Disposable Society: Capitalism and Consumerism Combined?

It was an interesting day of picking up otherwise â€Å"unimportant things,† noting my own urges to just dispose of varied materials, and observing my precious â€Å"living environment. † At the end of the day, it was time for sorting out other people’s â€Å"thrash† and noting my own habits plus reflecting on these various disposable items that I am supposed to learn from. These are what I have seen and what I have realized. Food items and their packaging materials come at the top of the list. Second in line, I found office and school materials – paper clips, ballpen caps, paper, etc.Then there were the miscellaneous home and personal items, various odds and ends including Styrofoam pieces from certain packaging materials, plastic containers bolts and nuts and various unidentified metal pieces, pieces of colored cloth, cigarette butts, an old plastic toy top, a CD, and a torn magazine. There are other small items not include in the list here but ba sically these are my categorizations of the disposable or â€Å"disposed† items collected in a day of walking and observing around.From one angle, it is a most convenient, socially constructed environment that we have—the so-called modern society with all its technology and other trappings. Part of the convenience lies in the disposability of many, if not all the items, that we see around us and which we utilize for meaningful survival on the planet. For example, how would we be able to store and therefore distribute food across great distances without the modern techniques of food packaging?The sanitary handling of food through these technologies however have an implication after the packaged food has been consumed: where goes the inedible packaging? There is a need for food manufacturers to factor in this question in their development of packing and packaging technology. Everyday, everyone eats, and the more we consume, the more we throw away. In 2004, a University o f Arizona study indicates that forty to fifty percent of all edible food never gets eaten. Every year $43 billion worth of edible food is estimated to be thrown away.(â€Å"US wastes half its food,† 2007) What can be done about this? To eat less? Joking aside, we have to be more responsible consumers. There’s a hungry world out there. Moreover, developing biodegradable packaging and eating utensils could be the simple long-term solution perhaps so that environmental pollution is lessened. Or how about edible utensils for a species that is constantly on the go? Perhaps someday. Ours is a society that does not sleep. 24-7 we say. Society moves every second, every day and the more we move, the more be create garbage, the more we develop disposables.Ours has become a disposable society. Even many relationships today seem disposable — fleeting and cold. In the coldness of many offices and supposed institutions of learning, many items are disposable. Containers, small items that make work less tedious like those yellow sticker-like notepads, pens, and computer printer ink cartridges, among others. In the relative warmth of some homes, still we see the signs of disposability: the Christmas tree, the decorations from the last party, the old TV guides.How would life be if we had disposable parents? Frightening thought? Indeed, but perhaps not for some who may have had the unfortunate experience of having dysfunctional parents or adults in their life. Work and family, 24-7, in modern societies, live off disposables. They make life easy and they spur more productivity and innovation. On the large downside, we are using off precious scarce resources, which can be depleted in the long run, and dirtying up the whole planet against the interest of future generations.At the heart of all this is a peculiar system that is consumerist in orientation. Consumerism is a lifestyle fanned by the current economic system, an orientation that appears negatively util itarian, unduly pleasure-oriented, and has no regard for long-term negative consequences of degrading the planet’s natural environment. As things are consumed and disposed, more production and profit is created to replace the old disposed material. What would the world be if things were not as disposable? Production could grind to a halt, as there could be less needs to fulfill.If cars, for instance, were not too disposable and new models are not made to be so appealing (as if they were needed and not simply desired), where would the car industry be now? We see this even in the use of computer technologies. As Smith (2008) notes: Creating products that aren't meant to last is a very viable business strategy as this means that consumers will need to buy replacement products†¦ In a more modern context, consider videogames. Old games, like Pong, could be played over and over again. Today's games, like the popular Grand Theft Auto series, have a beginning and an end.Once you â€Å"beat the game† you need to buy the next installment in the series. The same concept applies to computer software. If you call Microsoft and try to get support for Windows 98, a once expensive product that still works just fine on many computers, you'll be told that it is no longer supported. It's not that the product doesn't work, it's that the company wants you to buy the latest and greatest version of whatever they're selling. Is not consumerism and capitalism complementary with the reality of a disposable society? The profit seekers are only too glad we throw their products away—the sooner, the better. References http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/08/30/60minutes/rooney/main308969.shtml â€Å"US wastes half its food.† http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=56376-us-wastes-half. Retrieved on 2007-10-01. Smith, L. (2008). The Disposable Society: An Expensive Place To Live. http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/07/disposablesociety.asp. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.

How and why does order disintegrate on the island? Essay

On the island two leaders are clearly marked out at the start; Jack and Ralph. Jack has a fierce desire to lead and control. From the start of the book he challenges Ralph’s leadership and is obsessed with power. At the start he controls the ‘wearily obedient’ choir with military discipline and at the end he rules his tribe of savages with fear and torture. Jack rejects the democratic processes by which rules and decisions are made, and instead imposes his own desires by force. He overcomes and suppresses the civilised restraints which originally prevented him killing the pig and gives up to his violent and bloodthirsty instincts. We are not informed in the book of Jack’s intelligence, as when he gains power, he makes very primitive solutions to the problems on the island because he has lost all sense of rational thought. He resorts to superstitious practices like leaving an offering for the beast, and uses rituals to keep the tribe together and to hide their emotions. Ralph is dependable and responsible. He is basically kind, with ‘a mildness about his mouth and eyes that proclaimed no devil’. His sensitivity can be seen in the way he deals with Jack’s disappointment at losing the leadership vote by giving him charge of the choir. He hopes the society works in a democratic and civilised way and is shocked when things go wrong. He is intelligent, but he often finds making decisions and thinking things through too much for him, and relies on Piggy to help and prompt him. Ralph takes time to notice just how important Piggy is to him being chief, and he grows to value Piggy’s loyalty and common sense. Ralph shows physical courage, such as when he forces himself to climb the mountain and face the beast. Moral courage is shown when he admits his part in Simon’s murder. He struggles to keep believing that humans are fundamentally good. He can’t understand how a boy like him could experience real hatred: ‘But he’s, he’s Jack Merridew!’ In the end he recognises the real evil inside humans; ‘the darkness of a man’s heart’. Ralph represents the values of civilisation and democratic rule, which are eventually defeated by the evil contained within society. However, the two similarities the boys possess are that they are both stronger and a lot bigger than the others, which is the most important reason for them being marked out as obvious leaders at the first meeting. Ralph wins the vote for chief because of his; ‘attractive appearance; and most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch.’- even before the boys really know each other they already seem to respect the conch as it unites them in what seems like a orderly meeting with the sound it makes. Because of this it is seen as the tool that creates and resembles civilisation throughout the book Each of them is a leader, but the leadership each shows is based on different principles. Ralph’s liberal style of leadership takes notice of other peoples opinions. He feels the responsibility of his position and also feels its burdens. Jack’s style of leadership is based on domination and fear. He imposes his will on others with no regard for their needs or feelings. He wields power without responsibility, and enjoys having power over other beings, animal or human. The things he cannot dominate he tries to destroy, which is why he hunts Ralph at the end of the book. Jack hides his identity behind his mask and the anonymous title of ‘chief’. Jack uses these things to protect himself from remembering the civilised world, enabling him to perform savage acts with no remorse, which makes him a very strong leader, even if he is unjust and selfish. One of the main symbols of leadership on the island is the conch. This creamy shell that can be blown like a horn represents the democratic system of leadership on the island, as it is Ralph’s tool for organising meetings and controlling the boys. The conch also represents the paternalistic rà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½gime of adult authority that cares for everyone. Throughout the book the reader and the characters identify Piggy with this ideology due to his intelligence and his total faith in democracy. As respect for the conch fades, a sense of order also fades. This continues until the conch is smashed, ending order and civilisation on the island. The evil that is inside human beings is personified in the beast. Many people don’t want look inside themselves and don’t want to recognise this aspect of their nature. They look for something in their surroundings to be the cause or its embodiment. This happens on the island – the boys have lost all sense of home and security, which begins to provoke nightmares. One of the littluns resorts to muttering his name and address as a means of remembering the civilised world – in doing so grasping for security – ‘Percival Wemys Madison, The Vicarage, Harcourt Street†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢.They then begin to think the branches are snakes, which develops into a beast, which rapidly changes form in the boys’ imaginations. When the dead pilot lands on the mountain top this becomes the focal point of their fear. Jack takes advantage of the fear this causes by promising to protect them from the beast, which, once it takes a physical form, leaves no doubts in the minds of the majority of the boys – which makes Jack very powerful and he becomes the new leader on the island. Once Jack is given this authority, he extends his power over his ‘tribe’ by making them fearful and in awe of him as well as the beast. He does this by concealing his civilised identity with a mask of clay paint, changing his name so he is known only as chief, ordering his tribe to perform rituals; ‘ ‘Go on!’ The two savages looked at each other, raised their spears and spoke in time. ‘The Chief has spoken.’ ‘. And making them dance to celebrate the savage act of killing a pig. As order disintegrates on the island, the boys descend to savagery. This is best illustrated by the choir. They begin the novel in smart uniforms promoting their group identity. They then become hunters, and begin to enjoy killing the pigs. Jack then releases his savage instincts by making his mask, and they all follow suit, degenerating into a tribe of savage killers. Every time the group kills, it becomes more of a ritual and less of an actual hunt for food. This continues throughout the novel until the final hunt – which is the hunt for Ralph. This is made even more disturbing when Golding makes Roger sharpen a stick ‘at both ends’. We cannot be sure whether they intend to cut Ralph’s head off and put it on one end of the stick with the other end in the ground, or whether they intend to thrust the stick through his body and cook him over a fire. Either way, this shows just how much the boys have changed – there is no element of civilisation left and the descent to savagery is complete. Order is destroyed on the island because of the natural savagery that is inside human beings. The reader presumes that more prominent figures like Jack and Roger are ‘evil’, but all they are doing is giving in to their instincts. The only reason why Piggy and Ralph can remain civilised is by battling with their instincts, a battle that they lose at times in the book, such as at the time of Simons death. All the boys needed for their instincts take over was an escape from the influences of civilisation. I think Golding is trying to convey how weak civilisation is, as well as showing that all humans have the potential for savage behaviour. The island is a microcosm of the outside world – when the boys set fire to the island at the end, the adults are also setting fire to their world with the atom bomb. Golding has been quoted as saying that ‘anyone who lived through the Second World War and didn’t believe that men produced evil just as bees produced honey must be ignorant or mad’ – he very successfully uses the book as his argument.

