiovascular events, and can increase the risk of renal failure, neuropathy and mortality in ICU patients (DiNardo et al 2004). Research suggests that there are distinct benefits of insulin therapy in improving clinical outcomes. Such benefits have been seen in patients following acute myocardial infarction, and in the healing of sternal wounds in patients who have had cardiac surgery (Malmberg 1997; Furnary et al 1999). More recently Van den Berghe et al (2001) conducted a large, randomized, controlled study involving adults admitted to a surgical intensive care unit who were receiving mechanical ventilation. The study demonstrated that normalisation of blood glucose levels using an intensive insulin infusion protocol improved clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. In particular, intensive insulin therapy was shown to reduce ICU mortality by 42%, and significantly reduce the incidences of septicaemia, acute renal failure, prolonged ventilatory support, and critical illness polyneuropathy. The length of stay in intensive care was also significantly shorter for patients on the protocol. It is unclear as to why improved glycaemic control has been associated with improved outcomes in several clinical settings. Coursin and Murray (2003) have summarized several leading hypotheses including maintenance of macrophage and neutrophil function, enhancement of erythropoiesis, and the direct anabolic effect of insulin on respiratory muscles. The potential anti-inflammatory effects of insulin have also been evaluated (Das 2001). There is also uncertainty over whether it is the actual insulin dose received per se, or the degree of normoglycaemia achieved that is responsible for the beneficial effects of intensive glycaemic management. Van den Berghe (2003) analysed the data derived from their 2001 study and have concluded that the degree of glycaemic control, rather the quantity of insulin administered was associated with the decrease in mortality and organ system dysfunction. In a follow up to Van den Berghe et als 2001 study, Langouche et al (2005) found that a significant part of the improved patient outcomes were explained by the effects of intensive insulin on vascular endothelium. The vascular endothelium controls vasomotor tone and micro-vascular flow, and regulates trafficking of nutrients and several biologically active molecules (Aird 2003). Langouche et al (2005) conclude that maintaining normoglycaemia with intensive insulin therapy during critical illness protects the vascular endothelium and thereby contributes to the prevention of organ failure and death. Whatever the reasons for improved patient outcomes, the study by Van den Burghe et al (2001) has prompted much research in this field, all of which has yielded similar results. In a similar study, Krinsley (2004) found that the use of an insulin protocol resulted in significantly improved glycaemic control and was associated with decreased mortality, organ dysfunction, and length of stay in the ICU in a heterogeneous population of critically ill adult patients. Thus it seems that with the strength of the emerging data in support of a more intensive approach to glycaemic management, insulin infusions are being utilised with increasing frequency, and are considered by many to be the standard of care for critically ill patients (DiNardo et al 2004). It is important to note that a well recognised risk of intensive glucose management is hypoglycaemia. Indeed Goldberg et al (2004) emphasise that in the ICU setting where patients often cannot report or respond to symptoms, the potential for hypoglycaemia is of particular concern. The events of scenario 2 highlight the authors error in the administration of insulin resulting in hypoglycaemia. For this reason some issues surrounding intravenous drug therapy will now be discussed. Intravenous Drug Therapy There is an increasing recognition that medication errors are causing a substantial global public health problem. Many of these errors result in harm to patients and increased costs to health providers (Wheeler Wheeler 2005). In the intensive care unit, patients commonly receive multiple drug therapies that are prescribed either for prophylactic indications or for treatment of established disease (Dougherty 2002). Practitioners caring for these patients find themselves in the challenging position of having to monitor these therapies, with the goal of maximizing a beneficial therapeutic response, as well as minimizing the occurrence of any adverse drug-related outcome (Cuddy 2000). The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2004) identifies the preparation and administration of medicines as an important aspect of professional practice, stressing that it is not merely a mechanistic task performed in strict compliance with a written prescription, but rather a task that requires thought and professional judgement. Heatlie (2003) found that the introduction of new insulin protocols and regimes could g

Untraditional Students Essay -- Education College Adults Learning Essa

