The Long Term Effects Of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Literature Review Examining the long-term effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) are one of the many areas of brain behavior relationships neuropsychologists focus on. Consequently, studies review the effects obstacles have when attempting to remediate coping following TBI (Krpan, K. M., Anderson, N. D., Stuss, D. T., 2013) while other studies have looked at the relationships between development in children who have suffered from TBI (Ganesalingam, K., Yeates, K. O., Sanson, A. and Anderson, V., 2007). In a highly specialized study, researchers discussed the sex differences in orbitofrontal connectivity in male and female veterans with TBI (McGlade, E., Rogowska, J. Yurgelun-Todd, D., 2015). Nevertheless, while these studies are examining different ways TBI are influencing different behavioral changes in all ranges of people, they all focus on specific brain behavior relationships. The further purpose of these studies is to determine the best rehabilitation methods to achieve the highest possibil ity of cognitive functioning. Through the examination of how TBI effect certain areas of the brain, this will allow neuropsychologists to focus rehabilitation efforts specifically on the areas with the most concentrated brain damage. Traumatic Brain Injuries in Children Researching the social and cognitive functioning in children after experiencing a TBI, was the largest area of research articles within the neuropsychological discourse community. Some examples of thisShow MoreRelatedPhineas Gage Suffers a Traumatic Brain Injury1289 Words   |  6 Pagesfrom a traumatic brain injury. While working at a railroad site, an iron tamping rod (43 inches long, 1.25 diameter) went through his left cheek, through his brain, and out the skull. He surprisingly ended up surviving this traumatic injury. After a month in the hospital, he was back out on the street. Once a nice, caring person, Phineas turned into an aggressive man who could not even keep a job. Just like Phineas Gage, a TBI can potentially change everything. Brain studies on traumatic brain injuriesRead MoreThe Effects Of Traumatic Brain Injuries On Children899 Words   |  4 Pages Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are the one of the leading causes of cognitive impairments in children (Ryan, p. 86) . In any given year, the United States will have about 475,000 cases of TBI in people under 14 years old (Lewis, p. 348). While, injuries such as these in adults can be severe, the effects of the injury on a child’s developing brain may be devastating. A lesion on a rapidly developing brain may be particularly detrimental, often resulting in delays or cessation of development (BraineRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of A Concussion1312 Words   |  6 Pagesof these types of sports are at a significantly higher risk for developing long-term brain damage and cognitive impairment later in life. A concussion is a subset of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and results from shaking the brain within the skull. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (the â€Å"AANS†) has defined a concussion as â€Å"a clinical syndrome characterized by an immediate and transient alteration in brain function, including an alteration of mental status and level of consciousnessRead Mor eThe Most Common Form Of Brain Injury1427 Words   |  6 PagesAnnually, 1.4 million people in the United States have experienced some degree of a traumatic brain injury. 1.4 million people every year. And who, you may wonder, is at the highest risk? Children, ages 0 to 14 and young adults, ages 15-19. The term â€Å"traumatic brain injury† (TBI) refers to a brain injury caused by trauma rather than disease, vascular accidents, or alcohol. Incidences of Traumatic Brain Injury have had a significant surge as they are more recognized by the medical profession. OccurringRead MoreConcussions : A Concussion As An Immediate And Transient Neural Function Post Traumatic Impairment1627 Words   |  7 PagesNolan Johnson English IV Mr. Browne 2 March 2017 Concussions Physicians describe a concussion as an immediate and transient neural function post traumatic impairment such as vision disturbance, alteration of consciousness, and other signs which result from brainstem involvement. An impulsive force or direct head blows leading to head acceleration are the leading causes of concussion in sports. However, not all reported loss of consciousness mean it is a concussion. The public mostly associatesRead MoreWhat Does The Phrase Social Justice Mean?853 Words   |  4 PagesWhat does the phrase ‘social justice’ mean? Is it fairness in terms of social life? Equity in the way people are treated within a community? Or even simply, justice for those who are social? Oxford Dictionary describes social justice as â€Å" justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society,† (Social Justice). Economically, this can mean that monetary resources are evenly distributed throughout the general public . The equal opportunity aspect of social justiceRead MoreThe Effects Of Concussions On The Brain1164 Words   |  5 Pagescerebral injuries that result in a series of metabolic events within the brain. The changes are seen in the fragile neuronal homeostatic balances where changes in the elevations of glutamate and potassium have been identified. The effects of concussions have also been seen in the functioning of the brain rather than in the structure of the brain itself. Being identified as mild traumatic brain injuries, occurring due to a bump or jolt to head or neck, concussions can result in both short-term and long-termRead MoreLong Term Effects Of Concussions On Athletes1489 Words   |  6 PagesKaren Olorunfemi Dr.Jones Topics Anatomy and Physiology December 4, 2015 Long Term Effects of Concussions in Athletes On the morning of December first of two thousand and twelve, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher took a .40 caliber gun and shot his girlfriend 22 times inside his master bedroom. He then drove down to Arrowhead Stadium, the Chief’s home stadium, to express his appreciation to his team’s general manager and coach for everything they had done for him, walked away, and thenRead MoreTraumatic Brain Injury Essay1243 Words   |  5 PagesTraumatic Brain Injury Traumatic brain injury, also called acquired brain injury or simply head injury, is a result of a sudden blow to the head when an external force is applied causing a disruption of the physiological stability of the brain locally. It can also occur when an object pierces the skull and enters the brain tissue and when elevation in the intracranial pressure occurs and potentially dramatic changes in the blood flow within and to the brain. These changes may produce a diminishedRead MorePrevention For Disease Control And Prevention935 Words   |  4 Pagesyears, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has worked to raise awareness of concussions and head injuries. In fact at least 1.7million traumatic brain injuries or TBI’s occur each year, with older adults and adolescents as the most vulnerable population (Nursing : A Concept-based, 2015, p.696).We now know that a hit or a strike to the head can have long term effects on cognition, physical, and psychological sk ills. The major causes of TBI include falls, vehicle accidents, sports

The Revolution or De-evolution of Stem Cell Research

The Revolution or De-evolution of Stem Cell Research Many people in the around the world have first or second hand encounters with deadly diseases that can lead the person who is afflicted to a lifestyle of medication and therapy. Scientists today have the potential to find cures for these diseases with stem cell research. Stem cells have the potential on making cures for these people. Stem cell research is hindered by the opposing side’s belief that stem cell research is murder since they believe that life begins at conception. Stem cells according to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, â€Å"Cells with the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells†. These cells have the ability to become any cell that an ill person requires in order to become better. Reasons why stem cells are not used frequently is that they are still in the infancy stage of research and politics restrict the progress of stem cell research. There are two types of stem cells that are researched but the type that has the most attention are embryotic stem cells. These cells are only acquired from embryos that have been given up for research when they are no longer needed for in vitro fertilization. In vitro is the process of uniting a sperm and egg in a lab than of inside of a woman. The scientist inseminate more than one egg in order for the patient to become pregnant. The scientists than later gives the rest of the unused inseminated eggs to stemShow MoreRelatedImpact of Emerging Markets on Marketing15122 Words   |  61 Pagesthe third part, I discuss how we will need to rethink marketing theory, strategy, policy, and practice in light of the unique nature of emerging markets. I also offer several propositions for further research. In the final section, I provide implications for marketing practice, function, and research. Growth of Emerging Markets A major recent context is the growth of emerging markets (Gu, Hung, and Tse 2008; Hitt et al. 2000; Hoskisson et. al., 2000). It is estimated that by 2035, the gross domesticRead MoreGp Essay Mainpoints24643 Words   |  99 Pagesespoused Compare political figures †¢ Commit illegal acts or influence youths in extreme ideology †¢ Exceptional qualities of leadership, advocacy or enlightenment on various social issues †¢ E.g. Mao Zedong stir youths in 1960s Cultural Revolution: lasting damage especially to the cultural and societal fabric of China †¢ Amount of negative influence politicians could wield is much greater than celebrities as they are the ones ultimately charting the progress of a state †¢ Stirring ferventRead MoreTerrorism in Southeast Asia17760 Words   |  72 PagesTerrorism in Southeast Asia Bruce Vaughn, Coordinator Specialist in Asian Affairs Emma Chanlett-Avery Specialist in Asian Affairs Ben Dolven Section Research Manager Mark E. Manyin Specialist in Asian Affairs Michael F. Martin Analyst in Asian Trade and Finance Larry A. Niksch Specialist in Asian Affairs October 16, 2009 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL34194 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Terrorism in Southeast Asia Read MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesforms for a new millennium? Postmodernism as a philosophy: the ultimate challenge to organization theory? Reflective organization theory: symbols, meanings and interpretations Reflexive organization theory: critical theory and psychoanalysis The evolution of management as reflected through the lens of modernist organization theory Perspectives and challenges 2 54 100 148 198 242 282 330 382 432 . . Contents Preface List of figures List of tables Acknowledgements xiii xvii xix xx Read MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesThe New Left Revisited David M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform Michael Adas, ed., AgriculturalRead MoreContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words   |  846 Pages Contemporary Issues in Management Accounting Edited by ALNOOR BHIMANI 1 Great Clarendon Street, Oxford ox2 6dp Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in Oxford New York Auckland Cape Town Dar es Salaam Hong Kong Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Nairobi New Delhi Shanghai Taipei Toronto With oYces in Argentina Austria Brazil ChileRead MoreStatement of Purpose23848 Words   |  96 Pages.............................................................................. 11 History................................................................................................................................... 12 Psychology (Clinical--research)............................................................................................ 14 Psychology (cross-cultural) .................................................................................................. 16 Psychology (School)Read More Luxrious Cars Market Analysis in Bangladesh10008 Words   |  41 Pagesin the market in order to meet the demands of Bangladeshi customers. 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Australian Society System and Social Policies †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Australian Society System and Social Policies. Answer: Introduction Social policies are created in order to improve the overall conditions of people. The development in social policies is a variance of the Canadian pattern which took place from 1935 to 1950 which can be best understood in the light of the political and social structure of the country. The development of social policy is somewhat dependant on the dominant political party and the interest of dominant class on the state. However, in Australia, as social researchers comment, one cannot trace the history and attribute the development of social policy to any single group or their individuals. There are many instances of policy activism in the field of social policy which resulted in the formulation of a number of social policies with special emphasis on jobs and employment, especially for women and physically disabled people. Policy Policy is a course o plan of action that will be undertaken or implemented by government or a lawfully constituted group of individuals to achieve the desired outcomes in the real world. In the words of M. Considine, policy can be seen as a continuance of work brought into action by group of policy actors who operate through public institutions in order to give expression to the things that they deem valuable (Patton, Sawicki Clark, 2015). Social Policy Social policies are implemented with a degree of involvement with government decisions, political parties and society functioning and representing itself through lawfully constituted groups of individual (Alcock, 2016). Social policies are intricately related with the development of economy and the welfare of the citizens, either individually or collectively. It is achieved with a proper allocation of available resources. Social policy takes into its spectrum a range of things like political science, history, law, philosophy, sociology and economics. In Australia, social policies have tremendously affected the lifestyle pattern and choices of Australians. The study of social policy helps a learner to understand the crucial functioning of a society and therefore assess government actions an implementation. A broad, historical overview of the development of Australia's major social policies Social policies may or may not be always formulated in statement and instead can be made to function in a somewhat informal manner, for instance in Commonwealth Employment Service, there were a number of informal policies to ensure that the unemployed people are getting access to their due benefits. In Australia, the significant number of social policies like the introduction of anti-discrimination legislation introduced in the 1980s was mainly aimed at improving the living conditions of the minority groups and as well to protect and enlarge their rights. The introduction of Child Endowment in 1941 was an act of recognition of the rising costs of bringing up of a child. The act allowed five shillings per week after the birth of the second child which was later shifted to include the first child from 1950 above. The government also reached out to single women with children, divorced and illegible for Widow Pension that was introduced in 1942 to provide assistance to some 134766 window s under 60 years of age. The introduction of Child Endowment in 1941 It was introduced during the inter-war years when the Menzies Government recognized the need for a payment of mere five pounds in a week from the birth of the second child. Australia was one of the many countries who undertook the initiative to provide for the needy family, borne in collective cooperation of the tax payers (Smith, 2017). The introduction of Medicare in 1975 It was introduced in a period of huge discontent with the voluntary health insurance scheme and Medicare was introduced with the aim of providing the best health insurance coverage for the Australian population with a simple administration. Medicare has considerably reduced the overall costs of availing basic healthcare services and has made healthcare service which is a basic right to the people, easy. The expansion of childcare in the 1980s This was a culmination of the number of social changes that were taking place within the framework of the society in regard to the care and upbringing of Australian children hailing from financially unstable families. The enlarging of feminist movements, development of the education sector and the need for substantial funding in the sectors of education and childcare propelled the need for expansion of childcare policies in the Commonwealth. It resulted in the functioning of 11000 day care homes for children and 1000 care places for non-school hours with the assistance of Commonwealth and State/Territory funding. In 1988, the expansion provided for assistance to 30,000 childcare places spanning the country. The Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act in 2007 In order to protect the Aboriginal children of Australia from any forms of sexual abuse and violence, the act was initiated by the Australian government. The act was a source of relief for hundreds of women and children from the Northern Territory and recognition of the widespread sexual abuse predominant in the territory (Bielefeld Altman, 2015). Alcohol, drug abuse, family violence and pornography massively victimised the womenfolk and children due to lack of proper initiative on the part of government. The act was a revolutionary change and aimed to protect the children and women by imposing a ban on alcohol, midday meals for children and introducing pornography filters on public computers in certain areas, compulsory health check-ups for the children (Roffee, 2016). Paid parental leave in 2011 The PPL scheme was brought into action to encourage women participation and as well to expand productivity and introduce an atmosphere of gender equality in the workplace. The scheme opened an avenue of opportunities to maintain work-life balance. After the implementation of the act, parents are allowed to take time off from work after the birth of a newborn and at the same time get funded by tax-payer (Dahl et al., 2016). Under the scheme, self-employed to full-time workers, all were eligible to take due benefits. Conclusion The study proves how over the time social policies have sought to improve the overall well-being of the people of Australia. The policies have been introduced into a number of spheres like healthcare and education, job sector, providing care and financial aid to the widows to improve the social and living conditions of the Australians. References: Alcock, P. (2016). The student's companion to social policy. John Wiley Sons. Bielefeld, S., Altman, J. (2015). Australia's First PeoplesStill Struggling for Protection Against Racial Discrimination. Dahl, G. B., Lken, K. V., Mogstad, M., Salvanes, K. V. (2016). What is the case for paid maternity leave?. Review of Economics and Statistics, 98(4), 655-670. Ogloff, J. R., Pfeifer, J. E., Shepherd, S. M., Ciorciari, J. (2017). Assessing the mental health, substance abuse, cognitive functioning, and social/emotional well-being needs of aboriginal prisoners in Australia. Journal of Correctional Health Care, 23(4), 398-411. Patton, C., Sawicki, D., Clark, J. (2015). Basic methods of policy analysis and planning. Routledge. Roffee, J. A. (2016). Rhetoric, Aboriginal Australians and the Northern Territory Intervention: A Socio-legal Investigation into Pre-legislative Argumentation. International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 5(1), 131-147. Smith, J. (2017). Paying for care in Australias wage earners welfare state: The case of child endowment. Crown and Sword: Executive power and the use of force by the Australian Defence Force, 161. Winter, B., Forest, M., Snac, R. (2018). Introduction. In Global Perspectives on Same-Sex Marriage (pp. 1-18). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.