Promote positive behaviour Essay

Communication Environment Power imbalance Excessive demands Boredom Lack of boundaries or goals Emotional expression Sensory needs Physical Health Mental Health An individual’s past experiences Age and gender Setting boundaries and rules together, for everyone to work within. Do observations to help understand why behaviours are happening or what resources are being accessed in the setting. Adapting the environment if it’s found that any aspect triggers challenging behaviour. Changing routines if any aspect is found to trigger challenging behaviour Have policies and procedures in place that help colleagues deal – reactively with incidents of conflict and reporting causes/triggers. self-injury physical aggression verbal aggression disruption and destruction of property or the environment stereotyped behaviours (eg rocking) inappropriate or unacceptable sexual behaviour smearing and urination stealing manipulative, deceitful and non-compliant behaviour absconding. People must always be treated with dignity and respect, this may be difficult when their behaviour is threatening to their friends or members of staff, however it is essential to remember that it’s the behaviour that is adverse and not the individual. When challenging the behaviour it is important to disapprove of the negative behaviour, not the individual. Should the situation require reactive strategies, it is important to uphold best practise and continue to treat the individual in a person centred way, according to their placement plan, risk assessment and positive handling plan, paying attention to the individuals faith, beliefs, culture while maintaining dignity. Read more:Â  Promote Positive Behaviour Essay a) how they were feeling at the time prior to and directly before the incident.Aim: to identify the mood, emotion, level of stress. This helps the individual recognise what part their feelings may of played within the incident. b) their behaviourAim: to identify actions. This helps to critically analyse what went on, the physical contact that occured, verbal language and body language. c) the consquences of their behaviourAim: to see what arose from their actions, who if anyone was hurt emotionally or physically, if an object broke, was part of the incident. If the consequences were negative or positive. d) how they were feeling after the incident.Aim: to give names to emotions and feelings, with the possibility to explore alternative means of resolving differences, diffusing challenging behaviour. After the incident you may feel tired and upset, judgemental, shocked, surprised, angry, sad, glad its over. It is important to talk to someone else about what has happened. The individual should be checked over by a member of staff who was not involved in the incident of challenging behaviour. Immediate action should be taken to ensure medical help is sought if there are any injuries which require more than basic first aid. All injuries should be reported and recorded using the appropriate systems.

Plato's parable allegory of the cave expresses his doctrine of Ideas Essay

Plato's parable allegory of the cave expresses his doctrine of Ideas or Forms - Essay Example ad.’ This may have been â€Å"derived either from the width of his shoulders, the results of training for wrestling, or from the breadth of his style, or from the size of his forehead† (Rowe, qtd. in O’Connor and Robertson, Plato). His father, Ariston, died when Plato was a young man and his mother, Perictione, married Pyrilampes, in whose house Plato lived. Plato served in the military from 409 – 404 B.C. during the Peloponnesian War. He then participated in the Athenian oligarchy of the Thirty Tyrants in 404 B.C. but soon repudiated their violence. His disillusionment with Athenian politics was complete with the execution of Socrates in 399 B.C. which had a deep impact on his life and thinking. Leaving Athens, Plato traveled to Egypt, Sicily and Italy, where he was influenced by Pythagoras’ work to conclude that valid scientific thought must necessarily be expressed in mathematical terms. He again served as a soldier. On returning to Athens in 387 B.C. Plato founded a school of philosophy and science in a grove belonging to man called Academos: the origin of the word ‘Academy.’ Aristotle was the most renowned of the Academicians. The aim of the academy was to instruct young men to become the ideal statesmen who would usher in the ideal world of Plato’s writings. Except for an intervening period of a few years as tutor to Dionysus II of Syracuse, Plato continued in his role at the Academy until his death in 347 B.C. Plato’s life shows that, in addition to being a philosopher, â€Å"he was a man of the world, an experienced soldier, widely traveled, with close contacts with many of the leading men of affairs, both in own city and elsewhere† (Field, qtd. in O’Connor and Robertson, Plato). Plato’s Academy flourished for nine hundred years, as the longest surviving university known, until it was disbanded by the Emperor Justinian as a pagan establishment. Plato’s Dialogues assured his place â€Å"among the greatest writers of the world†

Consumption and Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Consumption and Environment - Essay Example Human habitats are being plundered of their natural resources base. Air and water pollution is rampant in all industrialized cities of the world. PPM (particulate matter per cubic meter of air) is alarmingly high, and is no more fit for human breathing. The COD, BOD levels in fresh water streams are quite low for survival of plant and animal life in waters. The soils are being badly damaged by excessive cropping. The precious animal and plants species are endangered. The CO2 level in the atmosphere is alarmingly high. Results are the global warming and climate change. Therefore unnecessary lust of a few people for consumption of food, clothes, fuel, energy and other scarcest resources has been resulting into poverty disease and death for many other fellow human beings. The rivers are gutted with filth, the air is laden with poisonous gases and soils are boiling with toxic materials. This situation is only due to greedily exploitation of forest, fossil fuels and food-based resources. The solution lies in finding the alternate resources that are cleaner in production, cheaper and efficient. Recycling projects are one of the solutions. Recycling Project: The sea beaches are always littered with different foodstuffs and their containers. This is called garbage or solid waste. This waste can be collected, separated and recycled for further use. The recycling project includes three main activities. Collection of organic wastes like wood, paper, food remains, plastic bottles, metal cans, glass, and bones. The collection needs proper gloves and storage containers. The separation includes, segregation of metal, glass, bones and food/paper stuff in separate containers. In this way you separate organic from inorganic waste. The organic waste is put in an airtight container and mixed with yeast. After 90 days the stuff converts into manure (natural fertilizer) and the liquid part of this can be used as a pesticide. The organic wastes are crushed and used in the factories for recycling.How is it connected to me I live an oil rich economy of a gulf state. Oil has become scarce fossil sources for exploitation. War on terror imposed by America on Iraq is in fact a desperate war for the oil resources in the gulf. This war has been doing more harm to the environment than any other factor. A lot of fossil oil has been burnt. Seas are filled with the oil spillage and fish have been dead. This is very cruel. I feel sorry to see the vast exploitation of these resources. A recycling project can save the environment. Vast beaches on the red sea are suitable for the recycling project. How is it connected to my culture Bahrain is an oil rich economy, a small gulf state surrounded by red sea. People per capita income are quite high. Therefore their consumption patterns are also quite unreasonable People do not care about wastage of energy. The use cars and fuel base appliances excessively. This situation irks me a lot. I want to give the better shape to mother earth. Since child hood I see that people are spendthrift. This is causing degeneration to our water resources. This situation must be reversed. Recycling project can help this situation. This alternate solution of energy production is strange to my people. They can become used to it as they experience these windmills by themselves. What specific

Distributive Bargaining Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Distributive Bargaining - Coursework Example The purpose is to set parameters that determine the reservation price. The third skill set is Skill 3.3 which refers to the ability to learn the other party`s offer and bracket it so as to attain a desired outcome in a distributive negotiation. The forth skill set is Skill 3.4. It refers to the ability to recognize custom practices and use them in evaluating offers, making counter offers, and reaching acceptable settlement points. The final skill is Skill 3.5, which refers to the ability to learn the significance of framing in its role in negotiation. The purpose of the skill is to influence others perception and how they respond to offers (Carrell 2008). Zone of possible agreement (ZOPA): if assumed that the buyer’s maximum price is b. the sellers minimum acceptable price by the seller is s. if b is greater than s then ZOPA exists. In other words ZOPA occurs because the buyer is willing and able to meet or surpass the minimum price set by the seller. ZOPA reflects the negotiating latitude, bargaining attitude, settlement range or bargaining range. Experienced negotiators argue the criticality of making the initial offer because it can greatly influence the other negotiating party`s perception of Zone of possible agreement since each party bases estimation of ZOPA on their reservation (Carrell 2008). Relational information are beliefs, facts and feelings concerning the relations of the parties. Relational information help in building a good will relationship in distributive bargaining. Substantive information are facts or questions concerning the other party`s offer that utilizes reason and logic. The information can be used to dictate negotiation in distributive bargaining. Equality norm refers to a scenario in a distributive bargaining case where both parties in the negotiation split the difference and gain an equal amount. Equity norm refers to a situation where the split is carried based on the input of the parties involved in

Human Factors and Ergonomics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Human Factors and Ergonomics - Assignment Example Suggestions to improve these conditions i. Place study samples of interest onto a table where he or she will work in upright manner ii. Raise the work to a better view where he or he will be aligning with samples to avoid bending head. iii. Avoid bending wrists more than 300 by using in-line appropriate tools when working on things that are lying on flat surfaces. iv. Use low stools especially when he or he is collecting samples but not for a prolonged period. This is to avoid bending of neck. 2. i. Adjustable Driver’s seat and its belt - A person based on an individual’s height is capable of setting both seat and belt such that he or she can hold the steering wheel appropriately without reaching it from behind or operating when it is very close to the chest. ii. Appropriate size of a steering wheel - When negotiating a corner one executes this task with ease without struggling with big or a small steering wheel.