Untraditional Students "What can a college education offer me?" Contemplating a return to school after years of childrearing and paid labor is both daunting and invigorating. Entering college as an adult is a life-changing decision. It requires shifts in perception that jar us out of the familiar patterns of our lives. The American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) reports that the enrollment of adults aged 25 and above has risen dramatically over the past two decades. Adult students now make up 42 percent of all college graduates. What motivates these students? What do they hope to gain from their college educations and what do they actually receive? For many returning students, the motivation is economic. We have heard over and over again that the world is changing, that we are entering the information age, that being in possession of knowledge--and a degree--are the keys to open any door. Some students know just what door they want to walk through. They enter college with a career chosen and a degree plan carefully mapped out. For others, the future is less certain. We aren't sure what we want to do, but we see college as the pathway into "the good life." Sometimes this faith in the economic reward of higher education is naive. Once upon a time a college degree did carry with it a high probability of eventual economic success. A bachelor's degree in almost any field was a guarantee of a good job. The belief that a college degree equals economic security is planted deep in our cultural psyche and hangs on with tenacious roots. We believe this component of the American Dream even as it erodes around us. With corporate downsizing, restructuring, and conglomeration, job security is muc... ...rough the whole program?the time pressures, the deadlines, the whole process. I found that I could actually accomplish something." J. William Fulbright, scholar and U.S. senator, wrote that the goal of education is "the teaching of things in perspective, toward the purposes of enriching the life of the individual, cultivating the free and inquiring mind, and advancing the effort to bring reason, justice, and humanity into the relations of men and nations." On the one hand, statements such as these may seem impractical, idealistic, and unattainably high. On the other hand, we want these things in our lives. Human beings need purpose and meaning just as we need shelter and food. The task for any student, and particularly for non-traditional ones, is to synthesize these often disparate needs into a whole that suits the circumstances of our individual lives. Untraditional Students Essay -- Education College Adults Learning Essa Untraditional Students "What can a college education offer me?" Contemplating a return to school after years of childrearing and paid labor is both daunting and invigorating. Entering college as an adult is a life-changing decision. It requires shifts in perception that jar us out of the familiar patterns of our lives. The American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) reports that the enrollment of adults aged 25 and above has risen dramatically over the past two decades. Adult students now make up 42 percent of all college graduates. What motivates these students? What do they hope to gain from their college educations and what do they actually receive? For many returning students, the motivation is economic. We have heard over and over again that the world is changing, that we are entering the information age, that being in possession of knowledge--and a degree--are the keys to open any door. Some students know just what door they want to walk through. They enter college with a career chosen and a degree plan carefully mapped out. For others, the future is less certain. We aren't sure what we want to do, but we see college as the pathway into "the good life." Sometimes this faith in the economic reward of higher education is naive. Once upon a time a college degree did carry with it a high probability of eventual economic success. A bachelor's degree in almost any field was a guarantee of a good job. The belief that a college degree equals economic security is planted deep in our cultural psyche and hangs on with tenacious roots. We believe this component of the American Dream even as it erodes around us. With corporate downsizing, restructuring, and conglomeration, job security is muc... ...rough the whole program?the time pressures, the deadlines, the whole process. I found that I could actually accomplish something." J. William Fulbright, scholar and U.S. senator, wrote that the goal of education is "the teaching of things in perspective, toward the purposes of enriching the life of the individual, cultivating the free and inquiring mind, and advancing the effort to bring reason, justice, and humanity into the relations of men and nations." On the one hand, statements such as these may seem impractical, idealistic, and unattainably high. On the other hand, we want these things in our lives. Human beings need purpose and meaning just as we need shelter and food. The task for any student, and particularly for non-traditional ones, is to synthesize these often disparate needs into a whole that suits the circumstances of our individual lives.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstei Essay