The creative invention of the Sony Walkman free essay sample

Now a day’s carry music with you is very simple and easy, you just have to download music to your cell phone, Ipod, Mp3, Smartphone, and have some headphones with you, and you can listening some music everywhere. It seems very easy and practicable now, but throwback in time this wasn’t possible; the Sony Walkman, was the first product where you can take music with you, using a cassette and without disturbing others. Who was this creative person? Masuru Ibuka was born in Japan in April 11 of 1908 and died in December 19 of 1997. He co-founded Sony and his friends known him as â€Å"genius inventor†. He had many personality traits that make him the person that he was. He was imaginative, because he came out with the idea of a product that let you to listen music in any activity that you make, the Walkman represented a breakthrough in imagination, also this complements with intuition, he knew that this idea can revolutionized the music industry as how it works. We will write a custom essay sample on The creative invention of the Sony Walkman or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page One of the things he loved most was listening to music and traveling, all his passion for music makes that the Walkman became true, thanks to the fact that he take risks, risks for the things that he believe and that he can make them come true; at that time the idea of the Walkman was criticized and named as â€Å"crazy idea† but he don’t let that all that commentaries affect them, and continued with his idea, and convinced Sony to make this innovation. At first was difficult to believe in the Walkman, because people were used big recorders or speakers and carry them everywhere making a big sound, and the idea of a kind of little recorder, where you can put any cassette and use headphones to listen music seems unrealizable comparing with big and heavy recorders, but he continued in the production of the artifact that revolutionized the music industry. One of the things he loved most was listening to music and traveling. but when he travel, walk or do any activity he wanted to hear their music and bring it around, without disturbing others around him, because he said that not everyone liked all the same kind of music, and also wanted to have some privacy with music, because when he heard some music he relaxed more, was happy listening to music. Was one of the things he liked and enjoyed doing. So he started thinking about how he can enjoy his music anytime but without carried every  time a huge recorder, and without listen someone else music, but that was only ideas that came out of his mind at that time. On a sunny morning of 1979, Ibuka was running around a park when suddenly he felt like listening to music. So he took a look around him and saw a lot of people walking, running and bicycling and came out with the idea of a device which people could carry while they are doing all these activities, and that it how he came out with the idea of the Walkman. He extracted the circuit from a tape recording and put a stereo amplifier with headphones; also he requested to the general manager of the Tape Recorder Business Division, begin work on a small tape recorder that Sony had launched in 1977 called the Walkman, his name expressed a man walking with his music. When the Walkman was launching Sony sold millions of units. It allowed getting quality sound, similar to a home computer without being so big and noisy. It changed the music industries and became a symbol of the 80 ´s . Many people, especially young people, where so happy with this invention, that the Walkman became very famous, and sell a lot of units in that time, This is the product that will satisfy those young people who want to listen to music all day. Theyll take it everywhere with them, and they wont care about record functions. If we put a playback-only headphone stereo like this on the market, itll be a hit. . They were so successful that they star to develop new types of Walkman, was the sport Walkman that was special for customers that make sports and the where in different colors; also they created a small cassette so in that way they made walkmans smaller and easier to carry them everywhere. When de CD ´S came out, Sony saw an opportunity to improve his device, and the Discman came out in 1984, where the cassettes were replaced for CD ´S, they continued innovating and include a screen where they can watch videos (Video Walkman), and also make the CD ´s smaller and the Minidisc Walkman was born in 1999. The completion starts when Apple launched the IPod that was a similar device where you can listen music and easier to carried because it size, pretty the same as the Walkman MP3 that was launched at that time. The IPod became a really hard competitor for the fact that it came with the iTunes software that change the entire music industry which at the time was grappling with the digitalization of music with audio files. ITunes was and continue being a media player and media library, developed by Apple, that is use to download songs, videos, from a personal computer and directly injected into the IPod. Now a day’s Sony Company is focus in a variety of products, they have produced TV’s, computers, Play Station, speakers, Smartphone, and a big variety of Walkmans, of different sizes, colors, types. Is a very famous and recognized company because the good quality and long life of all their products. This company is very successful in all his products, thanks to their Walkman invention companies as Apple innovate the original walkman and created a different and innovate product. The IPod has the majority of the market in the industry of music player, thanks to all the innovations that they made like the IPod touch, mini IPod that has access to internet, take photos, video recorder, and games, by just an account in the App store and ITunes. â€Å"By 1995, total production of Walkman units reached 150 million and over 300 different Walkman models have been produced to date.† The Walkman was very successful at that time, by selling millions of units and using by all kind of people at that time. Many commercials came out where they show people doing any type of activity; the first commercial was a ballerina stretches it with the walkman before she starts too practiced. I can say that for 80 ´s and 90 ´s the Walkman revolutionized the music industry, it changes as we know today, where you can hear different songs from your phone, iPod, mp3, walkman, everywhere. I can remember using my purple Discman with my favorites CD ´s in every family trip that I have, in my house before I went to sleep, or in any bored moment, I put my headphones on, and play my music and started to dance, it was fun for me, that’s why I’m very thankful to this invention. We can achieve any dream if we believe it and take risk with them, like Masuru Ibuka because of his invention now we can play music everywhere. Bibliography