Applying Standardized Terminologies in Practice - Informatics Essay

Applying Standardized Terminologies in Practice - Informatics - Essay Example The defining characteristic in stroke treatment and management is neck-artery blockage which could be either symptomatic or asymptomatic. Individuals without any stroke symptoms are also likely to suffer from the disease. However, those who have shown stroke symptoms face a higher risk. Factors related to stroke management include micro-clots in the carotid arteries’ bloodstream, asymptomatic carotid disease, amarousis fugax (a TIA affecting the eye), cognitive impairment, brain stroke and ischemic stroke (Lovrencic-Huzjan, Rundek, & Katsnelson, 2012). Other related factors are symptomatic carotid stenosis and plaque instability. When a plaque is ulcerated or has irregular morphology, the risk of a clinical event increases. NOC outcomes suggested in the management of stroke using medical intervention include improved muscular and brain functioning. The main indicator showing improved status of a stroke patient with medical intervention is elimination of clots in the carotid blood stream. The elimination of neck artery blockage reduces the likelihood of suffering from stroke. Inherently, the use of standardized language in nursing profession is becoming prevalent in education and practice Suggested NIC interventions for stroke patients include use of surgery such as carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for the prevention of secondary stroke. A more recent and less invasive surgical alternative is carotid stenting. The nurse could also advise patients to stop smoking and limit intake of cholesterol for stroke prevention and management. Emboli monitoring is also recommended in order to minimize the risk of later developing stroke. Between the 1980s to early 2000s, aspirin was the only anti-platelet therapy for treatment of stroke. Since the start of the new millennium, medical interventions have increased to include statins, new

The Differences Between Islamic Banking and Conventional Banking Essay

The Differences Between Islamic Banking and Conventional Banking System - Essay Example This essay discusses the Banks, that play a crucial role in the management of money from depositors and lending money to the needy, today banks are also indispensable for and international payments system. Individuals, organizations or governments do not only need banks as safe custody of their money, but they all also need to circulate their funds like money getting transferred from buyers to sellers or employers to employees. In this case banks play a prominent role too. They handle payments like issuing personal cheques to making electronic payments of large amounts between banks. In today’s era of international trade, most payments are administered instantly. An efficiently managed system of payments is indispensable for a stable and growing economy, and any inefficiency in the payments system can hinder smooth trade and therefore can significantly hamper economic growth. In this ongoing global economic recession, the Islamic banking structure that is described in the essa y is gaining increasing popularity among the non-Muslims across the world due to its broader product services and its ability to stand against the odds of economic recession where many conventional banks are collapsing. The major purpose of Islamic banking system is to manage and distribute finance in the manner that complies with the Islamic laws and principles. The growing popularity of Islamic banks among the non-Muslims is due to its â€Å"strict lending principles, reflecting industry efforts to transcend religious beliefs to gain greater market share†

Latino film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Latino film - Essay Example In later scenes, to cope with the hardships and growing hostility from her husband, she ends up throwing her husband out of her home. Even after this rough and hard decision, she still had to manage her life with the growing wave of revolution around her. The movie revolves around the typical life of a Cuban woman who had to deal with all the hardships and struggle despite being the fragile part of the society without any support from her husband and family. Many people underestimate the power of women during the times of war and revolution. During the wave of feminist movement in 1960 women played their roles as efficient workers and home makers at the same time. On the other hand, comparing the movie with another Hollywood’s revolutionary film, Salt of the Earth, triggered the critics to look into a different direction for its content and subject. The latter movie holds the same revolutionary wave with women in the leading roles as it has been depicted in Portrait of Teresa. The character of Esperanza was supported by showcasing the rapidly growing women’s movement. The character of Esperanza is shown coping with the troubles of unionism, leftists and at the same time, the emerging wave of feminism. In both the movies a strong wave of feminism can be felt. However, in the Portrait of Teresa, the movie revolved around the struggles of one woman whereas in Salt of the Earth, the subject of the movie projects the struggle of Esperanza with her sisters. But their struggle for sexual equality is the central idea that has been projected in both the movies. Women have been portrayed as the strongest gender as compared to men despite social barriers and minimum exposure to the world outside. Both the characters had to bear the same strenuous household responsibilities and later with their keen participation in the movement, they had to bear the disapproval of their involvement in the movement from their husbands. The theme of both the movies revolves ar ound one thought - how to survive the struggle for your rights in a subjugated society filled with gender discrimination and bias. Both of the women are tied to fulfill their gender roles assigned to them by their societal traditions with little room to be accepted as anything other than a typical homemaker. Teresa’s resentment over inequality and growing anger over her husband’s ill treatment clearly project the time when women were gaining empowerment and awareness of the unfair living conditions and treatment. Similarly, in Salt of the Earth, Esperanza holds the same state of mind, when she was greatly undermined by her husband’s judgmental statement and strikes back in a bitter tone, â€Å"Have your strike. I’ll have my baby, but no hospital will take me, because I’ll be a striker’s wife. The store will cut off our credit, and the kids will go hungry . . . and then they’ll come and take away the radio† (Salt of the Earth, p .10). Even at this point, her husband scorns her while chastising for fear of losing the radio and being more self-concerned. Women are emotionally vulnerable but deep down inside they tend to project the stronger side of their personality, especially in times of stress. All in all, the movie Portrait of Teresa is a poignant movie which depicts the contradictions which exist in the male dominated Cuban society, no matter how much the Cuban Revolution and its ideals have attempted to bring women to the

Whittier Narrows Nature Center Field Project Essay

Whittier Narrows Nature Center Field Project - Essay Example The Nature Center is open from 8am-5pm Tuesday – Sunday. It is also free to enter the nature center. It surprised me a lot because most of the nature parks in China usually have to pay for the ticket. The latitude of the park is 34Â ° 2 3" N and longitude is 118Â ° 2 43" W. The San Gabriel River and Rio Hondo flow through Whittier Narrows only a mile apart. There are a lot of activities you can do at Whittier Narrows Nature Center, such as hikes, walks, bicycle riding,guide-led natural tour, nature day camps and a bird walk. There is also a wheelchair accessible trail available as well. When I first arrived to the park, I walked around a circle from entrance A to F. There were a lot of interesting things to see. The landscape of the Whittier Narrows is flat, dry and monotonous. The center is also bordering the San Gabriel River, this 400 acre preserve of riparian woodland features 4 lakes. If you visit there during summer, many plants and animals can be found in a wetland community. The two rivers San Gabriel and Rio Hondo River flows through the area and they are only a mile apart from one another (David and Guyette 79). San Gabriel River drains the second largest water in Los Angeles while Rio Hondo is a stream that only flows during the rainy season. The floor of the area is filled with the silt, sand, and gravel that are transported from the rest of the watershed north of the gap. When I visited the area, the temperatures of the day was around 86Â °F, the sky was cloudless, humidity was 7 percent, wind speed was 5 mph and it was flowing towards the northern direction. Over the course of the season, the temperatures varies from 48Â °F to 80Â °F, in few occasions it goes below 42Â °F and above 85Â °F, during that day, the temperatures were above the normal temperatures (David and Guyette 79). The climate of Los Angeles is moderate; it is similar to Mediterranean climate, the rainfall changes depending on the season, the summers are

