Family Health Assessment Essay

The Smiths have been married for twenty years and have an eighteen year old son and sixteen year old daughter. I formatted open minded focused questions based on Gordon’s eleven functional health pattern assessments to interview the family. These questions are included with this paper for review. This paper will discuss each of these eleven functional health pattern assessments and how it relates to my chosen family. Health perception relates to what health means to this family. Are they having any health issues, how do they maintain their health and where do they receive most of their health education? This family has few active health problems at this time and none of the family members currently take any medications, except OTC meds for headaches etc. Mom is overweight and is aware of this and has an action plan. Dad is a heavy smoker, smoking two packs per day for the last forty years! He does not recognize this as a health problem and does not want to quit. Everyone is up to date with vaccinations and sees their physician as needed. They have good health and dental insurance coverage. Both parents drink alcohol on occasion but not to excess. Eighteen year old son has drunk alcohol on occasion but has abstained since receiving a DUI last year at the age of seventeen. Mom is a Registered Nurse who oversees family’s general health care and health promotion. Family consider themselves Christian but does not attend church regularly. Nutrition assessment is focused on the patterns of food and fluid consumption relative to metabolic needs (Kriegler&Harton, 1992). Dads diet lacks fruits and vegetables which he refuses to eat, so diet consists of meat and carbohydrates. Mom on the other hand is Vegetarian who does eat fish occasionally. Mom is overweight, has a ‘diet’ plan but fails due to lack of willpower and working night shift. Family does not usually eat breakfast except occasionally on weekends. The children eat lunch at school, mom is asleep and dad will fix himself a snack. All family members take a daily multivitamin. Mom tries to prepare meals in the crock-pot when she gets home in morning for evening meal. If she is too tired or doesn’t do Dad will usually order fast food like pizza. Sleep and rest assessment focus is on the individuals sleep, rest and relaxation practices (Kriegler&Harton,1992). Mom works twelve hour night shifts 5-6 days per week and has 1hour commute each way to work. She is obligated to attend meetings at least one day per week for about 1 hour at end of her shift. She tries to prepare the evening meal each morning before she goes to bed. On a good day she gets 6 hours sleep, on days off she sometimes uses Benadryl to assist sleep. Dad is unemployed but is an early riser, usually awake by 0530 so likes to be in bed by 2100. Both children like to stay up late and must be encouraged to sleep as they have school. Elimination is focused on excretory patterns (Kriegler&Harton, 1992). Dad has no problems and has daily bowel movements. Mom tends to either be constipated or have diarrhea, she also reports moderate bladder leakage. Both children report no issues with elimination. Activity and exercise assessment is focused on the activities of daily living, exercise and leisure activities (Kriegler&Harton, 1992). Dad is unemployed so keeps up with the yard work and some housekeeping, but has no formal exercise regimen. Mom works long hours on night shift so feels she has no time for an exercise program as this would eat into her sleep hours. Both children are active with school sports such as football, cheerleading, volleyball and track. On weekends sometimes the family will go camping or kayaking. The family has a pool which Mom uses daily when the weather permits. Cognitive and sensory perception is the assessment that focuses on the ability to comprehend and use information and on sensory function (Kriegler&Harton, 1992). Dad has a GED but no higher education, he is a USMC veteran of the Vietnam War, and he is a well read individual with above average intelligence. Mom obtained her nurse education overseas and is currently studying for her BSN. Neither have any memory problems buts Dad’s mom had Alzheimer’s so this worries him. Both children are average students with no aspirations to go to college at present. Mom wears contact lenses, Dad wears glasses, and both children have no sensory deficits. Dad is also slightly hard of hearing related to his military career. Self perception assessment is focused on an individual’s attitude towards self such as body image, self esteem and self worth (Kriegler&Harton, 1992). Dad has some self worth issues related to being laid off from work several months ago, he has applied for many jobs but feels he is considered ‘too old’ at 56 years old. Mom is overweight and is extremely conscious of her size. She tends to wear loose clothes and does not like to be photographed. She has tried unsuccessfully to lose weight many times. Children are confident teenagers who are popular at school. Role relationship assessment is focused on the individual’s roles in the world and relationships with others (Kriegler&Harton, 1992). The Smiths appear to have a very tight knit family. Mom loves being a nurse and has worked at the same hospital for over 20 years. The family has a wide circle of friends; he has no living family and her family still live overseas. The whole family is very social and love to entertain when at all possible. Sexuality assessment is focused on the individual’s satisfaction with sexuality patterns (Kriegler&Harton, 1992). Mom and Dad have been happily married for 20 years. They have an active and satisfying sex life. Mom still menstruates and has been considering a hysterectomy on doctor’s advice for fibroid tumors. Mom strongly does not believe in elective surgeries so struggles with heavy menses monthly and severe pain. Dad supports her decision at this time but her pain distresses him. Mom has not had a PAP in years but has an appointment for a PAP and mammogram pending. Son recently split from long term girlfriend, daughter is not sexually active yet but just had her first PAP. Coping assessment is focused on the individual’s perception of stress and coping strategies, also individual support systems should be evaluated (Kriegler&Harton, 1992). Mom is an emergency room nurse who uses her husband to decompress. Each morning when she gets home they discuss her shift. Dad feels under stress at the moment while trying to find employment. Mom is supportive and is working extra to provide extra income. Children have usual high school drama but appear well rounded. This family regularly has a ‘family meeting’ where there is open and non judgmental discussion of any issues. All major decisions are discussed with the entire family. Mom is from overseas but speaks with her family every Sunday. Overall this family is well educated and well adjusted. This health assessment notes some areas that this family can work on.