Famous Last Words Kings, Queens, & Members of Royalty

Famous Last Words Kings, Queens, & Members of Royalty Whether realized at the time they are said or only in hindsight, nearly everyone will express a word, phrase or sentence that proves the last thing he or she ever says while alive. Sometimes profound, sometimes every day, here you will find a select collection of the last words spoken by famous kings, queens, rulers and other crowned heads throughout history. Famous Last Words Organized Alphabetically Alexander III, King of Macedon(356-323 B.C.)Kratistos! Latin for mightiest, strongest, or best, this was Alexander the Greats deathbed response when asked whom he would name as his successor, i.e., Whoever is the mightiest! Charlemagne, Emperor, Holy Roman Empire(742-814)Lord, into Thy Hands I commend my spirit. Charles XII, King of Sweden(1682-1718)Do not be afraid. Diana, Princess of Wales(1961-1997)Unknown Despite numerous sources quoting the dying words of the Peoples Princess - such as My God, what happened? or Oh, My God, leave me alone - no reliable source exists concerning Princess Dianas final utterance before she lapsed into unconsciousness following a car crash in Paris, France, on August 31, 1997. Edward VIII, King of the United Kingdom(1894-1972)Mama... Mama... Mama... Serving as king of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for less than 12 months, King Edward VIII officially abdicated the royal throne on December 10, 1936, so he could marry American divorcà ©e Wallis Simpson. The couple stayed together until Edwards death in 1972. Elizabeth I, Queen of England(1533-1603)All my possessions for a moment of time. George III, King of Great Britain and Ireland(1738-1820)Do not wet my lips but when I open my mouth. I thank you... it does me good. Despite the formal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain in 1776 and his countrys later formal acknowledgment of the United States of America as an independent country six years later, this English monarch nevertheless ruled until his death, a reign of more than 59 years. Henry V, King of England(1387-1422)Into Thy hands, O Lord. Henry VIII, King of England(1491-1547)Monks, monks, monks! Immortalized in numerous books and films, the oft-married Tudor king famous for severing all ties with the Roman Catholic Church so he could legitimately marry another woman was likely referring to the troubles he encountered after dissolving Englands Catholic monasteries and convents in 1536. John, King of England(1167-1216)To God and St. Wulfstan, I commend my body and soul. Despite his fame in the Robin Hood legends as the evil prince who oppressed the English people while conspiring to steal the throne from his brother, King Richard I The Lion Hearted, King John also signed Magna Carta in 1215, albeit reluctantly. This historic document guaranteed several basic rights for Englands citizens and established the idea that everyone, even kings, is not above the law. Marie Antoinette, Queen of France(1755-1793)Pardonnez-moi, Monsieur. French for Excuse/forgive me, Sir, the doomed queen apologized to her executioner after stepping on his foot on her way to the guillotine. Napoleon Bonaparte(1769-1821)France... Army... head of the army... Josephine... Nero, Emperor of Rome(37-68)Sero! Haec est fides! Often depicted in film as playing a fiddle while Rome burned down around him, the tyrannical Nero actually committed suicide (although perhaps with the assistance of someone else). As he lay bleeding to death, Nero uttered the Latin for Too Late! This is faith/fidelity! probably in response to a soldier who tried to staunch the emperors bleeding in order to keep him alive. Peter I, Tsar of Russia(1672-1725)Anna. Peter the Great called out his daughters name before losing consciousness and eventually dying. Richard I, King of England(1157-1199)Youth, I forgive thee. Loose his chains and give him 100 shillings. Mortally wounded by an archers arrow during battle, Richard the Lion Hearted nevertheless forgave the shooter and ordered his release before he died. Unfortunately, Richards men failed to honor their fallen kings wish and executed the archer anyway after their sovereigns death. Richard III, King of England(1452-1485)I will die king of England. I will not budge a foot. Treason! Treason! These words feel somewhat less dramatic than Shakespeare later attributed to the king in his play The Tragedy of King Richard the Third. Robert I, King of the Scots(1274-1329)Thanks be to God! For I shall now die in peace, since I know that the most valiant and accomplished knight of my kingdom will perform that for me which I am unable to do for myself. The deed to with The Bruce referred while dying involved the removal of his heart so a knight could carry it to Jerusalems Holy Sepulchre, the burial site of Jesus according to religious belief. Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom(1819-1901)Bertie. The long-reigning queen for whom an entire era is named, and who started the tradition of wearing black at funerals, called out to her eldest son by his nickname shortly before she died.

Sample Argumentative and Persuasive Writing Prompts

Sample Argumentative and Persuasive Writing Prompts Any of the 40 statements or positions below may be either defended or attacked in an argumentative essay or speech. Selecting a Position In choosing something to write about, keep in mind Kurt Vonneguts advice:  Find a subject you care about and which you in your heart feel others should care about. But be sure to rely on your head as well as your heart: select a topic that you know something about, either from your own experience or  from that of others. Your instructor should let you know whether formal research is encouraged or even required for this assignment. Because many of these issues are complex and wide-ranging, you should be prepared to narrow your  topic  and focus your approach. Selecting a position is only the first tep, and you must learn to prepare and develop your position persuasively. At the end of the following list, youll find links to a number of argumentative paragraphs and essays. 40 Topic Suggestions: Argument and Persuasion Dieting makes people fat.Romantic love is a poor basis for marriage.The war on terror has contributed to the growing abuse of human rights.High school graduates should take a year off before entering college.All citizens should be required by law to vote.All forms of government-funded welfare should be abolished.Both parents should assume equal responsibility in raising a child.Americans should have more holidays and longer vacations.Participating in team sports helps to develop good character.The production and sale of cigarettes should be made illegal.People have become overly dependent on technology.Censorship is sometimes justified.Privacy is not the most important right.Drunk drivers should be imprisoned for the first offense.The lost art of letter-writing deserves to be revived.Government and military personnel should have the right to strike.Most study-abroad programs should be renamed party abroad: they are a waste of time and moneyThe continuing decline of CD sales along wit h the rapid growth of music downloads signals a new era of innovation in popular music. College students should have complete freedom to choose their own courses.The solution to the impending crisis in Social Security is the immediate elimination of this government program.The primary mission of colleges and universities should be preparing students for the workforce.Financial incentives should be offered to high school students who perform well on standardized tests.All students in high school and college should be required to take at least two years of a foreign language.College students in the U.S. should be offered financial incentives to graduate in three years rather than four.College athletes should be exempted from regular class-attendance policies.To encourage healthy eating, higher taxes should be imposed on soft drinks and junk food.Students should not be required to take physical education courses.To conserve fuel and save lives, the 55 miles-per-hour national speed limit should be restored.All citizens under the age of 21 should be required to pass a drivin g education course before receiving a license to drive. Any student caught cheating on an examination should be automatically dismissed from college.Freshmen should not be required to purchase a meal plan from the college.Zoos are internment camps for animals and should be shut down.University students should not be penalized for illegally downloading music, movies, or other protected content.Government financial aid for students should be based solely on merit.Nontraditional students should be exempted from regular class-attendance policies.At the end of each term, student evaluations of faculty should be posted online.A student organization should be formed to rescue and care for the feral cats on campus.People who contribute to Social Security should have the right to choose how their money is invested.Professional baseball players convicted of using performance-enhancing drugs should not be considered for induction into the Hall of Fame.Any citizen who does not have a criminal record should be permitted to carry a concealed weapon.

Origins and influence of Cumbia on the Colombian culture Research Paper

Origins and influence of Cumbia on the Colombian culture - Research Paper Example The Cumbia dance and song is a symbol of Colombian culture around the globe (Dimartio, 1999 p26). This is because Cumbia dance has strong links to the history of the Colombian people and for generations, acted as a melting point for numerous Colombian cultures that defines the national identity of the nation (Wade, 2008 p109). Cumbia can be traced to music and dance that reflected the social lives of the countries of origins of African slaves brought to Colombia by the Spaniards to work on the plantations. The African slaves created Cumbia as the only form of entertainment that they had to ease the unpleasant and harsh nature of work as a slave in the Americas (Rosa & Neciosup, 2008 p59). Up until the 1930s, Cumbia was only known in Colombia (Dimartio, 1999 p26). It was performed by a few professional groups that toured the Colombian countryside and was also performed by gifted musicians who lived in the various villages. These gifted musicians were preserving a tradition that was handed down to them by their ancestors. Aside the African influence, there is clear evidence of Spanish influence in Cumbia. Most Cumbian songs are sang in Spanish and the costumes used by the main, like the hat, pants, shirts and dresses are sewn according to Spanish standards. They reflect the main cultural trends of the dresscode of Spanish America. There is also a strong Amerindian influence in the dance and some of the instruments used in the dance of Cumbia. All these observations were made after watching the Xiomara dance video and the Ballet Esmeraldas group perform. The purpose of the research is to identify the origins and manifestation of Cumbia. It examines the components of Cumbia and how it developed. It goes further to identify why it forms an important part of Colombian culture. The study was motivated by the fact that the Colombian community is New York is large and quite influential. In spite of their dominance as a great part of the New York society, many people with stereotypes view Colombia and Colombi an with a very negative attitude. However, in spite of this, the Colombian people live very respectable lives all over the United States and a vast majority of them work very hard and contribute to the building of the American economy through various decent jobs. Thus in a Hispanic classroom, it is important to dispell some of these false information and visions about the Colombian culture and teach students some of the important aspects of their native cultures and traditions that can inspire heroic and positive attachments to these cultures. So as part of this project, I hope to uncover important elements of the Colombian culture and history that can help in the quest to get the average student to understand and appreciate other important aspect of Colombian culture that are often not discussed. This research therefore attempts to examine some of the distinct elements of the Colombian culture that makes them different from everyone else. It is interesting to note that Cumbia refle cts the complex history of Colombia and brings out the socio-cultural insights of the Colombian people. It debunks modern views of Colombia and has taught me a lot about the Colombian people which I will not have known, aside the stereotypes I grew up learning about the

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 71

Reflection - Essay Example complish God’s will.† This is the actual meaning of life; that is, to attain God’s will by making the best use of your competencies that He has blessed you with. Secondly, as Johnson (1990, p.17) asserts, I would also like the world to believe that that we find the true happiness in worldly possessions, positions, wealth, and status, if only we are able to relate the acquiring of these to God’s will. For me, true happiness, which is the essence of life, comes not from worldly possessions but from obedience of God. Thirdly, my last lesson is that one should limit one’s lust for the world. One should start living according to ethical boundaries set by God, because only then will God intrude in one’s matters to shower His blessings. The German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, contradicts this viewpoint with his idea of nihilism, in which he argues that human existence does not have any meaning. According to him (as cited in Keiji, 1990, p.29), t he idea of afterlife is so strong that the worldly life becomes meaningless. This idea denies the importance or the ultimate meaning of life. Still, I believe that it is important to spend this life whole-heartedly while remaining within the ethical boundaries. Sharpe and Bryant (2005, p.130) raise the concern in their book: Does the success of science mean that we must abandon the Divine like a plaything we once loved but have now outgrown? Such and other concerns raised by the authors make us ponder upon the relationship between science and religion. This course has, thus, impacted my understanding of science and religion to a great extent because I have been able to understand how science has proven what religious scriptures mentioned many hundred years ago. I have understood that science and religion do not stand far apart; instead, they strengthen each other’s claims and findings. I have understood that Diving power can never be put in the background or can never be forgotten, because it is the Divine that