The audience is made to feel that Frankenstein himself is evil, for playing with life and mocking God. The sounds made by the monster are similar to those made by wild animals, but also they sound like the monster is in pain, which would make sense as Frankenstein has just rejected him. We see Frankenstein’s former professor talking through a gate. This signifies the difference of opinion and belief between the two doctors. Sound effects are used very well in the creation scene, especially the non-diagetic musical score that has been added. It is mainly in a minor key, but has drastic changes to a major key when there is extra tension in the frame. It creates a build up, and when there is suddenly a pause with no music, tension is created, then when something dramatic happens, the audience shows a greater reaction. The use of diagetic and non-diagetic sound is very good in this scene, for example when the electrical probes go into the monster’s feet and there is the sound of crunching bone. This is diagetic sound. Music is an example of non-diagetic sound. The sudden silences at some points in the scene allow the audience a chance to reflect upon the immorality and reality of what Frankenstein has done. Camera angles are used to make the scene more effective and more enticing to the viewer. If there is a large quantity of movement and change in camera angles, then the shot is used to create responses in the audience. There are many randomly strange camera angles in the creation scene, and we don’t really ever see the whole of the creature’s body when it comes out of the copper vat, this is because the monster was made of lots of parts and wasn’t really a complete person in the doctor’s eyes. In the creation scene, we experience many different shot types, such as an extreme low angle shot when the monster is being lifted into the air on the body tray. This is to symbolise the life being created and is mocking God. The mis-en-scene of the frame when Victor is running up to the dais in his large billowing coat is very cluttered, which in my opinion represents his mind being a jumble of thoughts. I think there are a lot of shots in the creation scene that represent the stigmata of Christ. For example, when the spikes are driven into the feet and hands of the monster when he is not alive, in the copper vat. And the extreme close-up shot of Frankenstein’s head, then of the creature’s head. The doctor’s head bears no (visible) injury, but his creation has huge scars as if his head had been crowned with thorns. Also, there is the part where the monster is lowered into the copper vat, which looks oddly like a sarcophagus (a type of coffin used to bury Egyptian pharaohs in ancient times), this represents the descent into hell that Frankenstein is embarking on. This is mocking God yet again, and shows the immorality of Victor Frankenstein. When we see the low-angle shot of the monster hanging on the chains, it resembles the crucifixion of Christ. There are violins playing at this point, which symbolises the loneliness that Victor is feeling from the rest of the world. There are many different visual effects used in the creation scene, such as the lighting striking the window behind the monster, when he appears in Frankenstein’s bedroom. Another special effect was the make-up used on the monster’s face to make it look more dramatic and horrifying. There is also the amniotic fluid that the monster is born in, when that spills out the copper vat, it makes the audience feel sick and repulsed. Only diagetic sounds are used at this point, there is no music. When the monster is lifted up to the ceiling, the circle of light around the body represents Leonardo Da Vinci’s â€Å"Vitruvian Man†, which is a drawing that shows the proportions of a perfect human body. This is ironic as most of the monster was made of murderers and criminals- hardly perfect people. The editing in the creation scene is very clever, I have previously mentioned the lecturer being super-imposed over a frame; there is also the part where all the scientific equipment is displayed. One shot dissolves into another, which resembles them being combined together to make the monster. The pace in the scene changes from being very fast when Frankenstein is giving the monster life, to a lot slower when the monster is â€Å"born† and trying to stand up. Overall, I think that Branagh has made the film much more appealing to the audience by using the effects available to him. He uses location, costume, characterisation, dialogue, sound effects, camera angles. Shot types, visual effects, editing, and pace to make a very effective film. I am most impressed by the way he read between the lines of the Mary Shelley novel to give the audience lots to think about. I also liked the way he used discreet blasphemy to show that what Victor Frankenstein was doing was immoral and mocking God. I think that Branagh has more than done justice to the Shelley novel. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Mary Shelley section.