Walt Disney and Paramount Pictures

The Dragonslayer is a Walt Disney and Paramount Pictures film that was shown on 1981. The story was basically about a dragon that was called as Vermitrax Pejorative which was destroying the kingdom of Urland with its fiery breath. In order to please this dragon, the king ordered a group of warriors to have an expedition to find someone who has the capacity to destroy this creature. The expedition was led by Valerian and their objective is to find a wizard in the name of Ulrich of Cragonmoor.However, Ulrich died upon an accidental mishap that happened because he wants to prove his power to Tyrian, a knight of the kingdom. Upon his death, his â€Å"inexperienced apprentice† has assumed to take his place. This apprentice was Galen Bradwarden who was an orphan which has magical powers sealed inside of him by Ulrich himself in able to protect him when he was still young. The story revolves on the adventures and misadventures of this young apprentice in order to save not only the wh ole kingdom but his pride as well.It also expresses a bit of dramatic and romantic unfolding and discovery of Galen’s personal strengths and abilities. As a hero he tried to rescue the whole kingdom all by himself without thinking about the circumstances that it may bring, however the story have shown how he have grown into becoming a man that thinks about the future and not merely of how to impress the people around him. The portrayal of this can be seen in the part wherein he tried his best to rescue the princess but failed to do so.Also, he grows with enough patience and dedication to accomplish his mission or his objective with a distinct trust to his guts and personal will. The perspective of the storyteller affects this story with regards to how the emotions and clarification of scenes would be relayed. As for the way that the characters would speak and how their intentions would reveal in the story would depend upon how the story teller have perceived or have understoo d the story as a whole.The storyteller is the one who is responsible in shaping the imagination of the listeners of the story as to what the characters looks like and how they act and react in the scenes in the story. The storyteller as a whole acts merely as guide in understanding the theme and the supposedly response and kind of thinking of the characters in the story. The storyteller is also the one who is responsible in unveiling the different facts and settings that should be incorporated in the minds of the receiver in order to fully appreciate the whole story.At the end of the story, there was an implication that everything that had happened was all planned by the great sorcerer Ulrich in able to reveal or at least help Galen discover his potentials. It also shows that the great sorcerer have used Galen in order to destroy the Dragon because it is a mission that he cannot deal with by his self. It was an irony because all along the receiver would think that it was all Galenâ €™s enthusiasm and yet at the end, everything was planned in the start. References: Robbins, Mathew. 1981. Dragonslayer. Walt Disney and Paramount Pictures.