Cell Phones Advantages&Disadvantages Essay Example for Free

Cell Phones AdvantagesDisadvantages Essay 1.0 Introduction When I have been on different school placements during my time at the College there has always been one thing I have paid more attention to and noticed in every school. This situation is a very common thing among students in Malaysia and also occurs among people who normally use more than one language. This phenomenon is called code-switching and usually happened in bilingual societies. What is code-switching? It is when a person mixes two languages in a single sentence or a conversation. This issue was ordinary to take place in Malaysian students which is learning more than one language. Our country students usually learned more than three language likes national language, mother language and etc. Our ministry of education set English as a second language in Malaysia, so Malaysian English Language Instructors and ESL (English as second Language) requires learners tend to use more than one code of language in the context of formal classroom. Now, we wants to discuss the factors that cause ESL learners to code switch and how to overcome it. 2.0 Main Body 2.1 Feel More Comfortable, Environment, Lack of Confidence The first factors it cause students cannot switching code immediately because they not usual to use English and also feel custom and more comfortable to use their own language. They prefer to use their own language because it is more smoothed and easy communicate with their friend. Besides that, they also did not have a good environment or social to speak English. Take one example, we was grow in a family which does not often speak English and we just only use our mother language to communicate with our family’s in home, that is a big problem for us to learn and speak English properly. The problem will cause the students lack of confidence to speak English because they do not have basic for speak to other people. Last but not least, they also will feel shy to use English because they are afraid of speaking mistakes. 2.2 Lack of Motivation, Lack of Interest, Lack of Enforcement Furthermore, they also lack of motivation because they do not get any courage from their friend or family. When students do not have enough vocabulary word they  cannot speak any perfects English. If they cannot speak English properly, they will give their friend laugh and it will causes they do not have more interest in English. Besides that, they will also give up to learn English and also will drop out of study. Motivation may be expect to improve when class take into account students likes in teaching style and lesson material. Additionally, parents did not enforce their children to speak and learn English in home. Parents also lack of accompany with their children to teach them important of English or another language in the whole world even tourism and doing business. 2.3 Watch more English videos, more interaction, talk with others race After the factors let us talk about solutions to overcome the problem students who are face it. Lecturers can takes some video from youtube or google to share with students but ensure the video can help students to improve their English. They can also listen music English or see an English movie to increase their listen and speaking skill. We must let students have more interaction and practice among them when during lesson. Lecturers should break them into different group with different language or country to get more chance to be in touch with English in class. 2.4 Join the activity can improve English, Attended to tuition, Penalty The parents need to speak with them in English and without home language at home to improve their basic in speaking. Parents also can send them to counselling or campaign for training them to use English in social life. Students must me hardworking and go to a place which availability of additional resources or knowledge to increase their vocabulary. To give those students cannot handle the basics English parents should force them to attend tuition class. When students in the school or college, lecturers must be ensure students are in the English speaking zone to communicate with their friend without other language. Last but not least, if those students who are not follow the rules must give a heavy penalty to let them remember and would not do a same mistake against. 3.0 Recommendation and Conclusion The use of mother language is not conclusively a threat to English as a language or a subject at school. In school or college lecturers should be concern about students have the ability to differentiate the two language and separate them in formal and non-formal communications in class.  Therefore, poor performance in English cannot blame on home language, but a person’s background. In my view educators should take the responsibility and teach suitable things to enable the primary level students learn in English. Its can make them understanding in a better command of English. 4.0 REFERENCES 1) Jtonec. (2012). A Description of How the Teacher of Language and Literature May Use Drama in Education to Overcome Low Linguistic Competency and Low Self Confidence. Available: http://www.studymode.com/essays/a-Description-Of-How-The-Teacher-1221891.html. Last accessed 12 May 2014. 2) Timmytimmkins.(2010). Effective ESL Elements. Available: http://www.studymode.com/essays/Effective-Esl-Elements-406002.html. Last accessed 10 May 2014. Question 2 1.0 Introduction In this global computer science and technology, who does not have a cell phone these days? Even a child in primary school some of their parents also will give them a phone to them for easily to stay contact with parents. However in this era of technology, a cell phone most amazing things is that they are no longer just used for calling or texting. Actually, a cell phone is not just only a tool for communicate with family and it is also a tool for multimedia such as smartphones. The smartphones can use in multimedia likes games, pictures, songs and it will bring out many advantages and disadvantages for us so with this mind. Hence, should students be permitted to use cell phones in school has become a hot topic of discussion among individual. Thus, let us discuss and debate about this topic. 2.0 Main Body 2.1 Access Information, Useful Application Firstly, it goes without saying that the advantages of cell phones is it can help students to overcome some of their academic problems. This is due to the reason that cell phones allow them to download some useful software such as dictionary. When they cannot understand what their lectures teaching about due to the vocabulary, they can find the meaning of the vocabulary and try to translate it to their own language by using the dictionary software  so that they will manage to understand what their lectures teaching about. In addition, they can also access ‘google’ to find the materials which they need. This is because internets have a pool of information to provide the information that they acquire. On the other hand, the student parents can also check their children whereabouts by using a phone. Besides that, the smartphone also has a lot of function such as calendar, calculator, maps finder and many technology software. I can take an example that I will use software to supervise my homework and revision to ensure that I will not waste the precious time. 2.2 Replace Pen and Paper, Use To Memory, E-learning Apart from that, using cell phones to do home works or assignments can replace the pen and reduce the paper so that this will help to reduce deforestation as well as keep away from greenhouse effect. The cell phones can also become a â€Å"memory card†, when the student insufficient time to write down all the points that the lecturers given or he or she absents the lessons, they can just take a picture and do revision at home. Furthermore, they still can take out these pictures to revise before the examination. In this way it is killing two birds with one stone a stone. Additionally, they can use for E-learning in internet by using a cell phone with their friends and lectures to discuss homework or which are they do not understand in the lesson. 2.3 Distraction Class, Cheating, Bullying Every coin has two sides, cell phone also bring some disadvantages to us. Let us discuss the disadvantages of a cell phone right now. The cell phones also bring out many troubles to students like distract the lecturer and all their friends. The meaning distract is stand for while lecturer teaching in the class the students who play games and the worst is cell phones ringing will disturb the whole class force to stop the class. After that, the students will also laugh at which classmates those who are not using the latest phone. They cannot understand their parents work hard also unable to buy a latest phone to them because new phones price is too expensive and even run up to two thousand. 2.4 Annoying Lecturers, Health Hazard, Safety of Students When lecturers is teaching in the class, the students which is mischievous will take the lecturer funny picture and upload to the social network to annoying their lecturer. These types of students do not have manners because they did not give any respect to their lecturer. England scientist investigate point out if each people using cell phones in one day more than 2 hours, they will get health hazard like shortsighted, radiation, skin cancer. So, if students bring cell phones to school they will get more times to be in touch with the disease above. Beside, students can keep play their phones and did not pay attention when they go downstairs or cross the road. It is very dangerous actions and do not behave their self and their family. 3.0 Recommendation and Conclusion In the last, students bring cell phones to school have both of advantages and disadvantages but they should know how to use the cell phones in the place is correct. We can come to a conclusion that although mobile phones have their weak points, they are very useful when they are necessary. Students are the decision makers. Therefore, we can choose which are good and bad. According to my opinion cell phones are very useful things if we use them in a proper way in the school it may help students solve many problems. 4.0 REFERENCES 1) RaulBarrera. (2012). Disadvantages of Cell Phones in School. Available: http://www.studymode.com/essays/Disadvantages-Of-Cell-Phones-In-School-1074638.html. Last accessed 6 May 2014. 2) HayItsGio. (2012). Cell Phones in School. Available: http://www.studymode.com/essays/Cell-Phones-In-School-1317488.html. Last accessed 4 May 2014.

Compare Aeneas and Odysseus as Heroic Figures :: The Aenied, The Oddessy

Odysseus and Aeneas are very alike in some ways and very different. They are both epic heroes except that one is Greek and the other is a Trojan. Odysseus is from the Greek tale The Oddessy, which was written by the famous Greek poet Homer. His quest is to find his way back home after a long journey. Aeneas is from the roman tale The Aenied, written by Virgil a famous Roman poet. Aeneas’s mission is to find a new home for him and his family. Both these characters had many similarities and differences in their ways of fighting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Both Odysseus and Aeneas were helped by different gods. Odysseus was helped by Calypso in a way. She held him captive, but was forced to release him from the father of all Greek gods,Zeus. Athena, goddess of wisdom, helped Odysseus find out whether or not Penelope still loved him, she disguised him to look like an old man so he could go into the town without people knowing who he was. He got help from the god of wind as well who helped him by giving him a bag of wind so he could sail back to Ithaca. Poseidon did not really help Odysseus, he was just trying to convince him that he was nothing without the gods.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aeneas was never held captive by any of the gods as was Odysseus. Aeneas got help from Venus (Goddess of love), his mother. She convinced him to stop fighting because she wanted him to rescue his family which was a lot more important. Jupiter also helped him because Aeneas’s wife told Jupiter that Aeneas was going to kill himself, so she wanted him to send Aeneas a sign telling him not to kill himself. Aeneas was going to do this because he found his father almost dead and decided to take his own life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Both of them are really great fighters, but they have differences in how they do things. Odysseus plans things out before he attacks and has a good plan as well. Aeneas however does not plan things out and just jumps right into things.