Gambling Research Essay Example for Free

Gambling Research Essay Gambling refers to the play of any game where there is money, or something of value at stake. There are many different forms of gambling including horse races, lotteries, casinos, scratch cards, stock market betting, and even more recently internet gambling. Although these games are meant for recreational use, the thrill of gambling causes some people to become so involved in it that they become dependent on gambling. The effects of gambling can cause damage psychologically, be very harmful to one’s social life and can also cause many physical damages. Gambling addiction and pathological gambling is not always seen as dangerous as other addictions like substance abuse but it can in fact be a very damaging addiction to many aspects of life and should be considered a major health problem. Not everyone who gambles has a gambling addiction or even has the capability of being addicted to gambling. The majority of people who gamble do not have an addiction and simply do it for recreational purposes. But there is a small percentage of people who gamble who are considered problem gamblers or pathological gamblers. Pathological gamblers is described as, â€Å"Pathological gambling is characterized by chronic and irresistible impulses to gamble, with consequent gambling compromises and disruptions to family, personal and vocational pursuits.† (Coman, Burrows Evans, 1997) This addiction causes the gambler to gamble very frequently, often times they will begin to make bigger and bigger bets and receiving feelings of anxiety or depression when they are not gambling. Pathological gambling can also include gambling to recover losses from previous gambling episodes, lying to family members to try and hide their habits, committing criminal acts to obtain money for gambling and relying on others to provide money to relieve them from their financial situation. This is a very serious addiction and should be considered a major health problem because it can negatively affect many serious aspects of an individual’s life. There are many different influences and gateways that can lead to gambling and even a gambling addiction. Although things like scratch cards may not seem like much of a threat to becoming an addiction, they can intrigue the thought of winning money purely by chance which is a dangerous mindset to have. Another factor that can lead to a gambling addiction is the link between the proximity from the casino and gambling participation. Living close to a casino causes much more accessibility and can add to the possibility of gaining an addiction, â€Å"additional gambling opportunities due to the presence of a casino increase the prevalence of gambling-related problems for people who live close to a casino, as compared with people who live far from one.†(Sevigny, Ladouceur, Jacques Cantinotti, 2008)People who live closer to the casino are much more likely to just â€Å"drop by† and play a few hands rather than people who live farther and have to make an evening of it. Accessibility can have a large impact on gaining an addiction to gambling. Also, the recent popularity of poker has a huge impact on the view of gambling for younger people. Poker has become very popular in our society today and is televised quite frequently showing these players not only making a living from this game of chance, but becoming millionaires. Some of these players are seen as celebrities who can cause some younger audiences to look up to them and strive to be like them. These aspects do not directly lead to a gambling problem but they can definitely help lead to one. Technology has become a large contributory factor to problem gambling. As stated earlier, accessibility can have a large impact on gaining an addiction to gambling and the technology of internet has brought accessibility of gambling to a whole new level. Gambling over the internet should be a major concern because the increase in gambling opportunities gives the potential for an increase in problem gamblers . Research evidence in other countries has clearly shown that: â€Å"where accessibility of gambling is increased there is an increase not only in the number of regular gamblers but also an increase in the number of problem gamblers.† (Griffiths, 1999) Internet gambling websites has dramatically increased this accessibility which will in turn increase the number of people gambling. Not everyone is susceptible to becoming a problem gambler, but the more people gambling, the more people who have the chance of becoming addicted. The popularity of internet gambling is on the rise with its easy accessibility and quickness. This popularity itself cannot lead to a gambling addiction but a number of the more popular poker players on television often promote different gambling websites where anyone of any age can play poker online. The websites allow someone to play in tournaments, play with friends and play with fake money or even real money. They are very appealing to people of all ages and easily accessible all the time which makes them a threat to contributing to problem gamblers and youth gambling. When someone suffers from problem gambling, it is not only that individual that is affected but their family, friends and community as well . There can be some positive aspects of gambling in terms of the social effects of gambling. Gambling can be seen as a recreation, a break from their problems of everyday life and a nice night out. Yet these positive effects only exist if gambling is done in moderation. Once gambling becomes a habit and a necessity is where the negative impacts arrive. Often, it’s those close to the pathological gambler that suffer the most. Constant gambling takes time away from family, friends and other activities. If gambling becomes a problem, it can cause loss of trust between individuals and family members which can lead to family related problems and even divorce. Generally, the social problems begin with borrowing of money to support their addiction. At this point, many friends and family may lose touch with the gambler. Being distanced from those who are closest can cause desperation which may lead to criminal activity. Pathological gambling can become so severe that they can resort to criminal activity in a last effort to support their financial needs. People are more likely to commit crime without thinking of the consequences when they are in a desperation mindset which is what can happen after a big loss due to gambling. Supporters for the spread of legalized gambling make claims about economic growth and more jobs but opponents have a strong case saying, â€Å"various forms of street crimes, such as robberies and automobile thefts, come with gambling, as well as problems with connections to organized crime The majority of Wisconsin problem gamblers in treatment that were interviewed in Thompson et al. (1999) admitted to crimes as a result of their gambling activity, primarily property crimes.† (Gazel, Rickman Thompson, 2001) Pathological gamblers reach a point where there are no options left so they have to resort to illegal means to support themselves displaying the severity and control that a gambling addiction can have. Having a gambling addiction does not just affect someone economically or socially but it can deeply affect them psychologically. Once a pathological gambler is down money, they will make bets to try and regain that money that they have lost. Instead of cutting their losses, they get deeper into debt, preoccupying themselves with gambling, determined to win big to repay their loans and solve all their problems (Griffiths, 2001). A very dangerous way of thinking is the â€Å"what if I win† mentality. This way of thinking is especially dangerous because then they are more prone to make bigger bets with money they may not have to lose so they can receive bigger rewards. A large factor for whether someone develops this addiction has a lot to do with their personality. The type of personality someone has can have on whether or not someone develops a gambling addiction or not. Gambling is characterized by an â€Å"unrealistic optimism by the gambler† (Griffiths, 2001). For the most part people believe that optimism is a good way to live life by always seeing the positive things instead of dwelling on the negatives. Optimists are known to be less likely to suffer from depression symptoms following a stressful event and seem to have more psychological benefits when compared to pessimists. Although in terms of gambling, optimism can be counterproductive, â€Å"Optimists may be especially susceptible to maintaining illusory gambling expectations. Because of their generalized expectations for success, optimists may approach gambling with the belief that they can win.† (Gibson Sanbonmatsu, 2004) Optimists may also have a tendency to look at the positive aspects in a situation which may prolong their gambling thinking that they will win it all back. Also, people who are risk takers are more prone to gambling addiction than someone who is more conservative. Not everyone is susceptible to becoming a pathological gambler and a great deal of the matter has to do with their personality type and how they look at different negative situations. Having a gambling addiction not only affects one’s social life but it can have a great impact on your mind and even cause physical difficulties. Pathological gamblers often suffer from stress-related disorders such as depression, insomnia, intestinal disorders and migraines. Health problems do not only occur from the gambling itself but a significant amount of people suffer problems from the withdrawal, â€Å"Rosenthal and Lesieur (1992) found that at least 65 percent of pathological gamblers reported at least one physical side-effect during withdrawal including insomnia, headaches, upset stomach, loss of appetite, physical weakness, heart racing, muscle aches, breathing difficulty and/or chills.† (Griffiths, 2001) It was also found that pathological gamblers experienced more physical withdrawal effects when attempting to stop than substance abusers who are attempting to quit. This is quite astonishing and again proves why gambling addiction is a very serious matter and should be considered just as much of a health problem as addiction to alcohol or other substances. Pathological gambling can cause great psychological damage and can cause people to do irrational things after a big loss which can sometimes even lead to suicide. Pathological gambling and suicide have been known to have a link to each other. Suicidal attempts among pathological gamblers are much more frequent than among the general public. The American Psychiatric Association did a study that with these results, â€Å"Of individuals in treatment for Pathological Gambling, 20% are reported to have attempted suicide, (American Psychiatric Association (APA))† (Penfold, Hatcher, Sullivan Collins, 2006) For many gamblers, coping with the negative emotions relating to their issues in their life can be overwhelming. Feelings of shame, hopelessness and failure may be hard to bear which sometimes makes suicide seem like the best solution for their problems. The damage to the mental aspects is one of the reasons that make pathological gambling so dangerous. The act of gambling and casinos is a very controversial topic. There are some positive aspects to the casino and gambling that include a source of jobs and economic development. Gambling is meant to be for recreational use on occasion but it can also be very dangerous. Certain people with certain personality types and lifestyles may be prone to becoming a pathological gambler. The effects of pathological gambling can cause a lot of harm psychologically, destroy someone’s social and family life, cause physical damage to themselves which can even lead to their death. Gambling addiction may not be seen as dangerous or likely to happen as other addictions but the results from being a pathological gambler can be just as harmful as other addictions and should be considered just as much as a serious health issue as everything else. References: Griffiths, M. (1999). Gambling Technologies: Prospects for Problem Gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, vol.15, no.3, p.265-283. Griffiths, M. (2001). Gambling: An Emerging Area of Concern for Health Psychologists. Journal of Psychology, vol.6, no.5, p.477-479. Gibson, B., Sanbonmatsu, D. (2004). Optimism, Pessimism, and Gambling: The Downside of Optimism. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 149-160. Coman, J., Burrows, G., Evans, B. (1997). Stress and Anxiety as Factors in the Onset of Problem Gambling: Implications for Treatment. Stress Medicine, Vol.13, no.4, p.235-244. Sevigny, S., Ladouceur, R., Jacques, C., Cantinotti, M. (2008). Links between Casino Proximity and Gambling Participation, Expenditure, and Pathology. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, vol. 22, no.2, p.295-301. Penfold, A., Hatcher, S., Sullivan, S., Collins, N. (2006) Gambling Problems and Attempted Suicide. Part 1. High Prevalence amongst Hospital Admissions. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, vol.4, no.3, p.265-272. Gazel, R., Rickman, D., Thompson, W. (2001) Casino Gambling and Crime: a Panel Study of Wisconsin Counties. Managerial and Decision Economics, vol.22, no.1-3, p.65-75.