Vtiamin D Deficiency Developing, Implementing and Evaluating a Research Paper

Vtiamin D Deficiency Developing, Implementing and Evaluating a -Based Intervention - Research Paper Example The issue is aggravated with low levels of vitamin D. National Institute of Health (NIH) and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) guidelines recommend that a 800 to 1000 IU daily supplement of vitamin D to maintain >30 nmg/L levels and this needs appropriate interventions as the need of the hour as practitioners and health care providers need to enhance their knowledge base on the harmful effects of vitamin D deficiency. II. Relevance to nursing and the value of the project to the advancement of nursing knowledge Patient concordance can be improved by effectively equipping the practitioners with relevant knowledge on the need for maintaining appropriate vitamin D levels. Lee (2001) observes that at least 50 percent of chronic diseases can be prevented, and health promotion is a major concern in preventing these all-cause diseases. Health promotion is defined as â€Å"combination of health education and related organizational, economic, and environmental supports for behav iour change of individuals† (Green and Kreuter, 1991, Lee, 2001) in which health education is the primary concern. Health education focuses on health behaviour which is central to health promotion and is found to affect at multiple levels through personal and interpersonal health behaviours (Lee, 2001). Health of an individual is perceived more as an additive process due to the influences of environment, physical and psychological factors as viewed by Nightingale. Further, health is not just the absence of disease but a multi-dimensional concept that is more relevant to the 21st century health concern. It is also the major concern regards nursing, apart from the other three nursing metaparadigms: person, environment and nursing. Being a self-standing concept in the field of nursing, health is promoted as a holistic process for adapting oneself to social, psychological and biological changes through goal-driven behaviour to implement the four health models described by Edelman and Mandle (2004): clinical, role performance, adaptive and eudaimonistic models (Lippincott and Lippincott, 2008). Health promotion enhances the concept of health and along with preventive paradigm, forms the basis for health belief model (HBM) and further, Pender’s health promotion (PHP) model. Many of the other models of nursing and health care are based on these two models. As nurses engage in complex functions like health education, assist, supervise or carry out medical treatments suggested by physicians, their role in health promotion becomes is crucial and is based primarily on PHP model. Nurses play a crucial role in â€Å"the process of enabling people to increase control over and improve their health† (WHO, 1984, p5; Mackey, 2002, p4). III. Intervention: Analysis of Institution Unit X’s adherence to National Practice Guideline X within the past 6 months Describe selected intervention. Education training program as an effective intervention program is suggested for a target audience which includes practitioners, nurses, and other providers of health care. The nursing process is similar to the education process and involves the four stages: assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation. PHP model focuses on four related aspects of intervention: inputs, outputs, activities and

Brief a Case Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Brief a Case - Assignment Example The injuries occurred from falling scales that toppled because of the explosion of fireworks in a bag that were dropped by Long Island Railway employee. Palsgraf sued the railway company for the conduct of its employees that resulted to the passenger dropping his package. The trial court and the immediate appellate courts ruled in favor of Palsgraf citing negligence (Cardozo 1). The appeals court rescinded the decision of the trial courts citing that negligence is not a tort unless the injury is foreseeable. The legal questions raised in this case were â€Å"How is the duty of care owed determined?† and â€Å"To who does a party owe the duty of care?† The appeals court held that the defendant owes a duty of care only to the individuals who are in the realistically predictable zone of danger (Cardozo 1). The case number 11 CV 0445 Wilson Sporting Goods Company, the Appellant, vs. Edwin Hickox and Lisa Hickox, the Appellee, was decided on January 31, 2013. In the previous history of this case, the appellee, Hickox, was wounded while wearing a Wilson Sporting Goods Company’s mask. Hickox brought liability case against the company and won in the trial court. In this case, Wilson Sporting Goods Company appealed citing that Hickox and his wife presented expert testimony that was devoid of acceptable basis and that the evidence was not sufficient (Fisher et al. 1). The appeals court held the decision of summary judgement to Medtronic citing that the company was liable for injuries caused to Hickox for negligent and defective design, failure to warn and the violation of indirect warranty of the applicability of the item for a particular resolution (Fisher et al. 1). The court awarded Mr. Hickox $750, 000 and Lisa Hickox, his wife $25, 000. The primary question was whether the evidence presented by the expert was adequate. Pursuant to Jones