Amendment 5 essays

Amendment 5 essays The Fifth Amendment dates back to the seventeenth century. It was first used in England to protect their citizens. The Fifth Amendment is designed to protect us basically the same way the English used it to protect them. The Fifth Amendment requires indictment by a grand jury on a federal offence unless the person is in the military and they commit a war crime during wartime. An indictment by a grand jury means that the jurors agree that there is sufficient reason to hold a trial. The Fifth Amendment gives all citizens accused of major crimes the right to have their cases contemplated by a grand jury before being brought to trial. The Fifth Amendment also provides protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination. The Fifth Amendment also forbids deprivation of life, liberty, or property for public us without just compensation. That means the government cannot throw you in jail unless you have first been taken to a fair trial and you have been found guilty. It also means they cannot take any private property from a person without paying them in one way or another. The right to refuse to answer questions in any government proceeding, on the grounds of possible self-incrimination is also included in the Fifth Amendment. So, That means if you are questioned, you do not have to answer any questions they may be turned against you in court and you may also have an attorney present at all times of questioning. In the late eighteen hundreds and early nineteen hundreds the fifth amendment was "tried" several times. In the case of Hurtado v. California (1884). Instead of the District attorney properly getting a indiction by a grand jury he simply "filed for an information against Hurtado, charging him with murder." He was found guilty of this murder. The state upheld the conviction, so Hurtado was forced to appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that the due process clause required a grand jury indictment. The Supreme ...

Use of Social Media In The Police Force In Queensland

Use of Social Media In The Police Force In Queensland Introduction Social media is a fast growing type of technology used for social interaction. It entails the use of internet based and mobile technologies for effective dialogue. It is capable of reaching a large number of the target audience at a short period of time.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Use of Social Media In The Police Force In Queensland specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Though most of the social networking was an attraction to the younger generation, the audience using it has expanded to include both the younger and the older generation. It has been used over the years to communicate effective strategies and it is cost effective. Use Of Social Media By Queensland Government Departments We are all aware of the tragedy that hit the state of Queensland in the period December 2010-January 2011 when a series of floods. The floods which created a huge disaster left more than 35 people dead, some missing and created damages worth over 30 billion dollars. The horrific scenes will forever be embedded in the minds of many people who witnessed the horrifying incident. People turned to digital channels to follow the happenings of the rescuing team and the effect of the flooding in the affected areas (Big Click 2011). Facebook and twitter were the most common social tools that people used to convey information to their friends online and which such information was relayed in a short span of time to millions of people all over the world. However, the Queensland Police force was forced to step in due to misinformation that circulated in these social networks (Atfield 2011). One outstanding false rumor that circulated in the social networks around this time was that Wivenhoe Dam was about to breach, an information that caused much distress to many people. This incidence forced the Queensland police service to step in and open a Facebook site to effectively relay the correct information to the ci tizens and other people who were following the happenings worldwide (Computer World 2011).Advertising Looking for report on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They successfully managed to communicate to dozens of people and this helped to ease tension that had gripped the residents over the spread of false information. The focus of my presentation is therefore to show the importance of social networking as a tool of communication in the government departments in Queensland State especially the Queensland Police Service. It further gives examples of possible social media that can be adopted for the sake of communicating effectively the state messages to the citizens. The Power Of Social Media: Katrina Vs Haiti Disasters Before we discuss the reasons why social media should be adopted in the police media in response of disasters, it is very important at this stage to find out the impact social media has in times of disasters. Katrina and Haiti are two scenarios that can explain this particular point. In the year 2005, when Hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana coast killing more than 1500 people, social media had not been born (Brunsma and Picou 2007). There was no Facebook or Twitter to pass the information of what was happening to millions of people following the event. Instead, people relied on Televisions, radios and print media to get the news. The response needed was slow and a lot of anxiety was created with a lot of people waiting for the media to report any breaking news. The second scenario presents the devastating earthquake that recently hit Haiti in 2010. Millions of people logged into various social media such as twitter and Facebook to follow the events as they happened. Other social media such as Youtube relayed video clips of recent images and happenings during the earthquake. A Facebook page was set up by Red-Cross appealing for help for Haiti victims and more than 3 billion dollars was raised in less than a day. The debate of adopting social media in government offices heated up after the Haiti incidence with many people arguing that social media had indeed transformed the cycle of news. The speed of response in the two disaster scenarios above is clear proof of how powerful social media has become.