European Union Regional Policy

European Union Regional Policy After the Second World War, there had been attempts to re-unify the war-torn countries in Europe. However, there were many obstacles along the processes made. Problems still existed between rival countries such as between France and Germany, and economic situations in the European countries after the war was in a need of development. In order to cope with such problems of economy and relation between these countries, a community was created in 1951 by having first coal and steel as their central shared interests. This European Coal and Steel Community later developed in to the European Economic Community and finally in to the well-known European Union. This kind of community allows its member to improve their economic conditions through custom union and free trade, while advances their diplomatic relationship through their interactions. Efforts to integrate Europe can also be seen in 6 enlargements of the Union; allowing other states of Europe to join after they have accepted the co mmunity law. However, allowing other states to be members of the Union means there will be differences between the new and the old members of the union especially in economic terms. The most significant enlargement was the 5th enlargement in 2004 which was when the ten poor states in Europe decided to join the Union. In order to lessen the financial gaps between the members, the Regional Policy came in and played a major role in improving the economic disparities between states to allow their economy to grow. This paper will be focusing on the background of the regional policy, reasons why it is needed, main objectives, geographical eligibility, and who decides the funding. Background The idea of balancing the economic status of member states in the community has been there since the very early years of the European integration, or around 1950s. There were three sectors of financial support which were created during 1957- 1988; the beginning of the integration, to help funding the development missions of the European Community; the European Social Fund (ESF), the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). In 1986, the cohesion policy was introduced after the agreement on the Single European Act with the objectives of re-uniting and developing the economy of member states all together. However, in order to achieve the goal of market development through support and competition between states, the members of the Union have to be equally strong or at least, the differences between countries shall not be very high in economic sense, or the poorer ones will not be able to survive within the Union. Reasons for having the European Regional Policy The European Union expansion has been achieved, but only in the number of members, not in economic and social development terms. Different countries have different financial and social status, but to unite them together and to improve their economic growth, these differences have to be reduced to the extent that they will not affect the countries with economic and social disadvantages in a negative way, but allow them to grow stronger together and compatible with the more-developed nations in the community. The enlargement in 2004 has included 10 poorer countries in Europe in to the Union; Poland, Cyprus, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Malta, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania and other 2 later on in 2007; Romania and Bulgaria, in to the European Union; making its numbers increased to 27 members (the EUs 5th Enlargement, 2004). The population of the union has increased significantly by 20%, but there was only 5% increase in the GDP or the Gross Domestic Product of the Union. The problem here is that now the GDP per person is lower than the average level of the European Union-27 in the percentage of 25% (one in four regions); making it a need to diminish their differences (Regional Policy, 2009). It is an idea agreed by all of the Unions members that in order to improve the economy of each state and of the union as a whole, competition within the market is required. To survive in the competitive market and to improve its economy, a state needs to make itself capable of competing. The regional policy is there for financing the in-needed regions projects and helping the countries within the union to reach their goal of economic expansion, competitiveness, and solidarity. Ideas and technology can also be shared between states as in the process of development. Main objectives There are three main objectives divided by the Union; Convergence, Regional Competitiveness and Employment, and European Territorial Cooperation, and three structural funds and instruments; the European Fund for Regional Development, the European Social Fund, and the Cohesion Fund. The policy for integrating and balancing the economic and social conditions in Europe is also known as the Cohesion Policy; whose current budget of 2007-2013 is 347.41 billion euro or around 35.7% of the overall budget of the European Union (Regional Policy, 2009). The Convergence Objective aims to promote economic growth and social development for the least-developed members of the Union in order to gain their ideal convergence. The areas of concern are environment, tourism, culture, transportation, energy, education, health, risk prevention, etc. The funding for this objective is consisted of around 282.8 billion euro (81.54% of the total Cohesion Policy funding) provided by the EFRD, ESF, and the Cohesion Fund [ibid]. The Regional Competitiveness and Employment objective helps supporting regions to toughen their economy by investing on the public and private sectors of the regional economy to emphasize on competition, attractiveness and employment. By doing so, they believe that it will provide more works with better standard for the people of each region which will also improve the regions economic and social conditions. This objective also has its aim on preserving the environment, improving transportation and communication system. The amount of funding for this objective is 55 billion euro (15.95% of the total Cohesion Policy funding) provided by EFRD and ESF [ibid]. The European Territorial and Co-operation objective is funded by the European Fund for Regional Development with the amount of 8.7 billion euro (2.52% of the total Cohesion Policy funding) [ibid]. This objective aims at improving the integrated regions social and economic conditions, transnational cooperation, and underlining the effectiveness of the Regional Policy. Geographical Eligibility The state members who are eligible for receiving the Cohesion Policy Fund are mostly countries from the 5th and 6th enlargements in 2004 and 2007, whose Gross National Income (GNI) are less than 90% of the average of the European Union. Regions which get this kind of funding are; Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Slovakia (Regional Policy, 2009). Spain is another country that fits in this category, however, for Spain it is a special case since its GNI was low enough for this category when EU had 15 members. In order to deal with this matter, Spain was put under the â€Å"phasing-out system,† so the country will not be much affected after the ten poorer states join the Union in 2004. The Convergence objectives funding is available for countries whose Gross Domestic Product per person is lower than 75% of the European Union average (Regional Policy, 2009). Examples of regions in this category (EU-25) are; the whole Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia, parts of Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Italy, France, United Kingdom, and Portugal. For the phasing-out system; which was introduced to help reduce the effect it might have on the poor countries receiving this funding before the poorer 10 countries join the EU, which concerns countries who were eligible at the time when EU had 15 members are some regions in Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objectives funding is available to regions who are not supported by the convergence objective, and until 2013- whose GDP is higher than 75% of the EU-15 average. Examples of these regions are those in Eire-Ireland, Greece, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Portugal, etc. The geographical eligibility for the European Territorial Cooperation Objective consists of cross-border cooperation; transnational and interregional cooperation- including regions within a distance of 150km. alongside of inner, outer land borders, and maritimes. Who decides funds? The European commission will discuss with its member states about the cohesion policy and the strategy for dealing with each states conditions in order to reduce the existing disparities between the more developed and the less developed regions within the Union. After come to an agreement, the Commission will draw out a proposal and hand it over to the European Parliament and the European Council who will take it into consideration and decide on the structural funds and their regulations. Conclusion The expansion of the European Union is going well throughout the decades; however, after accepting new members from the poorer regions, especially in the enlargement of 2004, the European Union has faced with a bigger problem of social and economic differences between member states. In order to cope with this matter, the Regional Policy has been emphasized on more than in the past to improve the newly-joined-less-developed regions and the old-less-developed regions economic and social status, so that they are compatible with the more developed countries. In order to improve the European Unions economic and social status, the market has to remain its competitiveness and solidarity, meaning that if the poorer countries are less capable, they may not be able to survive or improve their economy, but financially and socially fail. The Regional Policy helps improve the smaller bits of the member states in regional scale to make better environment for the future stronger economy of the cou ntries and strengthen their conditions, so that they will be able to compete in the domestic and international market, improve their social and economic situations and also those of the Union as a whole. References Regional Policy, 2009. Regional Policy. European Commission. [online] Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/policy/history/index_en.htm [Accessed 20 March 2010]. The EU`s 5th Enlargement, 2004. The European Union in the World. Enlargement. [online] Available at: http://www.dellbn.ec.europa.eu/en/enlargement/index.htm [Accessed 20 March 2010]. Malais J. Haegeman, H., 2009. Analysis on the European Union Regional Policy. European Union Regional Policy. [online] Available at: http://www.iiuedu.eu/press/journals/sds/sds1_july_2008/07_SECC_03.pdf [Accessed 20 March 2010].