How new perspective on leadership relates to the various types Essay

How new perspective on leadership relates to the various types - Essay Example Another concept that Nonaka and Takeuchi discussed in the interview is the concept of â€Å"phronesis† or practical wisdom. Phronesis is â€Å"the habit of making the right decisions and taking the right actions in context, and relentless pursuit of excellence for the common good† (Nonaka & Takeuchi, Wise Leadership, 2011). They went on further to say that phronesis can be cultivated through very close human interactions. This new perspective on leadership is very much related to the previous concepts of leadership. The other articles on leadership in the textbook also supported the idea of Nonaka and Takeuchi about being an ethical leader. The articles on the textbook also emphasized that leaders must have a passion to do right. This too was advocated by Nonaka and Takeuchi when they mentioned the importance of having a moral purpose and doing what is good for society. The six abilities of a wise leader which were enumerated in Nonaka’s and Takeuchi’s art icle are supportive and intertwined with the â€Å"Seven Habits of Ethical Leaders† taken up in the textbook readings. The first ability of a wise leader is that he can judge goodness. Likewise, an ethical leader has a passion to do right and realize the importance of ethics in the decision-making process.

Contemporary issues in conflict and security Essay

Contemporary issues in conflict and security - Essay Example Terrorism has severe social, economic, and psychological impacts on the targeted people. Analysis proves that terrorism often has a genuine grievance to fight for. Also, the strategies they adopt are not considerably crueler than the strategies adopted by many superpowers. Thirdly, it has become evident that terrorism is considerably more unethical because it often targets innocent third parties as the victims. The solution does not lie in armed suppression, but in adopting peaceful ways. Attention should be given to the reasons behind grievances and they should be removed. Also, free communication and liberty should be encouraged in every nation. Lastly, instead of revenge and martyrdom, values like peace and cooperation should be instilled in people. Introduction Terrorism has become one of the most complex and oft-changing phenomena in the international sphere. As a result, it has gained an important position in the agenda of most nations. The surprising fact is that terrorism is present in various forms and various structures, and they have various motivating factors behind them. The root causes of terrorism One can find innumerous reasons behind terrorism when one looks into the works of various scholars who already studied the various aspects of terrorism. As a result, as Crenshaw (1981) opines in the article ‘The causes of terrorism’, it is difficult to find general explanations for terrorism. However, the scholar manages to divide the causes into two categories; the preconditions which are known as root causes and the precipitants which are known as trigger causes. It is possible to further the root causes into enabling factors which mean the factors which offer an opportunity for terrorism to come up, and situations which are direct motivations for terrorist campaigns (ibid). According to Ross (1996), the causes can be divided into three categories, namely structural causes, psychological causes, and rational choice. Following this, Gupta (2004, p. 19) introduced the argument based on ethnicity, religion, and nationalism. According to his opinion, terrorism takes birth when a leading figure manages to give a proper direction to the frustration faced by a number of people and manage to formulate a feeling of collective identity; and also the feeling of ‘we’ versus ‘them’ is successfully developed along with this (ibid). The work by O’Brien (1996) looked into the reasons behind terrorism. According to the scholar, there is a link between the foreign policy of superpowers during the times of international crisis and international terrorism. In order to substantiate his view, the scholar provides the example of the United States and Iraq. Through the work, the scholar proves that the possibility of terrorism increases when one party feels victimized by the superpower (ibid). Another study by Krueger and Malenkov (2003) named ‘Education, poverty and terrorism: is there a casual conne ction?† looks into the impact of lack of education and poverty on people’s tendency to become terrorists. However, after a thorough study of the situation in Israel and Palestine, the scholars reach the conclusion that there is no direct link between education, poverty and terrorism (ibid). In fact, the study observed that the terrorists from those areas were generally better educated that others. Also, the study reveals that the

Competitive Advantage Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Competitive Advantage - Assignment Example Barnes & Noble has the greatest product variety in the industry in both books and e-books. Due to the size of the company the firm is in a better position to offer lower prices. The company is able to lower costs in its purchases because the company achieves economies of scale. Small scale bookstores have to become more proactive in their operational and marketing efforts in order to compete with Barnes & Nobles. A way for a small bookstore to differentiate itself is by providing superior customer service. Special services such as ordering any book the customer wants even if the company does not make its normal profit is an effective way to increase customer retention. Another way to boost the business of a small bookstore is by designing a good website that offers the entire inventory of books available at the store. The use of cellular advertising is one of the hottest marketing channels of