Identity forming in adolescents Essay

We may understand this age group if we look at its place on the growth sequence of Erik Erikson. Notice how it is right next to the adult stage, the last step before being an adult. This is a time for adolescents to decide about their future line of work and think about starting their own families in a few years. One of the first things they must do is to start making their own decisions. For example, adolescents can begin to decide what to buy with their own money or who will be their friend. To do this they must put a little distance between themselves and their parents. This does not mean that parents cannot continue to look after them’ or help them when needed. Parents should, as much as possible, let them learn from the results of their actions. Adolescents also need to be around other adults, both male and female. These can be relatives, neighbors, or teachers. Of course, they should be positive role models. Teenagers can learn from them about things like how to fix the car, getting along with others, or ideas for future jobs. Finally, adoles ¬cents want to spend time alone. They might be planning the things they can do or will buy when they grow up. Identity forming may be an emotional turbulent phase of life in adolescents, due in part to the physical and mental changes they are experiencing. Adolescence is a stage, which is associated with considerable changes in self. Erik Erikson (1968) recognized adolescence as a major life stage for identity formation, and individual development within a social context. He argued that adolescents must receive community acceptance for their behavior. Erikson also spoke of the role of intergenerational socialization where society must provide for a mutual trustworthiness to assure self-chosen values and interests. Achieving a sense of identity is a fundamental task for adolescents. The clear sense of personal identity constitutes an aspect of optimal psychological functioning (Erikson, 1968). Adolescents face a range of developmental issues. Havighurst (1952) suggested that two important areas included work and relationships. Levinson (1978) focused on changing relationships and on exploration, while Erikson (1968) commented on intimacy and commitment to goals. Super (1963) indicated that exploring and crystallizing vocational choice are important to older adolescents and young adults. What seems evident is that older adolescents and young adults enter transitions with the goal of becoming independently functioning adults, as they strive to meet evolving personal and career related needs. Rapid and escalating changes in labor market and post-secondary educational opportunities mean that adolescents now are confronted with the challenge of meeting their personal and career needs when neither can offer certainty or a sense of personal control. According to Erikson, there are eight stages of human development. Each of the stage focuses on a different conflict that needs to be solved in order to develop successfully into the next stages of life. The idea is that if one stage is not resolved, one might have a difficulty to deal with the succeeding stages and the failure will come back at some point later in life. Puberty marks the beginning of stage five, identity versus role confusion. This stage occurs between ages twelve to eighteen. Erikson defined this stage as the time when adolescents develop a sense of self. They tend to question who they are and what they want to do with their lives. They will associate all of their experiences and differentiate their various roles up until that moment – dependent child, autonomy, initiative and achievement – into a secure individuality. If unresolved past crises have followed them into stage five, they will experience identity as role confusion. In other words, they will have no idea of who they are or what they would like to be. Peter Pan, the fairytale story of the childlike individual who refused to grow up, is a perfect example of this role confusion. These individuals are constantly searching to fill their emotional needs through relationships with others. Just as Peter Pan looked to Wendy for affection and nurturance, these individuals do the same because they lack self-soothing skills. This is what we sometimes call â€Å"low emotional quotients. † They often have very low self-confidence and they fear exploring new things and meeting new people. All of the child’s experiences were carried up to this transitional stage. The attachment and bonding that the infant learned in infancy during stage one provides security that is needed in this stage to be able to relate to the opposite sex. The ability to set boundaries and say no from stage two provides the structure needed to establish sexual boundaries. The sexual exploration experienced by the child during stage three and the reaction of parents will help determine a positive or negative self-perception regarding the body as good or bad. Stage four taught the youngster social and educational skills in grade school which will now determine the attitude towards future academic education and the social path to follow. Any of the previous tasks that were difficult to master will now affect the transition into adolescence. Since this is an awkward time of life, peer approval becomes even more important because it rests on the child’s entire self-esteem when being judged by others. Physical development occurs during this period when males experience voice changes, acne, and baby fat. Girls experience emotional difficulties and are most conscious of their body image. It is during this time that girls will develop eating disorders because they tend to be so critical of their bodies. This period is very similar to stage two when the young child learned how to say â€Å"no†. Rebelling is a large part of the adolescent’s life at this time when feelings of insecurity surface. During stage five â€Å"puppy love† occurs and everyone talks about who is dating whom. If the adolescent has had difficulty with trust and self-esteem issues prior to this stage, he may feel too shy to go steady and may isolate from others. This a time when adolescents have difficulty coping with everyday problems. If earlier tasks were successfully mastered then there will be little difficulty in coping with new problems that will arise. Peer Pressure During adolescence, it is more likely that an individual has trouble in deciding what to do with his life and what to do to â€Å"fit in† and be considered â€Å"cool†. One may act and think as if an adult but is not really considered as one in a real adult’s world. They will try so hard to separate themselves and be considered different from children but will somehow have difficulty proving it to people. Peer pressure comes in when an adolescent tries so hard to do what others do to make him feel like he belongs to a certain group. The feeling of belongingness is very important to an adolescent during this stage as it somehow gives him an identity derived from the group where he belongs. This identity may be â€Å"elite†, â€Å"intelligent†, â€Å"rebel†, â€Å"notorious†, â€Å"cool†, â€Å"popular† and so on. The image an adolescent exudes is as important as if that is what only matters. One may do things upon urging and taunting of his peers. Peer pressure may push one to do irrational things just to be able to be accepted by his colleagues. One episode of Nip Tuck about Matt circumcising himself – when his surgeon father would not do it – is an example of this. Another example is the latest craze among youths in South Korea. Since image and appearance plays a very important part in an adolescent’s life, one may go to extremes such as plastic surgery. Having bigger eyes is every girl’s dream in South Korea. Teenagers as young as 14 are doing it, and eye jobs have become a favorite high school graduation gift from proud parents (Ko 2002). Substance Abuse Puberty is the most critical stage in one’s life. This is the stage where adolescents sometimes withdraw from the family and turn to substance abuse to avoid the pain that accompanies the stress and anxiety that they experience. According to the Adolescent substance abuse knowledge base (1999): The primary factors that seem to affect increased or decreased drug use among teens are perceived risk, perceived social approval, and perceived availability. The more risky or less accepted a drug is thought to be; the less likely it will be used by teens. Perceived availability is often associated with overall social approval, and so, a drug that is readily available is considered socially acceptable and will likely increase in use. While these seem like common sense factors, how these perceptions are created is harder to understand. Parents may not realize just how easy it is for youths to get illicit drugs. They may not realize how young children are when they begin to experiment with alcohol and drugs. Statistics can alert parents to the need to communicate with their children about the dangers of substance abuse and help them develop strategies to cope with peer pressure. In the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA), approximately 13 percent of youths aged 12 to 17 reported past month use of cigarettes, and more than 4 percent reported smoking daily during the past month of the same year. This is equivalent to approximately 3 million past month smokers, including almost 1 million daily smokers among youths. Approximately 16 percent of youths had used alcohol within the past month, including 10 percent reporting binge use – had five or more drinks on the same occasion on at least 1 day in the past 30 days. Three percent reporting heavy alcohol use – had five or more drinks on the same occasion on each of five or more days in the past 30 days. The proportion translates to almost 4 million past month alcohol users, including almost 2. 5 million binge alcohol users, and 0. 6 million heavy alcohol users among youths. Media Influences There are so many television commercials nowadays showing an underage TV character commenting about drinking beer, using condoms, picking out cigarette brands and so on. Most of the parents change the channel when a character joked about â€Å"smoking a joint† or having a â€Å"one-night stand† when their child is around. Television, music, and advertisements flood children and youth with messages that may go against what that they have heard at home and school. Some messages teach children that alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs are dangerous; other messages make drugs and alcohol look cool and make you â€Å"fit in† in the society. Of the many factors influencing adolescents to begin, or not to begin smoking, drinking, and having sexual intercourse, a prominent and likely one is information conveyed via mass media. Despite restrictions on some mass media advertising for tobacco products or alcoholic beverages, even condom brands, young audiences still encounter substantial media content related to those across virtually all media channels. Society and social scientists alike have long assumed that there are direct effects, perhaps powerful effects, of media messages on individuals. Lay people and researchers make this assumption because it is intuitively reasonable: persuasive media messages surely influence youth. One thing that parents can do is to use messages from the media – TV, music, and ads – to talk with their children about tough issues like alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs. Talking during commercials can help promote a positive relationship between parents and their children. In many ways, these moments may be more effective than long, planned discussions – when these young adults are likely to tune out. The media’s influence on everyone, particularly on adolescents, is great. However, when properly guided by the parents, this particularly difficult stage of forming identity among youths may be lessened, as they understand how things are seen in the adult world and in another perspective other than theirs. CONCLUSION Developmentally, the young people were trying to meet personal and emotional needs, while in a state of flux and uncertainty in identity forming. It was apparent that a lack of progress in one area could have a negative influence on the other areas. Parental guidance, understanding and nurturing is of utmost importance on this most critical stage of a person’s life. In general, Erickson’s Theory of Human Development is widely accepted and plays a major role in all human and psychological development studies and theories. The best advice is to use the theory as a framework or map for understanding and identifying what issues or conflicts unresolved lead to current behavior and preparing for the stages to come. References Adolescent Substance Abuse Knowledge Base. (1999). Retrieved on November 29, 2006 from http://www. adolescent-substance-abuse. com/. â€Å"Erikson, Erik. † (2001). Microsoft ® Encarta ® Encyclopedia. â€Å"Personal Identity. † (2001). Microsoft ® Encarta ® Encyclopedia. Erikson, Erik H. (1963). Childhood and Society (2nd ed. ) New York: Norton. Erikson, Erik. H. (1968). Identity youth and crisis. New York: W. W. Norton. Havighurst, R. J. (1952). Developmental tasks and education. New York: David McKay. Health and Human Services. (2001). HHS Report Shows Drug Use Rates Stable, Youth Tobacco Use Declines. United States Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved on December 1, 2006 from http://www. hhs. gov/news/press/2001pres/20011004a. html. Ko, Chisu (2002). Peer Pressure Plastics. TIME Asia magazine. Retrieved on November 29, 2006 from http://www. time. com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501020805-332098,00. html Levinson, D. (1978). The seasons of a man’s life. New York: Ballantine. Meyer, William J. (2001). â€Å"Developmental Psychology. † Microsoft ® Encarta ® Encyclopedia Super, D. E. (1963). Career development: Essays in vocational development. New York: College Entrance Examination Board.