Comparison of UK and Australia Healthcare Systems

Comparison of UK and Australia Healthcare Systems Student name: QIAO LING LIU (LANDY) Introduction The article is a conclusion of a report by Francis about main health care issues of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust that is a large public hospital in England. Reported problems include the most important parts of nursing care such as leaving patients in the stool for long time, inability to recognize patient dignity and privacy, inability to feed patients and inability to be compassionate to patients. The author Hayter discusses it is related to three components including a management culture, the lack of a ‘caring and compassionate culture as well as management styles. In the article, Hayter concludes a number of main points from Francis report. Staffing shortage is seen as a key issue and is related to poor nursing care. Another concerning issue in Francis report is that hospital managers is unable to listen to patients, families and other staff about something worrying. Moreover, there is no clinical background of many managers in UK health settings. Hayter suggests that clinical managers should complete an interval of care job before working in clinical care facilities. He also debates that there is no need for prospective nurses to require one-year health care work experience before the study of nursing college, as there is no evidence to prove it. He also discussed that nurses can have a significant effect on helping monitor hospital quality and hospital should provide relevant systems for nurses and other staff to submit comments and report concern. He disagrees that UK nurses lack compassion and caring. Summary In the editorial, Hayter (2013) points out several main points based on Francis report. Firstly, the shortage of staffing is one of the main health care issues in UK health care system. It is described as a factor associated with poor care. Curry et.al (2005, cited in Hayter) suggested that higher nursing skill mix and sufficient nursing staffing can be associated with high standard of nursing care. Secondly, he disagreed with the statement of Francis that UK nurses lack compassion and caring. He argues that many of the nurses in UK are full of compassion and caring personality and clinical nursing skills. However, certain issues may inhibit them to do their jobs well, such as huge work pressure and overwhelming workload and insufficient resources and constant changes of demands of health care system, which will cause occurrence of poor care. He also points out that it misleads people if only examples of incidents happened in Mid Staffordshire Hospital were used to critisize the whole nursing professions and it disaffects nurses as well. Thirdly, Hayter debates that it is unworthy for prospective nurses to work 12 month as health care assistant prior to applying to nursing school. In Francis report, however, it was advised that nursing students should finish a period of health care assistant work before going to study nursing course in college, as it will be beneficial to reinforce the nurses quality, in particular skills of compassion and caring. It was strongly supported by Department of Health in England, suggesting one year health care work experience would be appropriate for prospective nurses. However, Hayter points out that it is definitely evident that provision of many poor quality of care was by health care assistants in the Mid Staffordshire Hospital and there is no study or survey that proves whether or not the nurses delivered in poor care in Mid Staffordshire Hospital had worked as health care assistants. In addition, it is difficult to identify if health care assistants gain correct work experience pri or to application to nursing school and how it help the future nurses build up a right compassionate personality. Finally, Hayter suggests that it is of extreme importance to use appropriate methods and indicators to measure quality of care, not only being reliant on evidences of the papers and auditing. He recommends that nurses are an important role who can help its development and monitor it by reporting issues. Hayter proposes that relevant systems should be established for nursing staff and other staff to give some comments or report inappropriate or concerning things. Meanwhile, nursing regulator requires more attention on management of poor nursing care, rather than only delivery of nursing care. Hayter also says that UK Nursing and Midwifery Council is currently accused, as it simply supervises knowledge and skill of nurses and overlooks management of deficient nursing care. Critique Australian health care currently faces with same situations of nursing and other health workforce shortage issues as UK’s. According to Duffield O’Brien 2003, nursing shortage is associated with poor nursing care, as it may cause more complications such as infections and pneumonia, as well as incidents like medication error. There are a number of reasons that cause nursing or health care workforce shortage in Australia. Aging is regarded as one of the main factors in Australian nursing workforce (ABS 2013). Overall, Twigg et.al (2010) suggests that more older age nurses work in the health care settings and average-age of Australian nurses ranges from 42.2- 45.1 years between 2001 and 2005 and more than one third of the Australian nurses may retire probably in 2015. It indicates lack of sufficient qualified nurses who take over will cause shortage of nursing (ICN 2008, cited in Rudge Toffoli 2012). Increased part-time work of nurses is another reason of nursing shortag e, as it will require more same-level nurses to take more places over (ABS 2013). More nurses and health professions prefer to do fewer jobs, as they tend to join social life and family (National Health Workforce Taskforce, 2009, p4). Management of multiple chronic diseases in the elderly has become a factor in Australia, as it increases the burden of health care system to trigger more requirements of more skill mix nurses and other health professions in Australia (National Health Workforce Taskforce, 2009, p4). As a result of specialization of Australian health system, it needs more health professions from overseas to cope with current staffing shortage (National Health Workforce Taskforce, 2009, p5). However, it is completely tough nowadays, as not only is Australia facing with staffing shortage, but many countries have this issue (National Health Workforce Taskforce, 2009, p5). According to Straughair 2012, it is undoubted that the majority of UK nurses contribute to high-quality nursing care with compassion. However, with technical development in nursing skills, compassion of nurses appears to be diminished (Straughair 2012). Straughair (2012) states that motivation of Australian nursing students and nurses who decide to do nursing career is to look after people. At the moment, lack of caring and compassion has not been found in Australia health system (Shields 2013). However, it shows that Australia health care is more likely to face with decreased standards in terms of ‘caring, nursing and health care’ if health care system is not alert and concerns are not voiced (Shields 2013). While Australia has a remarkable health care system and its nursing is regarded as one of the professional leaders in the world, it still confronts threats to caring and health care system (Shields 2013) . The reason is that more health care professions including nu rses are recruited internationally and work as leaders in some health care settings, which is definitely helpful. However, ‘Australia cultural cringe’ influences people’s perceptions about relationship of work and decision-making so that it makes people believe that health professions from overseas are better than local ones (Shields 2013). In Hayter’s editorial, there is a discussion about UK nursing education. In UK, there is one main category of nurse (RN), as the role of EN was similar with RN and it has been dismissed (Jacob et.al 2012). Approximately 90% nurses are diploma levels in England and all nurses in Scotland and Wales are degree levels (Shields 2013). Health care assistants (HCAs) in UK are increased and they does not need relevant skill courses and required skills will gain from the employers (Royal college of nursing 2014). They mainly assist RN to deliver the majority of hands-on nursing care under nurse supervision (McKenna, et.al 2004). However, this is not the case in Australia. Both nurse roles (RN and EN) retain in Australia. They have distinct job descriptions and roles. RN requires three-year degree study in university with a transitional graduate program for a year and education of EN is often in vocational college with diploma degree and one and a half year study (Duckett Breadon 2014, p7). RN is able to practice without supervision and has the responsibility of supervision and delegation of EN. Health care assistant in Australia must gain Certificate III in Aged Care firstly and they do basic personal care such as feeding, bathing, and toileting (Department of Health and Families, 2014), which are included in the practical scope of nurses. But they are not regulated by the National Board (Rudge Toffoli 2012, p 220). It is not compulsory that prospective nurses have to gain health care work experience before application to nursing schools (Rudge Toffoli 2012, p 220). In Australia, there is no consistent training for health care assistant (Duckett Breadon 2014, p10). Moreover, although there is no sufficient evidence to ensure that being health care worker is able to improve compassionate and caring skills, improvement in aspect of personal care skills can be seen clearly (Duckett Breadon 2014, p10). As with measurement of nursing care quality, UK graduate nurses must register on Nursing and Midwifery Council that regulates all nurses and midwiferies and sets up standards and code of conducts which request nurses and midwiferies to adhere to them strictly (NMC 2014). In Australia, the case is similar. Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is a national-regulated agency that regulates health professions in Australia (AHPRA 2014). All graduated nurses have to register on Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia which is supported by AHPRA(AHPRA 2014). Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia plays an important role in protection of the public and they establishes relevant competency standards and policies and guidelines that help largely discipline all registered nurses and midwiferies and give clear scope of practice what they can do and can not do (Nursing Midwifery Board of Australia 2014, p1). According to Nursing Midwifery Board of Australia 2014, the main function of National Competency Standards for nurses is to help examine performance and competence of nurses. Along with competency standards, yearly renewal of re-registration is a method used to assess the eligibility of nurses (Nursing Midwifery Board of Australia 2014, p1) and each health care setting has its own policies and guidelines to give a clear range of nursing practice that nurses can deliver to monitor the quality of care. In addition, National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHS ) standards can be a useful tool to examine safety and quality of health care system and health care practitioners to protect Australian population (NSQHS standards 2012, p3). Conclusion In conclusion, there are four main points reviewed in UK health care system and these are compared similarities or differences with Australian health care system. For staffing shortage, it is found in both health care system, even in the world, and there are many factors causing it in Australia, including aging nursing workforce, increased part-time work, burden of multiple chronic disease of older population, competition against health care workforce from overseas. Lack of compassion and caring in nursing is a key factor discussed. Compassion in UK has been decreased due to technical development and lack of compassion has not been discovered in Australia. But health care system should be alert and raise concerns to prevent decreased standards of caring. In addition, Australian cultural cringe is more likely to affect compassionate care. Nursing education is discussed in the review. UK has a type of RN and Australia has two, RN and EN. UK nurses need education of diploma or degree le vel based on state requirements and Australian RN requires degree education and EN does diploma level. Being HCAs in both countries develop basic personal care skills, however, there is no evidence that they would improve compassionate care. Finally, measurement of quality of nursing care has raised concerns. Both countries have nursing boards to regulate nurses and midwiferies. All nurses and midwiferies should register on nursing boards before participation in work. Nursing boards sets competency standards and code of conducts that assess competence of nurses and midwiferies. WORDS: 1905 Reference list Australain Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), 2014, National Boards, Australian Government, viewed 16 October 2014, http://www.ahpra.gov.au/National-Boards.aspx>. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2013, Australian Social Trends, cat.no. 4102.0, ABS, Canberra. Duckett, S Breadon, P, 2014, Unlocking skills in hospitals: better jobs, more care, Grattan Institute. Department of Health and Families, 2014, PCA Job Description, North Territory Government, viewed 16 October 2014,  http://www.health.nt.gov.au/library/scripts/objectifyMedia.aspx?file=pdf/9/93.pdf>. Duffield, C O’Brien, P.L, 2003, The causes and consequences of nursing shortages: a helicopter view of the research, Australian Health Review, vol. 26, no.1, pp. 192-199. Hayter, M 2013, ‘Editorial: The UK Francis Report: the key messages for nursing’, Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol. 69, no. 8, e1-e3. McKenna, P, Hasson, F Keeney, S, 2004, Patient safety and quality of care: the role of the health care assistant, Journal of Nursing Management, vol. 12, pp. 452–459. Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) 2014, Standards and guidance, UK Government, viewed 16 October 2014, http://www.nmc-uk.org/Nurses-and-midwives/Standards-and-guidance1/>. Nursing Midwifery Board of Australia 2014, National Competency Standards for Registered Nurse, Nursing Midwifery Board of Australia, Melbourne. National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHS ) standards 2012, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC), Standards Australia, Sydney. National Health Workforce Taskforce, 2009, Health Workforce in Australia and Factors for Current Shortages, Australian Government. Jacob E, Sellick K, McKenna, L, 2012, Australian registered and enrolled nurses:Is there a difference?, International Journal of Nursing Practice, vol. 18, pp. 303–307. Shields, L, 2013, The core business of caring: A nursing oxymoron?, Collegian, vol.21, pp. 193-199. Straughair, C, 2012, Exploring compassion: implications for contemporary nursing Part 1, British Journal of Nursing, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 160-164. Rudge,T Toffoli, L 2012, Progress in nursing, in E, Willis, L, Reynolds, H, Keleher, Understanding the Australian Health Care System, 2nd edn, Churchill Livingstone, N.S.W, viewed 15 October 2014, EBSCO Host. Royal college of nursing, 2014, Become a health care assistant, UK Government, viewed 15 October 2014,  http://www.rcn.org.uk/nursing/work_in_health_care/become_a_health_care_assistant> Twigg D, Duffield C, Thompson P.L, Rapley P 2010, ‘The impact of nurses on patient morbidity and mortality: the need for a policy change in response to the nursing shortage’, Australian Health Review, vol.34, no. 3, pp. 312-316.

William Shakespeares Sonnet #55 Essay -- English Literature Shakespea

William Shakespeare’s Sonnet #55 is a Shakespearian sonnet. It contains three quatrains, or four line stanzas, and ends with a couplet. The poem is written in iambic pentameter William Shakespeare’s Sonnet #55 is a Shakespearian sonnet. It contains three quatrains, or four line stanzas, and ends with a couplet. The poem is written in iambic pentameter. The speaker is the older man. This is the same speaker in many of Shakespeare’s sonnets. In this sonnet the speaker is telling the young man, beautiful, male addressee that he is not sharing his beauty with the world, but is selfishly keeping it all to himself. He’s explaining to the addressee that he needs to have children to spread his beauty and share it with the world. In the first quatrain the speaker is telling the addressee about how he will live eternally in the poem. Shakespeare writes, â€Å"Not marble nor the gilded monuments/ of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme† (Shakespeare lines 1-2). He uses a metaphor comparing the beauty of the young man to â€Å"upswept stone besmeared with sluttish time† (Shake...

Romeo And Juliet :: essays research papers

Over the past four hundred years, the famous play, Romeo and Juliet, has inspired many readers across the globe. The classic play, written by famous playwright William Shakespeare has captured and will continue to capture people’s minds.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The main question that rises is why this play has been read for so long. The story consists of two “ star- crossed '; lovers who fall in love at first sight. One of the main reasons why this play has been so popular is because stories in those times relied more on the life and spirit of the play. For generations people saw in this play a reflection of their own life and experiences.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another reason why this play has been successful is also because the hints of tragedy increased the suspense and irony of the play. For example, when Juliet looks upon Romeo and says;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  “O God, I have an ill-diving   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  soul!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Methinks I see them, now   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  thou art below   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As one dead in the bottom   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  of a thumb. '; (Act III, Scene V, lines 54-56) thus pointing out the hints of tragic death.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Romeo and Juliet is also a play which is full of anger, passion, and death. The secrecy of the marriage of Romeo and Juliet pointed out a form of dramatic irony. This is shown by Juliet’s “ double-edged ';phrases when Lady Capulet is denouncing Romeo. For example,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  “Ay madam, from the reach of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  these my hands:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  would none but I might verge   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  my cousin’s death.'; (Act III, Scene V, line 86) or when Juliet states in an awkward way,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  “indeed I never shall be satisfied with Romeo till I behold him -dead- ';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (Act III, Scene V, line 95)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  O there dramatic ironies included when Romeo falls in love with Juliet, Mercutio imagines he is still in love with Rosaline. “Ah that same pale hard-hearted wench, that torments him so that he will sure run mad. '; (Act II, Scene IV, Line 4). All the dramatic ironies caused a very lively presence throughout the play and has caught the eye of many readers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Last but not least, Shakespeare’ s writing style has also hypnotised people.