Health Care Delivery System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Health Care Delivery System - Essay Example What I find most compelling about this website is that it also provides information on Health Professions and Clinician Recruitment & Services. The mission statement under the icon Health Profession states  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Increase the populations access to health care by providing national leadership in the development, distribution and retention of a diverse, culturally competent health workforce that can adapt to the populations changing health care needs and provide the highest quality of care for all† This statement along with other provided information (such as Grants, Student Assistance Program, information on Health Professional Shortage Areas) leads me to conclude that the site also aims to attract people to enter the health care industry. There are many web sites on the internet that provide information, and the purpose of this web site is no different. What makes this web site different and more superior, and therefore, of more value to the information-seeking public is the way that the information on the site is structured and presented. The information that is most sought out after is presented clearly on the home page, making it easily accessible for anyone who seeks information ranging from health care systems to grants and other programs. The latest information concerning the US health care system, as well as the location of individual health care centers, are also easily accessible, and even though I agree with my colleague’s analysis, I must state that what I find most compelling for this web site is designed by the HRSA to represent a vital link of its goal to provide better access to health care for the population, in the modern age of technology, utilizing its maximum capacity. The FDA regulates all advertising, promotional and labeling materials as part of their effort to protect the health of the public. There are many guidelines that provide the Biotech and

RIP Project & RIP rhetorical analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

RIP Project & RIP rhetorical analysis - Essay Example The film is as thoughtful as it is wildly and almost obscenely violent. Even as it digs deep, it skims along the surface meaning that a whole range of audience fulfillment can be achieved. In this sophomore effort by one of the most controversial directors, Tarantino is as much a star as is his electrifying cast. Tarantino develops a unique style in which his story is told through disconnected scenes that are out of sequence, leaving the audience engaged in an effort to try to figure out just where the story is going. Just as it seems impossible to find meaning, the stories flow together so that the viewer forms that inevitable ‘O’ on their lips as it begins to make sense. The individual scenes are riveting enough that the viewer can wait until they begin to make sense. There is no rush. If you haven’t seen the film, please know that the following review is filled with spoilers. The film is a bumpy ride and a review of it would be no less. The film opens with a di alogue between Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer as they sit in a diner talking to one another like most desperate couples. The short scene ends as they pull guns, Plummer screaming at the patrons at the top of her lungs as they initiate a heist that won’t be resolved until much later. ... However, just like the structure of the film, his entrance has to wait for the moment as Travolta and Jackson dominate the film with storylines that include killing off a group of fraternity brothers in over their head with their crime boss. As well there are a series of drug based subplots that include watching a dead Uma Thurman pop back to life after having her chest stabbed with a thick needle on a hypodermic filled with adrenaline. Earlier in the film she is quirky yet elegant, but nothing is held back as she swipes her hand across the dribbles of vomit still clinging to her face from her overdose. Travolta, his belly rounded just as his face has become moony, his roles as a dancer or high school screw up in Saturday Night Fever and in Welcome Back Kotter long behind him, comes on as almost repulsive. Somehow he mixes the portrayal of streetwise intelligence with simplistic insights into a compelling and sensitive character that the audience can’t help to love. No one wou ld want to meet him, but everyone knows him. His character ‘Vincent’ is that guy who gets things done that no one else wants to do. Jackson, meanwhile, waxes philosophical on a plane above Vincent’s head and just slightly right of what might be expected for his character. The pair become instantly iconic as they experience the rollercoaster ride that is their life. One of the most classic on-screen pairings comes from Uma Thurman’s portrayal of Mia Wallace and Travolta’s character Vincent. His still unmet (by the audience) boss Marsellus has instructed Travolta to take his girlfriend out for the night so she is entertained. This puts