Combating Compassion Fatigue Essay

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the significance of Compassion Fatigue (CF) and its effects in the lives of caregivers. A caregiver is defined by dictionary. com as an individual, such as a physician, nurse, or social worker, who assists in the identification, prevention, or treatment of an illness or disability (dictionary. com). Caregivers may also include family members, friends or neighbors who voluntarily have accepted responsibility for looking after a vulnerable neighbor or relative. For the purpose of this paper, the primary caregivers discussed will be nurses. Most nurses chose nursing as a career because they have the desire to both help people and provide care for patients with physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. Having this desire puts nurses at risk for suffering from CF. CF can affect nurses in many areas such as physically, emotionally, in job performance, as well as their attitude toward the work environment, coworkers, and their patients. Nurses suffering from CF may experience emotional symptoms that include, but not limited to; poor concentration, decreased focus, poor judgment, mood swings, irritability, anger and resentment (Eyre & Lombardo, 2011). Work related symptoms that may be experienced are; avoidance or dread of working with certain patients, reduced ability to feel empathy towards patients or families, and frequent use of sick days (Eyre & Lombardo, 2011). Physical symptoms often experienced are; headaches, digestive problems: diarrhea, constipation, and upset stomach, sleep disturbances: inability to sleep, insomnia, or too much sleep, and cardiac symptoms: chest pain/pressure, palpitations, and tachycardia (Eyre & Lombardo, 2011). If compassion fatigue continues and no interventions are implemented to combat it, full Burn Out will result. Burn out (BO) is defined as exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration, which gradually builds to a breaking point (www. merriam-webster. com). Nurses suffering from CF or burn out are unable to provide their patients optimal care. In order to build a healthy relationship with patients, a nurse must have a lot of compassion. CF prevents caregivers from showing compassion as well as preventing them from providing effective care because they are tired, unmotivated, and not giving prompt attention to their patients. This is problematic because patients want and deserve not only good clinical care but also the feeling and warmth and compassion from their nurse. When a nurse is experiencing CF or BO he or she may be plagued by negative emotions which include frustration, anger, depression, feeling stuck, feeling paralyzed, irritability toward coworkers and clients, cynicism, bitterness, and being negative about self, others, and the world in general (Espeland, 2006). What patient wants or deserves a nurse who has thought tendencies such as these? It may also cause a hostile work environment for their coworkers as well. Their family life is also affected. The main cause of compassion fatigue is the increasing workload of healthcare. Nurses frequently feel overworked and overwhelmed by competing demands on their time. Nurses and other caregivers are required to put in much more time dealing with inflexible aspects of healthcare such as completing paperwork and computer documentation (Windsor, 2007). They are also encouraged to see more patients in less time, leaving much less time for the nurse/patient relationship (Windsor, 2007). Many times nurse have to work short staffed, but are still expected to complete all components of the job. Increased patient load and the desire to complete all task without the possibility of overtime causes nurses to use their lunch hour or stay late to complete task and complete charting. Thus, in trying to save time, they eliminate the very things that replenish their physical, emotional, and spiritual stores such as exercise, family meals, friends outside of work, or meditation (Windsor, 2007). Many nurses such as this writer are trying to balance work, family and school as well as other life events, putting themselves at high risk for CF or BO. Other difficulties include staff communication problems including not being heard and feeling unsupported, as well as no time to build relationships with patients and families and no time to follow up on important issues. It’s imperative to know the causes and the signs of the condition in order to prevent it or get help. Nurses need to provide for their own wellbeing by meeting their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Physically, the nurse must participate in exercising, relaxation, maintaining adequate sleep and nutrition. It’s important for them to keep themselves healthy so they can help their patients. Not eating right, drinking plenty of water or getting enough rest puts them and those they care for at risk. Ways they can help themselves physically is by purposely taking some time to take a walk, even if it’s just for 15 minutes. This writer knows personally the benefits of a 15 minute walk. It helps relieves stress, it lowers your blood sugar, and relieves those aching muscles. Eating right is also very important. Many times nurses eat on the run, grabbing whatever they can eat and still move. This is unhealthy. Learning to eat frequent small healthy meals can make you feel like a new person. Fruit, salad and healthy snacks like yogurt and nuts should always be on the list. Taking care of emotional needs is just as important as the physical needs. Nurses can reach out to friends and coworkers when feeling emotionally stressed or drained. Sometimes just having someone to talk to or feel that you can relate to can be so helpful. Today, many facilities have programs to assist employees who are having trouble or feeling stressed. The facility this writer works in provides employees with a psychologist who is available when needed to meet and talk to staff in a private and professional manner. Talking with someone often helps alleviate compassion fatigue by bringing the stress out of yourself and into the open (Windsor, 2007). Colleagues are often a good resource in this area, as they may be having similar day-to-day experiences. Professional counselors are also a good source of help. They have special training and may be able to help create a recovery plan (Windsor, 2007). It’s also a good idea for administration to meet with the staff to find out how they feel about different aspects of the job, and to see if there are any ideas to make their work environment healthier, less stressful and more fulfilling. Spiritual needs may be the most important need of all. Growing spiritually in relationship with God can bring about true healing and resilience. Reading the Bible, praying and meditating are the prescriptions that help us to prevent compassion fatigue, minimize its severity or find healing. God is the one who gave us the desire to be caregivers in the first place, so He is ultimately the one that can help us when we are troubled. Frequently counting your blessings and thanking God for them is so helpful. It takes your mind off of your problems, and keeps you from complaining all the time and thinking negatively. Praying and asking God to show you the source of your struggle and what’s bothering you can be the beginning of the healing process. Attending church services routinely can help to revitalize you and prepare you to deal with the many circumstances you may encounter. There are many resources and coping strategies that nurses can use. One thing nurses must do is to remember to take care of them-selves. They need to be mindful that it is not selfish to put them-selves first. If they are healthy physically, emotionally and spiritually, they can be of more assistance to those they care for. Participating in any programs that their place of work offers them to improve performance, encourages physical renewal, and allows for time to de-stress should be encouraged. Joining a gym to get adequate exercise is a good idea. If the nurse has problems with their diet, attending nutrition classes may be helpful. Having a positive self-image is also a coping strategy that is essential for nurses to combat CF. Clearing the mind of negative thoughts immediately is also important. Prayer and meditation is a way to keep the mind clear and on a positive thought path. Learning to provide compassionate care for oneself, allows you to provide that same care to someone else. The most important coping technique of all is balancing their giving to others with giving to themselves (Bush, 2009). Only when nurses take time to heal themselves can they be truly available to aid in the healing of others. The major preventive self-care tasks well understood by the majority of nurse caregivers (Bush, 2009), as previously stated in this paper are: exercising, relaxation, maintaining adequate sleep and nutrition, and reaching out for support from others. Conclusion In conclusion, suffering from this condition prevents nurses from providing quality care. Not recognizing or refusing to acknowledge and get help for compassion fatigue causes people to leave their profession, turn to drugs or alcohol, or in extreme cases become self-destructive or suicidal (Eyre ; Lombardo, 2011). In today’s economy compassion fatigue can be very costly personally and professionally for nurses and financially for institutions (Eyre ; Lombardo, 2011). It is important for nurses to become knowledgeable about compassion fatigue symptoms and intervention strategies and to develop a personal plan of care so as to and achieve a healthy work-life balance (Eyre ; Lombardo, 2011). Equally as important is that healthcare systems invest in creating healthy work environments that prevent ompassion fatigue and address the needs of nurses who are experiencing compassion fatigue. It is important that we all recognize and understand this condition for our own health, but also for our coworkers. If you notice a coworker who you feel may be suffering from CF, reach out to them. Let them know you care and are willing and available to talk if they need you (Eyre ; Lombardo, 2011). Remember yourself, and let your coworkers know that this condition is treatable, and you can get the help you need to get your life back on track.

Common Anions Table and Formulas List

Common Anions Table and Formulas List An anion is an  ion  that has a negative charge. Here is a table listing common anions and their formulas: Table of Common Anions Simple Anions Formula Hydride H- Oxide O2- Fluoride F- Sulfide S2- Chloride Cl- Nitride N3- Bromide Br- Iodide I- Oxoanions Formula Arsenate AsO43- Phosphate PO43- Arsenite AsO33- Hydrogen Phosphate HPO42- Dihydrogen Phosphate H2PO4- Sulfate SO42- Nitrate NO3- Hydrogen Sulfate HSO4- Nitrite NO2- Thiosulfate S2O32- Sulfite SO32- Perchlorate ClO4- Iodate IO3- Chlorate ClO3- Bromate BrO3- Chlorite ClO2- Hypochlorite OCl- Hypobromite OBr- Carbonate CO32- Chromate CrO42- Hydrogen Carbonate or Bicarbonate HCO3- Dichromate Cr2O72- Anions from Organic Acids Formula Acetate CH3COO- Formate HCOO- Other Anions Formula Cyanide CN- Amide NH2- Cyanate OCN- Peroxide O22- Thiocyanate SCN- Oxalate C2O42- Hydroxide OH- Permanganate MnO4- Writing Formulas of Salts Salts are compounds composed of cations bonded to anions. The resulting compound carries a neutral electrical charge. For example, table salt, or sodium chloride, consists of the Na cation bonded to the Cl- anion to form NaCl. Salts are hygroscopic, or tend to pick up water. This water is called water of hydration. By convention, the cation name and formula are  listed before the anion name and formula. In other words, write the cation on the left and the anion on the right. The formula of a salt is: (cation)m(anion)n ·(#)H2O where the H2O is omitted if the # is zero, m is the oxidation state of the anion, and n is the oxidation state of the anion. If m or n is 1, then no subscript is written in the formula. The name of a salt is given by: (cation)(anion) (prefix)(hydrate) where the hydrate is omitted if there is no water. Prefixes indicate the number of water molecules or can be used in front of the cation and anion names in cases where the cation (usually) can have multiple oxidation states. Common prefixes are: Number Prefix 1 mono 2 di 3 tri 4 tetra 5 penta 6 hexa 7 hepta 8 octa 9 nona 10 deca 11 undeca For example, the compound strontium chloride consists of the cation Sr2 combined with the anion Cl-. It is written SrCl2. When the cation and/or the anion is a  polyatomic ion, parentheses may be used to group the atoms in the ion together to write the formula. For example, the salt ammonium sulfate consists of the cation NH4 and the sulfate anion SO42-. The formula of the salt is written as (NH4)2SO4. The compound calcium phosphate consists of the calcium cation Ca2 with the anion PO43- and is written as Ca3(PO4)2. An example of a formula that includes water of hydrate is that of copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate. Note that the name of the salt includes the oxidation state of copper. This is common when dealing with any transition metal or rare earth. The formula is written as CuSO4 ·5H2O. Formulas of Binary Inorganic Compounds Combining cations and anions to form binary inorganic compounds is simple. The same prefixes are applied to indicate the quantities of cation or anion atoms. Examples include the name of water, H2O, which is dihydrogen monoxide, and the name of NO, which is nitrogen dioxide. Cations and Anions in Organic Compounds The rules for naming and writing the formulas of organic compounds are more complex. In general, the name follows the rule: (group prefixes)(longest carbon chain prefix)(highest root bond)(most important group suffix)

14 Incredibly Shocking Confessions from Nurses

14 Incredibly Shocking Confessions from Nurses Being a nurse is a tough job, but somebody has to do. When you’re dealing with hundreds of patients a day, you’ve got to develop a tough exterior and occasionally break the rules. Here are 14 confessions from nurses who went the â€Å"extra mile†.  Ã‚  Ã‚   [Source: Imgur]

Preparing the marketing audit for market entry Essay

Preparing the marketing audit for market entry - Essay Example It is true that Minute maid may face problems initially due to lack of brand awareness. But, effective brand value and strong customer base of Coca Cola can help Minute maid to attract the target customers. This report will recommend some valuable marketing and business operation strategies for the Coca Cola Company in order to implement them for the future growth of Minute maid in England. Introduction This report is a marketing audit including an in-detailed internal and external marketing environment analysis of an organization. The report will conduct a marketing audit for the Coca Cola Company. Minute Maid is one of the popular product lines of beverages of Coca Cola Company. This particular product line is not available in England. The report will conduct a market entry and marketing analysis of Minute Maid in the potential England market. Minute Maid is one of the popular product lines of beverages, generally associated with orange juice or lemonades. The Coca Cola Company is the parent organization of Minute Maid. ... Moreover, demand for fruit juices is significantly increasing among the people of England. On the other hand, Minute Maid earned huge popularity and preference among the people around the globe due to is quality and characteristics (Lorat, 2009, p.23). Now-a-days, people are becoming health conscious. In addition to this, demand for healthy fruit juices is increasing among health conscious people. Therefore, it would be effective if the Coca Cola Company choose to introduce Minute Maid in potential England market (McDonald, 2007, p.39). PESTEL Analysis This external environmental analytical tool will help the organization to determine the future impact of external environmental factors on the performance of Minute Maid in England. Political England is politically stable country. The government of the country is trying to motivate the food and beverage organizations to produce and supply healthy food items in order to secure good health and safety of people (Bradley, 2006, p.90). Ther efore, the government is trying to develop several legislations for the organizations to force them to produce healthy food products. Economical Recent financial crisis and economic slowdown affected the purchasing power of people (Cheverton, 2005, p.76). It is important for the organization to implement economic pricing strategy for Minute Maid in order to support the purchasing power of common people. Social Demand for high carbonated soft drink food products are decreasing due to several health issues and negative consequences (Dawson, 2000, p.71). People are trying to shift from high carbonated soft drink products to the healthy fruit juices. Technological England is technologically developed country (Dobkin, 2007, p.82). The