Essay on national service program

The National Service Program proposal by the US congress once heard will immediately pose a lot of questions. But many of those questions have been answered by the different corps that has been providing utmost help to those who need. Through the National Service Program, public schools would be able to provide the education every child needs, the quality of life improved by providing easy and fast access to public health, providing food to the hungry, shelter to the homeless, environment conservation and protection, care giving to the elders and being there when a community experiences such devastating calamites and disasters like hurricanes, flooding and such terror activities. Most of the time, people would be willing to extend their service, but sometimes they just don’t know where or how (McCain, 2001).With the proposal, almost every single American would be able to show their patriotism to the country. A lot of opportunities to serve others are present, and still many ar e not doing a thing. By providing means on where one could serve, that way, he or she would be able to determine what service could be provided according to his or her knowledge, skills and abilities. Serving the country is not just about joining the army and being involved in wars over Iraq, Vietnam and Afghanistan. Fortunately, a lot of different corps is available depending on the mode of service they provide.The corp can be a group that can provide measures in making a community safe from any kind of crime and terrorists activities. The program also extends its help to countries in overseas by providing means in solving challenges for the development of a nation. Talents and skills are shared in this program for those who want to improve and further develop their capacities(Marshall, 2007). The service programs could be the key for students entering the college in choosing the career path they would be taking. A study has shown that students in high school that were engaged in a community service are more likely to finish college compared to those who have not joined such activity. Also, improvement in their reading skills, mathematics and science is evident(Roscow, 2007).Having a national service program instead of a voluntary or selective program will result into a lot of inevitable issues regarding freedom. Making or compelling the citizens to work for two years will greatly affect their lives. A family man working hard to raise his family would not have two years to serve others. He would of course be putting his family first before others. Or course the government cannot satisfy or at least provide the necessities that a family needs if their provider is gone and doing national service, would they?Two years of public service is too much, considering the fact that it would be full time. Another issue that would be raised is how the government would compel millions of citizens to do national service. Would there be laws that would prosecute a person if he or she did not perform the necessary tasks he or she is into? If so, would it not violate the rights and freedom of the general public? A lot of issues are needed to be considered before passing the proposal especially those ones that concerns the rights and freedom of every American citizen.The government alone cannot rely on the workforce is has. It needs more than it could have in providing services. As every American individual obtain the ever ending rights, entitlements and freedom, obligation to the nation lacks. And some don’t even know what really is their responsibility and obligation to their country. John Kennedy once told the country about not asking what a nation or a country do for them but it’s about doing something for the country (Healy, 2007). With the National Service Program, billion of hours of service could be provided in making a country far well-protected, stronger and a better place. It not only teaches patriotism but responsibility and comp assion as a whole. Not everyone could be called a hero like those that have saved lives or the war veterans in World War II, but by providing service to your fellow countrymen, you can be a their hero.Healy, A. L. Y. a. M. (2007). Citizenship means giving something back. THe Denver Post.Marshall, W. (2007). Ideas for national service that would benefit America. The Sacramento Bee.McCain, J. (2001). Putting the â€Å"National† in National Service [Electronic Version]. Washington Monthly. Retrieved July 1, 2007 from http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2001/0110.mccain.html.Roscow, D. (2007). Academic Performance Enhanced By High School Civic Engagement. CIRCLE.

Tsunamis: Ocean and Wave Shape Changes

6 05 Tsunami Nicolai Kortendick 1. The web site presents extensive information regarding tsunamis. Survey the site. A. Select the five facts about tsunamis that were the most interesting or surprising to you. Make a list of your facts. 1. A tsunami is made up of a series of traveling ocean waves of extremely long wavelength. 2. They are triggered by earthquakes and undersea volcanic eruptions and deep sea landslides. 3. The wave shape changes and the height increases as it approaches the coastline. . Far field tsunamis have a long travel time so it is easier to predict their effects. 5. Near field tsunami have a travel time of one or two hours, making it harder to evacuate people to safe, high areas before the tsunami reaches the coast. B. Now look over your list. In your opinion, what is the most intriguing item on your list? Explain. The most intriguing item on the list to me is that tsunamis resemble waves that I see a lot every day and they have extremely long wavelengths. 2.If y ou were on a ship at sea, and a tsunami passed under your ship, what would probably be your reaction? Explain. I would be pretty scared if I knew it was a tsunami, and I would be worried for the people on the coast it was heading for. It probably wouldn’t be a very big wave if I was far out in the ocean so it wouldn’t scare me as much. 3. The site offers a tsunami quiz. Take the quiz. What was your score? I got 7 out of the 10 questions correct. 4. When you viewed the â€Å"Introduction to Waves† video, you learned several terms that apply to all waves.How do the following terms apply to tsunamis and what are typical values for a tsunami’s wavelength and amplitude? Use the following sites to look for answers: http://www. enchantedlearning. com/subjects/tsunami http://hyperphysics. phy-astr. gsu. edu/HBASE/Waves/tsunami. html C. Wavelength Tsunamis have an extremely long wavelength (which is the distance between the crest of one wave and the crest of the n ext wave) – up to several hundred miles long. D. amplitudeThe amplitude of a wave is the height of a wave from the still water level to the top of the wave crest. As a tsunami reaches a coastline its amplitude increase greatly. E. crest The crest is the top of a wave. The wavelength of a wave is measured from the crest of one wave to the crest of another. F. trough The trough is the bottom of a wave. As a tsunami approaches the coast (where the sea becomes shallow), the trough of a wave hits the beach floor, causing the wave to slow down, to increase in height and to decrease in wavelength.

Critically appraise the education provision available for people with Diabetes. Education on prevention of Foot Ulcers in Diabetes.