Thermo Answers Essay Example for Free

Thermo Answers Essay Answer 8:   I am not getting answer correct as the electron donor used by Alcohol   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dehydrogenase is NADH and FAD is not evolved in it. Answer 9:   FAD is used in neutralization of free radicals as it has higher oxidation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  potential than other and can easily reduced by free radicals. Answer 10: The answer will be when ∆ H=0 as based on equations   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ∆G °=∆ H- T∆ S and ∆G °= -RT In Keq the value of Keq remains greater   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   than 1 when value of ∆G ° remains negative and that is only possible in two   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Condition 1) when ∆ H remains 0 or negative. And 2) ∆ H remains negative   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   along with ∆ S becomes 0. Answer 11:   Here rest of the answers is according to biologic standard for example H+   Concentration as all biological processes occurred at pH 7, the standard was taken as [H+] = 10-7 similarly biological processes conceder to be worked at atmospheric pressure 1atm. As per the standard convention concentration of each reactant was taken as unity or 1M. Since all three answer were part of the biological standard condition only answer d remains choice as the biological processes occurs at temperature 37 C (our body temperature) and not at 0 C. Answer 12:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Here   among all four compound only glucose -6- phosphate will not give rise to any energy but converted to fructose 6 phosphate in glycolysis, While 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate converted to 3-phospho glycerate and give rise to 2ATP, similarly   phosphoenol pyruvate   converted to pyruvate and gives 2ATP (both in process of glycolysis). Phosphocreatine act as energy storage in skeletal muscles where there is fluctuation in energy requirement, here in high energy requirement phosphocreatine converted to creatine by converting ADP to ATP. Answer 13: here answer is e, because if you see the reactions for the formation of Glucose-6 –phosphate 1 ATP has to be hydrolyzed in two step 1) first ATP gets converted to AMP and PPi by releasing energy equivalent to 45.6 kCal and as this reaction give rise to energy (liberation of energy) the value is indicated as negative (-45.6). In second step PPi again get hydrolyzed to Pi with energy release equivalent to 19.6 (i.e -19.6).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Now glucose   converted to Glucose-6- phosphate by utilizing energy released from above mention reaction and it requires 13.8 Kcal, here the reaction requires energy and that’s why value is positive (i.e 13.8). In conclusion the energy balance sheet for formation of glucose-6-phosphate from Glucose will be -45.6-19.6+13.8 = -51.6 (favorable forward reaction as ∆G ° is negative) Answer 14: here the answer is e,   The free energy of ATP hydrolysis is depend on 4 parameters 1) ratio of ATP/ADP   (higher the ration lesser the hydrolysis) 2) pi concentration as being end product accumulation of it leads to more hydrolysis 3) H+ being slightly Acidic hydrolysis of ATP is depend o n pH (H+), and 4) concentration of Mg which act as cofactor for enzyme adenylate kinase which plays important role in ATP synthesis as well as ATP hydrolysis. Answer 15:   As the phosphate group transfer from ATP to other Nucleotide is catalyzed by enzyme Nucleoside diphosphate kinase, and this is a reversible reaction the dynamics of reaction almost remains in steady state. For example in case of higher concentration of ATP the reaction goes in forward direction by generating NTP and ADP, But   once ATP crises arises ADP converted back to ATP by the action of   adenylate kinase. In conclusion the ratio of two nucleotide ATP and ADP+ NTP remains constant and hence Keq remains around 1. Answer 22: here the total out put or free energy is calculated based redox potential of electron except – electron donor and hence for answer d it will be highest   ie   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢Ë†â€ E °Ã¢â‚¬â„¢= -0.219- (.320) = 0.529 V Answer 23: In all these above mention reactions conversion of PEP to pyruvate have highest free energy changes of -61.9 compared to other reactions for example ATP hydrolysis gives rise to -30.5, and 45.6 similarly glucose 6 phosphate gives -13.8 Kj/mol. This high energy is due to direct transfer of Phosphate group from PEP to ADP.