Building Performance Management through Employee Participation Essay

Building Performance Management through Employee Participation - Essay Example Employee participation is a significant component of motivating them which is also necessary for both their growth and that of the organization. By virtue of their positions, employees have unique and relevant performance information that may not be obvious to those conducting the performance management process (Mayer & Gavin 44). As evidenced by the JMI case, most employees feel unsatisfied with feedback and goal setting processes used by the management. They tend to view it like a procedure manufactured elsewhere and imposed on them. Contrarily, their active participation in the process provides them with a voice in the system, developing a sense of belonging and ownership over the process (Mayer & Gavin 46). Greater employee participation will create an environment of employee support and cooperation. This will encourage developing of counseling and coaching relationships, reducing defensive tendencies and tension and making the results more acceptable to the employees (Mayer & Ga vin 46). Employees provide input on the required standards on which their performance will be based (Cardy & Dobbins 12). It is, therefore, vital to formulate standards that evaluate essential responsibilities and duties by balancing the process, individual and group participation and the outcome. Employees can have a say by contributing their suggestions on the types of rating systems that give an actual representation of their responsibilities and duties (Cardy & Dobbins 12). Studies have indicated that self evaluation increases the participation of employees while enhancing overall satisfaction when used for the purposes of development (Cardy & Dobbins 19). Employees can carry out their own evaluation by completing their own performance evaluation forms prior to the official evaluation interview (Cardy & Dobbins 12). Although it is evident that managerial and employee ratings may not always be in agreement, it is essential for both groups to remember that the process does not see k absolute agreement. Rather, it should be viewed as a process aimed at obtaining consensus from the two teams over time (Mayer & Gavin 54). As with the JMI case, the consultant interviewed the management and used the employee participation technique to solicit feedback from the organization. With this feedback, they were able to identify the problems the employees had with the performance manage system in use. They generated the employees’ support through their participation to formulate a new and acceptable system. Basing on the JMI example, performance management systems can be improved by making them more sensitive to the employees’ issues. This can be achieved through increased privacy and confidentiality; according employees the management’s undivided attention and setting time to discuss issues. Those charged with carrying out the process need to be prepared prior to the exercise (Muchinsky 21). An emphasis is also placed on performance counseling. Team l eaders are encouraged to give individual employees feedback in confidence on their job performance. This may give rise to various potential benefits such as motivating them to be more productive (Muchinsky 34). Those given performance evaluation results that may be below their expectations will also accept them since

Creative Writing, Application Essays Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Creative Writing, Application Essays - Essay Example These are some of the reasons why I would like to attend George Washington University. An education organization that has been providing a service to the community for 188 years is a place with the tradition and experience that I seek from a university campus. I follow basketball and have been a fan of the school’s basketball team for the last five years. I have heard good things about the quality of the education this school provides. My counselor recommended this school to me. I already knew the about the university through its sporting program, but never realized about the possibility of becoming a student. The school website was informative an allowed to learn about many aspects of what the college experience entails. I like the fact the schools place a lot of importance in community service and volunteer work. I would like to get involve in these types of extracurricular activities that can enhance my interpersonal skills and personal development as a human being. I like the fact the schools enabled students to keep up with the current news and alumni affairs through its very informative website. The school’s internet portal was a great tool that provided me with a good overview of what George Washington University can do for my future. I like the campus facilities, security, and medical center capabilities. It is important to go to a college where you feel safe and welcomed. In order to be able to be effective in one’s study routines a person need to be in an environment where you feel like at home. When I visited the University last summer I felt like this a place where I wanted to be the next four years of my life. A college education is an investment that lasts a lifetime. Attending a great college institution such as George Washington University will help my professional future by opening many job opportunities for me in the future. I