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Use of Social Media In The Police Force In Queensland specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Advantages and Disadvantages Associated With the Use Of Social Media Before the disaster hit the State of Queensland, the use of social media in the government departments was unheard phenomenon. The mode of communication form used to pass information was ineffective and mostly landed in wrong hands. The disaster however has changed the belief and with the above disaster scenario in mind, it will be important to state the benefits of introducing use of socia l media in the police force. What then are the benefits? Cost effective using the social media as a mode of effective communication will save lots of state money as it is very cheap. It is cheaper than other tools of communication such as telephones. Greater reach – it has the capability of reaching many people at the same time to convey the intended message. Engage community participation – the police will be able to engage the community in a message sent by a social media tool. An example is a delicate topic put up on Facebook as an update which allows the members to respond. Besides the benefits, social media can also be associated with some disadvantages if adopted by Queensland Police Service. Some of the disadvantages include (Fearn-Banks 1996): Privacy issues – Social networking sites has private issues such as cyber criminals hacking into accounts and getting access to private information. Time – Social media networking tends to take up a lot of time and effort as it involves updating the group status often and responding to the issues rose by the members of the public. Trust – members of the public are always paranoid when it comes to information from the police department. By using social media, the department needs to earn the trust of the public slowly but firmly. The Preferred Social Media To Be Adopted In The Police Department Having discussed the benefits and disadvantages of adopting social media in the police department, it is important to highlight the social media that should be adopted. There are three social networking websites that should be reviewed and implemented. This is the use of Twitter, Facebook and Flick’r. Use of Twitter Social Networking Site This site allows for instant messages which are known as tweets of not more than 140 characters. This is actually the most ideal site to rely breaking news to the world and any other important information (Riordan 2011). If it had been adopted by the police force during the flood disaster, the members of the public would have been able to be kept up to date with the happenings thus preventing the spread of false rumors. An example of a police department that has already adopted use of Twitter is the Bellevue, Nebraska Police Department where the officers tweet messages using their real identity and the message is relayed on the homepage for public viewing. In cases of emergencies, they use Nixel to send out alerts through Twitter. Reason For Adopting It Into The Force Due to its rapid growth, people have turned it to a policing forum and it will not be surprising to find that most followers, as they are called on Twitter are already discussing the force. The public comments and opinions may prove to be very helpful to make vital decisions.Advertising Looking for report on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The discussion forum will also create a comfortable atmosphere to air different delicate views that the public may be unwilling to speak out in other instances. This is due to the fact that this type of social media is very informal and feels more like a social gathering forum. One major pitfall is that a message sent cannot be deleted easily. This means that if the force sends a wrong message that is not intended for public viewing, it will spread very fast as others will be bound to copy the comments and post them. However, this is not an alarming pitfall as it can be easily controlled and maintained. Use Of Facebook Networking Site With the highest number of social networking fans, this will be the ideal social media to join due to the huge following. It involves the crowd in a discussion through a status update that the Facebook user keeps on updating and responding to the comments posted in response. Hence, Facebook will act as a good forum to discuss public issues and elicit a ll kinds of responses from the public that will help the force gauge their reaction towards a specific issue. The Vancouver Police Department in British Columbia is a good example of a police force that has already adopted the Facebook social networking. Their social page helps the followers to be kept up to date with the recent happenings in the world of crimes, activities taking place in the force and even recruitment news. Reason For Adopting It Into The Force Just like Twitter, Facebook also acts a great forum to discuss issues with the public and in doing so will get to have the feedback they can use for major decisions. Messages posted on Facebook reach so many people at once through status updates that should be updated from time to time. Incase of a crisis, the force can be able to know the public’s reactions and how well they are handling the situation. Most information that spread during the flood crisis were through Facebook status updates and the police got to kno w about it when panic had already gripped most people (Hearn 2011). The major pitfall that is associated with Facebook is the fact that a status update can easily be misinterpreted and in most cases evoke emotional reactions from members of the public through the comments. This however can be avoided by reviewing the status update being posted. Use Of Flick’r Networking Site This site allows the users to upload photos or images and videos for other users to view. Adopting Social Media Into The Police Department For the technology to work