Registered Nurses Might Develop Appropriate Leadership Skills Nursing Essay

Registered Nurses Might Develop Appropriate Leadership Skills Nursing Essay The purpose of this assignment is to examine how registered nurses develop appropriate leadership skills, and how this can be implemented in improving a patients care requirements. Throughout this discussion I will give a definition of leadership, types of leadership models and theorist. Examine the KSF (Knowledge Skills Framework) and PDP (Personal Development Portfolio) and discuss the skills and knowledge that nurses need in order to succeed and develop the leadership skills that will be used in improving the patients overall care outcomes. I will use tools such as the internet eg. CINHAL, Caledonian University library, Blackboard, various journals and books to ensure the information provided is up to date and current within modern day practices and techniques within the nursing profession. Leadership, according to Grim (2010), is a complex entity, there are many definitions, Benton (2005), described leadership as the art of influencing people to accomplish the mission, another definition by Huczynski and Buchanan (1991), defines leadership as; a social process in which one individual influences the behaviour of others without threats or violence. Cook, (2001),  stated that; Leadership is not merely a series of skills or tasks; rather, it is an attitude that informs behavior. When we think of leaders we think of great people such as Churchill, Kennedy, Florence Nightingale and many more, these people are regarded as leaders because they had a vision to change things for the better, they inspired their fellow men with words of wisdom, they challenged authority and seized on opportunities. There are different styles of leadership; Autocratic, these types of leaders set their own goals; they do this without allowing other team members to participate in the decision making, (Faugier Woolnough, 2002). Bureaucratic, this is where the leadership has no grey areas they stick to the rules, regulations, and policies rigidly. Participative leader, these leaders allow staff to participate in making decisions, they delegate and pick fellow staff to participate in the decision making. The feeling is that this type of leadership would allow members of the team to feel more committed to the goals set out as they would be part of the team that set them out. (Faugier Woolnough, 2002). Laissez faire leadership is a more risky kind of leadership as the staff members are left to their own devices in meeting the goals set out. According to Faugier Woolnough, (2002), Ellis and Abbott (2009), a better and fairer leadership style may be situational leadership, this style allows the leader to switch between all the above styles depending on the situation they are dealing with and the competence of the workforce he or she is working with at that time. There are some theorists who believe that leadership is in-born and that some traits of a leaders personality such as intelligence, initiative and confidence are what creates leaders. (Goffee and Jones, 2000). There are those who disagree, Kouzes and Posner (2002) for example, argue that the skills of a leader are observable and learnable. Ellis and Abbott (2009), agree with, Faugier Woolnough, (2002), when looking at models of leadership see that some theorists believe that people get intrinsic satisfaction when given more control over their work they tend to be more productive and better motivated. The clinical governance and the policy and procedure manuals are all pushing for nurses to be autonomous practitioners, to lead teams, to give patients guidance in looking after their own health. In order to do these nurses have to inspire and motivate their patients and staff. Timmons and McCabe (2009). As a newly qualified registered nurse, leadership will be a daunting thought, being the newest member of staff, the leadership mantle will not rest on easy shoulders, but Knowledge and skills must be kept up to date throughout the practitioners working life,. (NMC 2004) by taking part in learning activities such as the KSF, a learning tool, that develops the practitioners competence and performance. Throughout the NHS the ongoing training tool which is most commonly applied is the KSF. This is an effective tool used to show the broad skills and knowledge that a nurse or practitioner needs to be effective in their particular post or position. The framework was introduced alongside the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system to ensure every NHS nurse receives an annual review to assess the knowledge and skills required to do his or her job. The aims of the KSF were to show clear and consistent development objectives so that practitioners were aware of what skills would be needed for their chosen role, to help and encourage the development of staff in such a way that they can apply the newly gained knowledge and skills to their post and to help identify any knowledge and skills that may support career progression and encourage the need for life long learning. The KSF will ensure that practitioners are fit to practice and continue to provide a framework for good quality care. (Hinchcliff 2009) The KSF also highlighted that a review should take place annually, this would be provided by the practitioners line manager to agree to any personal development plans that the practitioner may have, if the KSF, is implemented correctly, nurses will have the adequate training and skills to carry out their role effectively. Therefore the KSF will help to raise the clinical standard and standardise the abilities of the staff in specific roles throughout the NHS. (Tanton 2009). Health, safety and security are the key aspects of the job which the KSF describes; it makes it clear that it is vital that everyone takes responsibility for the safety, health and security of patients and clients, the public, colleagues and themselves. It shows that as staff move forward in their careers that their roles and responsibilities for health, safety and security also progress and that different levels of competence are required. (DoH 2004) The DoH (2006) is driving a key initiative to facilitate the development of nursing careers across the UK. Four key priority areas have been identified