Reflection On Leadership And Management Skills

Reflection On Leadership And Management Skills This essay will be used as a tool to critique and improve my leadership and management skills as this is essential to the changes that are needed in the NHS improvement plan. In this process I have identified my leadership strengths as well as my development needs. I have used self assessment and feedback from colleagues in the form of my managers, peers and direct reports. I have also reflected upon my vision and style of management and further identified areas that can be enhanced into making me a more versatile leader as this is important to the NHS modernisation programme (DH 2000). With this information I have formulated an action plan that is SMART (Specific, Measureable, Action Oriented, Realistic and Time bound) (NHS Leadership Qualities Framework 2002). Leadership is essential and central to the current NHS modernisation programme. In fact the department of health quotes anyone working in the NHS regardless of their position, grade, qualification or place of work, may be a leader or agent of change and improvement (DH 2001). In simple terms the department of health is looking towards its own staff to develop and deliver their NHS improvement plan and are looking for visionary staff at all levels of experience (DH 1999). The changes that I have had to lead and am currently leading have been driven by reducing waiting times for new case patients as well as implementing the 18 week Pathway from referral to treatment (DH 2006). Other drivers for change and improvement have been the implementation of the Choose and Book system, whereby patients are invited to choose where they are referred and given the option of booking their appointments. The reason for these changes on a whole has been to provide a faster, more user friendly and convenient access to care for patients requiring treatment (DH 2005). My professional title is Head of Orthoptic Services which is an allied health profession. I have to provide clinical leadership whilst ensuring a comprehensive and equitable service is provided that is responsive to changing needs, that is flexible to change and has to directly follow department of health guidelines and changes. My leadership role is to manage and develop the Orthoptic Services within the framework of national guidelines and ensure that effective communication across 3 hospital based departments, out-reach clinics, special schools and screening clinics is adhered to, to enable effect change. Within this role I am met with challenges that are set from management levels above me that I have to react to within my sphere of influence. These may include financial management, staffing levels, waiting targets and service developments in line with the NHS improvement plan (DH 2004). In providing these changes the challenges that I face are mainly down to financial constraint s and staffing levels. Staffing levels are always an issue since our department lost a member of staff due to recruitment and retention, and as a method of cost savings the post was dissolved. Conflict is often an issue as change is at this time frequent and often initially met with resistance and negativity; I myself can initially have these reactions and project them. My personal vision of leadership is to be a transformational leader. This type of leader has the skills to share their vision, motivate their team and gain commitment, which will as a result inspire performance (Bennis, 2003, p 31-46). I am keen to motivate my staff by giving them objectives that I feel are appropriate and within their capabilities; this gives them a varied, inspiring work life and will broaden and increase their interests. This has been highlighted in my LQF feedback which I will discuss in greater detail later. I feel this is also how the department of health envisions how leadership will carry forward their NHS improvement plan (DH 2001). However, this is sometimes not always possible and in more challenging times I can become more of a transactional leader. I feel sometimes when I have to pass on objectives that people are resistant to, then reward and punishment which is characteristic of transactional leadership comes into force. One example of this was when a member of staffs competencies was called into question due to consistently producing clinically inadequate test results. My leadership philosophy is to be a leader who has inspirational qualities and to be credible. This should involve being approachable, hard working, trustworthy, competent and supportive. If I am able to fulfil these criteria then I feel I will have credibility as a leader and or manager. This is what followers expect of a leader (Kouzes and Posner, 1997, p 19-31). The reason for this is because a confident and competent leader will have the ability and capabilities which will be obvious to their followers. They will be able to share their vision which will inspire the staff to follow in their footsteps. To be a successful leader it is important to self assess and understand about self-knowledge. If one is able to identify their strengths and any areas for development, this will result in being able to set realistic parameters and be able to capitalise on their strengths, interests and capabilities (Bennis, 2003, p47-64). I have therefore completed an assessment of myself by using the NHS Leadership Qualities Framework 360 Feedback assessment tool (LQF). I have also completed a shortened Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to identify my personality type. The LQF is based upon research with over 3,328 participants and is evidence based grounded research with 150 NHS Chief Executives and Directors of all disciplines. This makes it a robust form of assessment (NHS Leadership Qualities Framework 2002). . My criticism of the LQF would be that you have to carefully select who you feel is able to fill it out in a critical but positive way. I feel that if this is not done it has the ability to skew the percentage scales especially if there has only been small numbers of participants in each group. This creates statistically insignificant results. Finally some of my direct reports felt that the language and questions were quite technical and needed some form of political astuteness and management knowledge, therefore making it difficult to fill out completely accurately. I have been able to identify key qualities from the LQF which not only fit in with my leadership philosophy but in my role as a leader. Some of these qualities I had no idea I possessed. I appear confident and am approachable, supportive, motivated, focused, determined and a good communicator. I also have the will to see service developments; this is key to the Department of Healths modernisation and improvement plans (DH 2000). These qualities have been identified by my managers, peers and direct reports. Some of these qualities fit in with being a transformational leader which is clearly what is important to the department of healths improvement plan. Interestingly some of my needs for development have been identified as not being self-confident, not dealing with disciplinary needs and identifying slipping standards, these development needs all point to a more transactional form of leadership or the more management orientated tasks. This process (LQF) has forced me to be far more critical and reflective of myself. It has been uncomfortable at times as some of the feedback has been quite damning of my leadership style, however it is apparent that this is an anomaly in the process and not the general feeling from the rest of the participants. It has highlighted to me key strengths that I have aspired to possess, and it has clearly highlighted areas needed for development, some of which I feel I may have been subconsciously aware of. An example of my strengths directly ties in with the department of healths NHS modernisation programme quote: Anyone working in the NHS regardless of their position, grade, qualification or place of work, may be a leader or agent of change and improvement (DH 2001). A number of direct reports state I delegate duties well which allows people to expand their own role in the department. This creates new challenges for people which maintains motivation (LQF page 44). Other comments relating to this go on to state this makes people feel valued, able to branch into other areas of expertise and helps to retain staff. In this process I have been able to clearly identify key qualities and strengths; however, in order to become a more effective leader some development needs have been identified. In order to achieve this I have created action plans for three areas I would like to work on. Firstly to improve my time management skills, my next plan will be to develop the ability to confront colleagues in a self managed way and finally to increase my self confidence. (Appendix 1) To enable myself to improve these development needs I have formulated action plans for each. I am going to attempt to use ideas and recommendations from professional consensus but also from the likes of Bennis, Kouzes and Posner, Tracy and Covey all advocators of personal development and leading experts in leadership. My first action plans objective is to improve my time management skills. The rationale behind this is because poor organisation and time management creates a negative outlook for all groups of people I work with, my peers, direct reports and my managers. It has been stated in the LQF that it sets undesirable standards to others. Also objectives can be left too close to the deadline which then creates a rushed and poorly planned outcome which can directly affect the quality of the project. Ultimately the deadline can be missed if other tasks make me have to digress from the original task. Furthermore people have identified that I need to improve my long term planning and see the bigger picture, however, this is difficult if I am constantly dealing with the day to day urgent tasks or Fire-fighting as quoted by a peer. Having reflected upon my style of leadership and identifying a quality I possess, approachability, I also feel this can hinder effectiveness. I currently operate an open door policy and try to be approachable. This causes frequent interruptions and digressions which puts pressure on myself and creates difficulty reaching deadlines. The strategies I am going to explore are based around Stephen Covey and Brian Tracys methods of improving personal effectiveness. Before I set about this I feel I will have to reduce the potential unnecessary interruptions and digressions. Firstly I still want to remain an approachable leader with an open door policy, this, my staff felt was a strength, however, I feel that if I restrict access I will have more uninterrupted time which will make me able to work for longer periods of time and thus reach goals and objectives far more effectively. My first step is to simply close my door between certain hours and ensure that people are aware that if the door is closed I am not available, but I will make staff know that I am available between the hours of 08.00 09.00 (dependent on start time), 12.00 13.30 and 16.00-17.00. The next step will be to improve clarity; this is the most important concept in personal effectiveness, if I have absolutely clear goals and objectives, this should improve my productivity and prevent me procrastinating (Tracy, 2004, p7). Ideally I will start to document what it is I want to achieve since this will enable me to visualise what it is I am aiming for. During this process I will set a realistic deadline to achieving my goals, this will give the objective urgency. I will plan ahead, again documenting what needs to be achieved. Finally, something I rarely do will be to take action on the plan immediately (Tracy, 2004, p7). The next step will involve building upon my clarity and identified goals and objectives and will involve planning ahead by working from a list. A short time making a plan of the day ahead will in the long run save time. Therefore I am going to list the tasks or objectives that need to be achieved monthly, weekly and daily, and as I have achieved an objec tive I will cross it off. Tracy (2004, p14) explains that monthly and weekly lists increases effectiveness and efficiency, and ultimately improves motivation and drive since you are able to visualise your achievements. It is this sense of accomplishment that generates forward motion. This strategy will be a very useful evaluation tool as it will enable me to assess my progress and achievements. This plan of action also fits in with the Quadrant II theory where I need to balance my working life between urgent and important issues (Covey, 2004, p150). There are four quadrants (I) important and urgent (II) Important and not urgent (III) not important but urgent and (IV) not important and not urgent. Currently if I reflect upon my practice and what has been highlighted in my LQF I am working in quadrant I. Jerry spends most of his time fire-fighting at work i.e. he is constantly dealing with the immediate problem rather than getting on top of things and looking ahead and planning bette r (LQF, p47). This affects my drive for improvement which is key to the NHS Modernisation and Improvement plan (DH 2000). Covey (2004, p152) states that this leads to stress, burnout, crisis management and fire-fighting and therefore lead me to be far less effective and efficient. The idea is to work more in quadrant II where I am dealing with important but not urgent tasks, if I can achieve this then this will impact on having to deal with the urgent and important tasks that prevent me from planning ahead and driving for improvement. Furthermore if I can get into quadrant II, less and less tasks will be urgent and important. An example of a problem that exists at the moment as a result of poor time management and dealing with urgent and important issues all the time is patient discharge letters. I am unable to sit for any length of time and write them, they are therefore mounting up and compounding my inefficiency. If I were to list them on my weekly schedule, then I will be able t o visualise the task needs doing. Therefore if I can eliminate the pile that exists, it will be easier to stay on top of the task, one letter at a time is easier and more effective than having to sit down and write ten. Therefore my evaluation tool will be to constantly review my task lists and assess my achievements and work on the objectives that are left outstanding. The second action plans objective is to look at developing my ability to confront members of staff at all levels in a self managed way. The rationale behind this is because confrontation at work occurs at all levels, meaning that I have to manage confrontation with my peers and direct reports. Confrontation and conflict appeared frequently in my LQF assessment, with comments suggesting I shy away from it, bury my head in the sand, let standards slip rather than deal with confrontation and do not deal with disciplinary issues to avoid confrontation. These comments were particularly used by my peers and direct reports. All this fits in with the difficulty I have dealing with conflict management. Conflict is likely when the work place has staff of varying backgrounds (Outhwaite, 2003, p347-375), for example professionals versus semi professionals, which can then lead to perceived status differences making joint working far more difficult. One of my peer comments was to do with the perce ption that my staff controls me and that I have little control over them. Though I disagree with the majority of this statement, there does appear to be some obvious perceptions within my peers that this is in fact the case. The strategy to improve on my ability to confront colleagues in a self managed way will concentrate on conflict resolution. My role as a leader is to identify, explore and resolve issues that may be causing conflict, this may be uncomfortable but can only be achieved with perseverance and some degree of risk (Outhwaite, 2003, p347-375). Confronting my direct reports would be the logical first step, the reason for this is the feedback I received from my peers, suggesting they (direct reports) control me. My own direct reports suggested that I dislike confronting them when standards are slipping or when disciplinary issues need resolving (LQF, p 44-45). Return to work interviews after sickness are left or not done, these by no means are a disciplinary action, however if they are not done it gives the opinion that I do not care. In line with improving my time management skills, my intention is to immediately list the interview down on my schedule, so that I can visualise the need to do it. If clinical case note standards slip, then I should deal with them immediately also. There was a case when a colleague had written highly inappropriate comments in clinical records that were brought to my attention. I procrastinated far too long in dealing with this, so that when I did eventually confront the member of staff I was me t with hostility Why did you not speak to me months ago. My staff members were aware of the issue and were uncomfortable that nothing had been done. If feel if I had exercised better assertiveness and had identified, explored and resolved the issue earlier then the outcome would have been more positive for me and my direct reports. I feel the longer issues are left, the more I worry and become less in control. When it comes to the confrontation, I am tense, uncomfortable and out of control. The quicker I can explore and resolve the issue the easier it will be to deal with and I will be moving towards a more self managed way of dealing with confrontation. Furthermore the quicker I act on these types of issues the more it will be a self managed style of leadership, as it will prevent me from being pushed into dealing with confrontation by my direct reports and peers. Managing confrontation with my peers will employ a more open and honest form of communication (Covey 2004, p 202). Through my LQF and reflection I have identified that with my immediate peers there is differing professional backgrounds and probable peer resentment. It is clear that with both parties small issues and annoyances have been left to fester. This then leads to an escalation of bad feeling and antagonism between us all. With the differing professional backgrounds there has always been a differing level of expectation across the workforce. Covey (2004, p 201-202) examines dealing with the issues head on by arranging a series of meetings to mediate and resolve the existing issues and promote a more open and positive working relationship. By taking these steps myself to deal with the current situation, I will be self managing confrontation and will not be forced into having to deal with issues by outside pressures and necessity. Evaluation of this action plan will again be in the form of scheduling and crossing off achievements, but also reflecting upon the experience. Rule: Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field (Tracy 2004, p52). If I can maintain a diary reflecting upon conflicts that have been resolved and concentrate on the problems and not the personalities then I will be moving towards a self managed way of dealing with confrontation. I will be forcing myself to learn from my experiences and be able to identify successful and less successful outcomes and identify why these exist or what it was that was different between each confrontation. I will reflect upon the use of some of my strengths identified in my LQF. Confidence but not arrogance, highly developed communication style and being able to listen, these are all important in dealing with conflict management (Outhwaite, 2003, p 374-375). My final action plans objective will be to increase my self confidence. The rationale behind this is very personal. Already through my LQF assessment I have learnt that people mostly perceive me as confident and having motivational and inspiring qualities, however, my own personal confidence levels are very poor. Fear of change, conflict and failure is a barrier to my confidence. The LQF assessment showed a very low score for taking calculated risks, this does not surprise me since my direct reports and peers are very unforgiving when it comes to poor judgement and change, even if it was justified. One particular peer is very judgemental regarding failure and slipping standards. My time management skills are in need of further development and a sense of not achieving the balance between non urgent and important tasks (Quadrant II) and constantly dealing with immediate issues constantly chips away at ones confidence levels. Not being able to achieve positive outcomes in conflicts and confrontations needs to be addressed. The more I can succeed and develop the win/win habit the better my confidence will become. It is not about winning confrontations and moving forward my way, but more that agreements and solutions end with a mutually beneficial or satisfying outcome (Covey, 2004, p207). My strategy to improving my self confidence will start by formulating organisational plans and task sheets. When I achieve an objective or project I will cross these of the list and highlight it as an achieved small win (Kouzes and Posner, 1997, p 242-265). This creates momentum and the sense of achievement as previously discussed. I will rate key results on a scale of one to ten and identify strengths and weaknesses, the weaknesses can be used to further develop. If I learn from these weakness and train further this will eliminate the feelings of inadequacy and the lack of confidence I have (Tracy 2004, p 51). Key results or completed projects can be discussed with colleagues and appraised by my manager (Tracy, 2004, p 35-40). All these achievements that I have previously never reflected upon will start to give me a sense of confidence and accomplishment I have never previously thought about. On reflection I have assessed my achievements more on a win/lose scenario, but the more I c an work towards the win/win habit (Covey, 2004, p 205-234) and pass this on to my direct reports the more I am likely to succeed and become self confident. My direct reports tend to assess accomplishments using the win/lose way, and therefore anything that is achieved must have the outcome of us having won the battle, it is not surprising that this promotes the lack of confidence and a feeling of inadequacy I have. Evaluation of this action plan will be to more frequently assess my achievements and accomplishments (Kouzes and Posner, 1997, p 242-265). This will involve assessing my task sheets and my organisational plan which will be done on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. This will help me visualise the tasks that have been completed. The rating of tasks and further training can be assessed by looking at the ratings and assessing if they are improving. This will enable me to build my self confidence. Conflicts and confrontations can be reflected upon and I will be able to better understand the concepts behind win/win. If I can self manage the confrontations and aim for win/win, not only will I be achieving mutually satisfactory benefits and outcomes, but this will be working towards building my self confidence as more and more tasks will be achievable. It will also improve the interdepartmental conflicts and possible peer resentment that has been evident since my LQF. To conclude, it is obvious that all my action plans link into each other. As I become a more effective and efficient leader, then my peers will have less reason to resent my management style and pressure me into acting upon issues that are troubling them. This will then have the effect of lessening conflicts and confrontations. Furthermore, as I improve my time management skills and lessen the confrontations that occur, this will start impacting on my own self confidence. My own self confidence is directly affected by poorly self managed confrontations and an increasing number of tasks that are left undone or incomplete. It is obvious from my strengths that I have the ability to carry out these action plans and that my staff members are more than willing to take on tasks that are suitable for them as they state this makes people feel valued, able to branch into other areas of expertise and helps to retain staff. The Department of Health is looking for visionary staff members that are able to implement and carry out their modernisation plan. As my leadership skills improve I will be more effective in leading change and envisioning improvements becoming the embodiment of the Department of Healths modernisation and improvement plan.