Introduction Currently I am working in a nursing home where the elderly residents have various illnesses including the after effects of strokes and dementia. Due to their age and particular care needs the education for health support workers, senior carers and nurses who are at the centre of this care provision is fundamentally important. The aim of this assignment will therefore be the appraisal of this education, meaning their training and ongoing monitored development, with a specific focus on the prevention of foot ulcers in patients who suffer from diabetes mellitus. This is an important area for consideration because at the moment health care support workers have no formal education in the prevention of foot ulcers in diabetes patients and can be ignorant of its symptoms. As with nurses it is reasonable to expect that they should have attained a certain level of knowledge in this area as the consequences of foot ulcers can be very serious and in cases can lead to amputation. This ultimately has a significant impact on the quality of life of the diabetes sufferer and the carer therefore has a duty of care to protect their patient against this preventable outcome. It should be noted that 85% of cases which end in amputation can avoided (Garay- Sevilla et al., 2002, 81-86). In order to carry out this critical appraisal the first step is to consider the causes of diabetic foot ulcers, it signs and symptoms, treatment and prevention. The assessment of these factors is necessary because it deconstructs the knowledge required by health care workers and subsequently allows the provision of education to be accordingly evaluated for its accuracy and comprehensiveness. The next point to discuss is the current state of education on offer. This will be assessed in terms of how far it provides the level of knowledge needed by people who are in the position of diagnose and treat diabetic foot ulcers. Recommendations for best practice will then be make. Causes of diabetic foot ulcer One of the effects of diabetes is decreased immunity and poor wound healing. In the absence of normal blood flow specific lesions of the arteries, particularly in the extremities, can occur. Diabetic foot syndrome is one such complication and occurs in 15% of all patients with diabetes. These changes are a consequence of the existence of diabetic neuropathy. Motor neuropathy in diabetes leads to muscle atrophy and impaired co-flexors and extensors whilst also effecting deformation rate. Sensory neuropathy, sensory disturbance of pain by temperature and touch, increases the risk of injury which in turn contributes to the formation of ulcers. Autonomic neuropathy results in the formation of arterial venous fistulas and impaired blood oxygenation which leads to disorders affecting the trophic ulcers (Rubin & Peyrot, 1998, 81–87). The syndrome occurs in the later stages of the disease and is one of its most severe complications as it can lead to death. It manifests itself in compl ex changes in the joints and foot nerves, limb deformation, and deep tissue damage. It is also associated with damage to blood vessels, nerves, skin and bones. The initial abnormality takes the form of a pressure point which can be caused by, for example, ill-fitting shoes which cause blistering, cuts, and bites caused by foreign bodies. Vascular disease, resulting in decreased blood flow, contributes to poor healing and infections can be caused by numerous microorganisms (Manson & Spelsberg, 2004, 172–184). Patients who experience sensory disturbances find that pain is suppressed and consequently they might not recognize the seriousness of their situation leading to a delay in treatment. The treatment that is required must be prompt and responsible but it can also be protracted (Lustman et al., 2000, 934–943). Foot problems can affect anyone who has Diabetes regardless of whether they are being treated with insulin, non-insulin, tablets, injections, a controlled diet or physical activity. Signs and symptoms of diabetic foot ulcer In order that treatment is successful it is necessary that health care professionals and care workers can recognize the signs and symptoms of diabetic foot ulcers especially when caring for the elderly who are unable to detect the signs and symptoms. The main features of the disease include explicit sores, prolonged healing sores, changes in the shape of limbs, and, in later stages, gangrene. In the early stages symptoms usually coincide with complaints of fatigue which is accelerated by walking and standing, a sense of gravity, and freezing feet due to the deformation problems with wearing familiar footwear. One of the most pressing reasons for a good standard of education in diabetic foot ulcers is the variety of forms it might take. This means that the health care worker must be able to recognize the condition in different scenarios. The neuropathic foot is the most common form with 70% of cases of diabetic foot falling into this category. It takes the form of a hot pink color with a palpable pulse and impaired deep sensation (Wysocki & Buckloh, 2002, 65–99). Another form is known as ischemic. This condition is caused by peripheral vascular occlusive. Diagnosis includes history (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking) and intermittent claudication. The foot assumes a cold bluish tinge and has no palpable pulse. The sufferer experiences a pain in motion and severe pain at rest (Lustman et al., 2000, 934–943). The final form is neuropatyczno-ischemic. This is characterized by the worst prognosis (Morisaki et al., 2004, 142–145). The main course of action is to preserve the integrity of the skin. This is because the main danger lies in the wounds and fractures where if infection takes hold the result will be purulent inflammation and necrosis. Severe pain or numbness, sores, blisters, and peeling require the most urgent medical intervention because these can lead to gangrene and ultimately amputation of the affected limb. As the only quantifiable sign of inflammation, which indicates tissue lesions, is skin temperature it is necessary to used infrared thermometers. These can be used to determine the temperature of the skin in different areas of the foot. Dermal thermometers are also useful in the interpretation of the different phases of Charcot foot and in determining the most appropriate orthopodologic treatment in each phase. However, these are specialised tools and are unsuitable for carers to use nursing homes. Methods There is very particular method which should be implemented for assessing the health of a diabetes suffer’s feet. It is this type of information which should be included in an educative strategy used to train health care workers. Before measuring the temperature of the skin in the feet, the patient should be barefoot for at least five minutes before the examination to avoid a rise in temperature due to footwear or hosiery. The result should then be recorded. The next step is to repeat the measurement in the same area of the contralateral foot and compare the results obtained. This should be done for all the high risk areas. A difference in temperature of less than 2? c can be considered normal. Once infection has been ruled out, differences greaterthan2? C in diabetic patients are highly suggestive of Charcot activity. When the examination is done in a patient with Charcot foot and the difference is less than 2? C it shows that the acute period has come to an end. If the patie nt observes a difference in temperature greater than 2?C in self-examination on two consecutive days, he or she should contact a healthcare professional to determine the cause of the difference (www.diabeticfootjornal.net). Unfortunately there is no effective treatment for diabetic ulcers but reducing the load on the feet does offer hope of saving the affected limb. Alternative treatments can involve the use of hydrotherapy and ulcer surgery to remove necrotic tissue. Algorithm for the treatment of infected feet includes glycemic control (insulin), strain rates (shoe inserts, crutches, plaster casts), antibiotics and surgical procedures (drainage, incision, removal of dead tissue). Prevention of diabetic foot ulcer One of the most effective treatments is preventative. All patients with Diabetes Mellitus should be screened when there is a sensation of numbness or pain exists even if there are no visible lesions or ulcers (Morisaki et al., 2004, 142–145). The education of health care workers in foot ulcers therefore needs also to take into account prevention. Inspection of the stop should be performed as often as possible. If the skin of the foot shows sign of a scratch or crack you cannot use adhesive, alcohol or fat-containing ointments as these tools lead to further irritation. Redness or paleness, the presence of edema, blunting of the sensitivity, fungal lesions, and the overall deformation of the foot should be examined for deviations from the norm. If identified treatment should start immediately. In addition, from time to time, it is desirable to perform a neurological examination to determine the tactile, thermal, and vibration sensation of the foot. Angiographic diagnosis of vasc ular leg reveals the presence of thrombus. Basic steps can also be taken to prevent the occurrence of gangrene. These include the maintenance of desired blood sugar levels, the monitoring of the hygiene of the feet, making regular visits to an endocrinologist and follow their recommendations. (Clement, 1995, 1204–1214). Good foot care Education is important because good foot care has lots of pitfalls. Using the wrong cream, overcutting toe nails, walking barefoot, wearing the wrong shoes or socks can increase the chances of foot ulcers. It is necessary that the carer should be able to advise diabetes sufferers in all the dos and don’ts when it comes to looking after their feet in the proper manner to decrease the chances of contracting a foot ulcer in the first place (www.patient.co.uk). Some of these dos and don’ts are as follows; In contrast to what might seem like common sense it is vital to avoid using items such as moisturising oils or cream designed for dry skin and the prevention of cracking. Look out for athletes foot (common minor skin infection) as it can cause flaky and cracked skin The space between toes can become sore and can become infected. It is essential to monitor this. Cut your nails by following the shape of the end of the nail. Do not cut down the sides of the nails as this may cause damage or lead the nails to develop an ingrown nail. It is important to wash feet regularly and dry them carefully, especially between toes. Do not walk barefoot even at home You right treads Always wear sole or shoes or other footwear however don’t wear too tight socks around the ankle as they may affect circulation Shoes, trainers and other foot wear should; Fit well to make into accounts any awkward shapes or deformities Have broad front and plenty of room for toes Heels to avoid pressure on toes. Have good laces, buckles to prevent movement and rubbing of feet in the toes When you buy shoes, wear the type of socks that you usually wear Avoid slip on shoes, shoes with pointed toes, sandals, or flip flops. Always feel inside foot wear before you put footwear on to check for stores, rough edges etc. Tips include avoiding food burns and water burns – checking the bath temperature with your hand before stepping in to it It important to avoid using items such as hot water bottles, electric blankets or foot spas. Do not sit too close to fires. Further measures include looking very carefully at the feet each day including between the toes. This involves examining the area for reduced sensation in order to not miss any vital signs of the inset of a foot ulcer. It is also necessary to look for any cuts, abrasions, bruises, blisters, redness or bleeding. If any of these symptoms are spotted carers should immediately inform the nurse who is in charge who should in turn carry contact a podiatrist or similar specialist. Existing education provision To date education in diabetic foot ulcers takes several forms. NICE recommends that all people with diabetes should be offered structured education as an integral part of their diabetes management (www.nice.co.uk). The purpose of this is to raise awareness of the side-effects and complications of diabetes in those who suffer with it. This increases the chance for early identification of foot ulcer symptoms. The XPERT Programme was launched in 2007 to provide education to all health care professionals across Wales so they are able to give structured advice to patients with type2 diabetes. In addition the National Service Framework (NSF) (2001) for diabetes set out a ten year programme for change. It outlined evidence-based standards for the planning, organising, and delivery of diabetes services. This programme represents the Welsh Assembly’s strategy for improving diabetes and through the progressive implementation of the NSF the quality of care and treatment for those living with diabetes (www.wales.gov.uk). However within this long-term plan there is little direct reference to patients in residential or nursing homes. This is also the case with the Desmond, Dafne and Bertie programmes which have little relevance for the care of the elderly. Clearly there is a significant gap within the education of health care professionals. This gap is apparent in the nursing home where I work as none of the staff have received any particular training specifically related to diabetes mellitus. This clearly puts the residents of the home in an at risk category because the chances of their carers recognising the early symptoms of foot ulcers are substantially reduced. Within the nursing home and home care system however there does exist a health care specialist with the expertise to assist in raising awareness about the causes and prevention of foot ulcers; the podiatrist. The work of a podiatrist is overseen by the Chiropody Code Of Conduct which states that chiropodists and podiatrists must be able to work, where appropriate, in partnership with other professional support staff, service users and their relatives and carers. They should also ‘be able to demonstrate effective and appropriate skills in communicating information, advice, instruction and professional opinion to colleagues, service users, their relative s and carers’ (Standards of proficiency, Health Professions Council, 2009). However, in practice this is frequently not the case. The health support workers are not currently included in visits and are not given the opportunity to learn or ask questions when the podiatrists are called to review residents. Neither do they pass on information about their findings to staff on duty. Evidently there is an issue of communication. The podiatrist is not the only person with a professional duty to assist health care workers with their treatment of foot ulcers. The NMC code of conduct states that nurses should work with others to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of those in their care, their families and carers and the wider community. Therefore, the nurse in charge should ensure that learning opportunities are facilitated and that staff have feedback from these specialist visits which help to inform and improve the care delivered to residents. Education – best practice The current provision of education demonstrates that the education of health workers is largely at the discretion of their employers. If individual employers do decide to provide their staff with training there is little in the way of advice to follow and this can result in poorly informed, ill-conceived or simply inadequate education. At the same time it creates a situation whereby health care workers have to rely on experience gained on the job to identify the symptoms of foot ulcers or their own inclination to acquire further knowledge. For new members of the staff who lack experience there might exist a worrying amount of ignorance on the subject. There is however much potential to improve this situation. In best practice education takes a variety of forms. This may include formal study sessions, workplace booklets or posters and online education programmes. Therefore there is potential for foot ulcer education to be flexible and made to suit the particular needs of a workplace. At my workplace none of these options have been made available. Ideally the best situation would be a formal study session where the expert knowledge of a specialist can be imparted and where full training can be given. The information gained should then be reinforced at the workplace through posters or leaflets. Conclusion Conclusively it is very important that diabetic foot ulcers are prevented at all times while treating patients with diabetes, especially in the elderly who might for other reasons associated with dementia and impaired movement find it harder to care for themselves. Education of health care professionals is key in achieving this. They should have the necessary knowledge to help prevent foot ulcers, to recognise the first symptoms of one, and to provide effective treatment. They must also be able to advise the diabetes sufferer on how to care for their feet and how to avoid the contraction of a foot ulcer in the first instance. Despite this clear need for knowledgeable clinicians the situation as it currently stands fails to provide health care workers who look after the elderly with the training they require to the provide the best standard of service possible. Whilst measures are in place for the education of both diabetic sufferers and nurses, more work needs to be done on identifyi ng the educational requirements of those who care for elderly patients. Best practice in education should be drawn upon and formal training sessions organised alongside the better provision of information within the workplace. The expertise of specialists such as podiatrists should also utilised more effectively so that staff within the nursing home are well informed and understand the treatment their patients are undergoing and their specific needs. Communication is at the heart of this.