and become integrated into the force, the police should undergo training on how to use the social media technology for purpose of interaction with the community. This will ensure that the technology is not abused and that it serves the purpose it is intended to. A social media course is very important as the department force in charge will be taken under intensive training on how to adopt the new technology of Facebook, Twitter and Flick†™r. The following is a simple concept outlining the importance of students taking a social media course to pass information to the community. Using the above concept map, it is important to show an example of how social media training in the police force would have played a vital role during the flood crisis. Social media course serves the following three main purposes: Equips the student with adequate knowledge of use of social media tools – possessing the know how tool of using Facebook, Twitter and Flick’r would have reduced tension in the community as many people were passing false information through these three main social media tools. Raises issues of the community – through application of suggested media tools, the police force would have been in a better position to relate with the community by engaging them in a discussion. This would have enabled the police to gather information that was circulating at the moment, read the moods and emotions of th e community and be able to come up with a solution before hand to calm the community members. Requires individual participation – active inquiry and individual participation would have helped to build more trust in the police force during the flood crisis hence calming the affected community. Criticism Of Social Media As An Important Tool Numerous arguments have been put forward with how social media act as a faster mean of relaying information. It has also been argued that major response can be achieved due to use of social media. But how true is this information? As much as social media tools are viewed as important in times of disaster, this is not the case following the Pakistan flood disaster which has claimed over 2000 lives and more than 15 million people either homeless or injured. In comparison between the Haiti Facebook page and the Pakistan page, the Haiti disaster has a following of over 40,000 people liking the page while the Pakistan page has just recently hit the mark of 2500 people. It is important to note that the two are recent events that took place when social media was so much in use. It has also been claimed that whereas Haiti received donations of over 500 million dollars within a short period following their Twitter and Facebook help pages, Pakistan received much less donations. It is not clear why there is much difference in the two scenarios and probably, it can be argued that in some disasters, social media is not very important. Another angle of this argument is failure by the state or the citizens to incorporate these tools to relay information as it happens. Either way, it creates confusion on how important is the use of social media and if so, it means that people choose which disaster to take seriously. Implementation Of A Workable Social Media Policies For social media to become a workable solution there are important steps that need to be followed so as to successfully adopt the policy in the police department. The pre sentation has already outlined the importance of adopting the social media in our police force with workable examples of the same tools working in other police forces departments such as the Bellevue, Nebraska Police Department and The Vancouver Police Department in British Columbia. Strategy development – we have already come up with the social media tools that we would wish to be adopted in the police force that is, use of Facebook, Twitter and Flick’r. A strategy should then be developed as the first step of implementation to determine several factors such as the hours to be allotted for working on this tool, the interrelationship of the adopted social media tools and finally the timeline to roll out the project. Create a Departmental Policy – social media policy should be adopted and adhered to due to legal risks and in that case, all social media sites have policies which even a police department should agree to the terms when joining the site. It is there fore important for the department to create a departmental policy to outline and regulate the information appearing on their site. Assign staff – there should be people from the police on the standby concerned with handling and updating the social media information at all times. In most cases, the community members will post questions that need to be addressed and therefore, it is necessary for the police force who have already been trained on how to handle the social media tools to be always available. Content flow of information has to be maintained. Conclusion Social media is an important technology and its usage is growing rapidly throughout the world. The government department will enhance their spread of information more effectively if they adopt the social media technology. The implementation may take a while but when fully integrated, it will be a very important tool to respond to disasters. Millions of people are using social media as a tool of communication and the refore the government should see the urgent need of introducing it to all the departments for effective communication. By so doing, the government will get to know what is going on in the outside world hence assisting in its administration. References Atfield, C. (2011) Rumor has it wrong in flood crisis. Brisbane Times. Web. Big Click (2011) Social Media and The Queensland Flood. Web. Brunsma, D and Picou, S (2007) The Sociology of Katrina: perspectives on a modern catastrophe. New York: Rowman Littlefield. Computer World (2011) Google launches Queensland Flood Crisis Response Site. Web. Fearn-Banks, K (1996) Crisis Communication: A Casebook Approach. New York: Routlledge. Hearn, L. (2011) Hunt for Missing Flood Victims Goes Online. Web. Riordan, K. (2011) Police Tweet on the Beat During Flood Crisis. ABC  News. Web.

Religion and War in the New Testament Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Religion and War in the New Testament - Essay Example This is, however, blurry when it comes to the â€Å"just war†. Many religions believe in a just war whereby is necessary an unavoidable in order to protect its followers from persecution. In the New Testament, Christians at that time were taught to â€Å"Turn the other cheek† when confronted by another (Mathew 5.39). It was also Jesus who barred his disciple from using a sword to fight the soldiers who were there to capture Jesus. This clearly shows that Jesus was against violence. Christians usually follow the teachings of Jesus, but this is one of the many facts that have been overlooked. Many argue that each state of affairs is special and should be independently analyzed. This may be true, but it creates possibilities for loopholes. There are people who take advantage of such situations to push for their own agenda. Although many armed conflicts may portray a hint of religious concern in their fight, there are always some underlying issues like power struggles, inequality, resources, oppression and ethnicity. Each of these factors is usually made worse by the other. However, despite the main reason for the armed conflict it is important to remember that war has moral repercussions. Many armed conflict use religion to seek mass and unquestionable support from their unsuspecting followers. In this way, they can push their agenda without question. They exploit the ignorance and the sincerity of the people towards their religion. At this point, one may be inclined to think that, without religion, there would be no wars. Without religion wars would still be fought, but for other reasons. War comes naturally to humans. People would still fight over positions, possessions etc. Religion, despite the fact that it is seen as a war catalyst, is the same one that presents to humans another idea of peace. Without religion, the idea of peace would not exist. Peace, unlike war, is not natural to humans.

THE CURRENT MACROECONOMICS SITUATION IN THE UNITED STATES Essay

THE CURRENT MACROECONOMICS SITUATION IN THE UNITED STATES - Essay Example Continuous increase in the prices of food, shelter and gasoline lead to an increase of 0.2% in August, 2011, same as the previous month. Apparel and shelter are the biggest contributors whereas the prices of health care, personal care, medical care, household operations and furnishing have also seen to be increased significantly. Since April, the Unemployment rate has detained between narrow ranges of 9.0% to 9.2%. Currently, the unemployment rate is 9.1%. The number of long-term unemployed people is 6.2 million, as recorded in September, 2011. These individuals accounted for 44.6% of the total unemployed people in U.S. GDP growth rate is an important indicator to measure the strength of an economy. GDP growth rate is said to be positive when the economy develops. Annualized Growth of real GDP has been recorded far below than 5.4% than the normal recoveries of previous business cycles. Credit rating of U.S is also at risk. Credit rating agencies have downgraded the credit rating of U.S from AAA to AA. Many economists now believe that America’s economy has gone fragile. They recommend that it would not be to cut down the consumption and increase tax rates at this point of time. The dysfunctions in U.S have immense pressure from increasing population, globalization and technological advancements. The U.S requires smart and effective policies in every area. It needs to spend in areas like retirement funds and health care whereas it is encouraged to invest in the fields of research and development, education and infrastructure in order to grow. U.S is at that point of budgetary limits where money should to be used wisely and only on effective projects. But in every other area, government policies are suboptimal. The world used to look at the U.S with awe as Americans had built highway systems for interstate, created best standard for education in the world, invested heavily in the frontiers of knowledge. But this is not now how the world perceives America