to address this they are; Develop a competent and flexible workforce. Update career pathways and career choices; Prepare nurses to lead, in a changed health care system; Modernise the image of nursing and nursing careers. (DOH, 2006, p.17) Leadership skills are being implemented at the start of the nurse training program, communication, listening, self awareness, empathy, motivation, reflection, critical thinking and problem solving, these skills will be required from every registered nurse from the onset of their career. The knowledge and skills that are obtained are needed for the team to attain clear, shared and attainable goals, which are essential in ensuring patients receive the best possible care. NMC (2004) Todays practitioners increasingly require the skills and knowledge to base care on best evidence, to use critical thinking and demonstrate advance leadership and decision making skills, to develop and enhance services in a more complex and diverse healthcare environment. Casey and Clark (2009) Critical thinking, is a skill that is defined by Wilkinson (1969) as both an attitude and a reasoning process that involves several intellectual skills. Taylor (2006) Described critical thinking as the rational examination of ideas, inferences, principles, arguments, conclusions, issues, statements, beliefs and actions also referred to as clinical reasoning, clinical decision making and clinical judgement. (Toofany, 2008) In todays healthcare environment things are ever changing and so is the information that the medical, clinical and multidisciplinary teams have to analyse. This information has to be critically analysed, weighing up the evidence and arguments that support such information, research suggests, that many newly qualified nurses and students lack the skills acquired to think critically (Shell 2001). According to Luckowski (2003), critical thinking is a skill that all newly registered nurses must have if they are to succeed in nursing. The need to solve problems in clinical practice (Ferrario 2004), is a skill that is necessary for the development of implementing theory to practice. Once qualified the new practitioner will have to think on her feet, critical thinking requires her to make decisions about patient care and to solve problems, these are complex cognitive experiences that nurses have to carry out quickly. There are structured care approaches such as, Integrated care pathways (ICPs) , protocols and algorithms these are effective tools that will help new nurses and students to learn to be critical thinkers. Intuition, according to Smith (2009) has its place in nursing, this is the emotional side of critical thinking, and is an important part of decision making when looking after a patient. There is considerable debate about this skill has been linked to expertise and the knowledge of a good nurse, There have been a plethora of research carried out on this subject without any conclusive evidence to disregard it as a skill. Acknowledging intuition is a challenge for nurses, educators and researches, because it is difficult concept to put into words and measure. Rew and Barrow (2007) Turnbull (1999) called intuition the neglected source of knowledge striving for legitimacy. Benner`s (1984) From Novice to Expert, is a model that is used as the conceptual framework for nursing research on clinical expertise and the use of intuition. ( King and Clark 2002,as cited in Smith 2009) Communication, one of the main skills that a newly qualified nurse can excel in immediately after training, a good handover, passing on messages such as doctors orders, blood results, listening to what patients are saying and also what they are not saying, body language, telephone calls, information appertaining to the patient in her care, this skill may be intrinsic but it can also be a learned skill. There are many theories and models on communication, much has been written about this subject models such as, `The Circular Transactional Model of Communication`, (Bateson 1979), and a `Skill Model of Interpersonal Communication` Hargie Dickson 2004) to name only two of them. (Timmons McCabe 2009) The theories and models may not have a direct influence on how the nurse communicates with her patient, but by reading them it allows discussion and in a nursing context this could illustrate a difference between a task centred approach or a patient centred approach when dealing with her patients. Communication is one of the most important skills a nurse can learn, its one of the first lessons taught at the beginning of her training and carries on for the rest of her nursing profession. According to ( Hinchliff et al 2008pg194) Clear communication is essential to an effective and ethical professional relationship. A nurse uses this skill consciously and unconsciously every day of her professional life. To be an effective communicator and have the patients best interests, the nurse must communicate openly and honestly, this may not only be with the patient and their family, but other members of the multidisciplinary teams. A registered nurse must develop a range of communication skills, styles, and technique to best suit her patients needs. There also needs to be good communication between the multidisciplinary teams, poorly written information about a patient could have an effect on the outcome of a patients care. NMC Guidelines for records and record keeping (2004), state tha t, Good record keeping is a mark of a skilled and safe practitioner, It is also a fundamental part of nursing, which carries a legal responsibility as patients records are part of the key evidence if a case goes to a court of law.(Hinchliff 2008). A professional nurse may on occasions find herself involved in situations where they may be called to give witness under oath; this is when the skill of good accurate record keeping plays a pivotal role. Active listening skills are an important skill, establishing a rapport with a patient just stopping for a moment and giving them eye contact smiling and asking open and closed questions will allow the patient to trust the nurse this in turn may reduce the patients anxiety levels and allow the patient to see that they are not just an illness but an individual, thus a therapeutic relationship may develop. (McCabe 2004: Astedr-Kurki and Haggman-Laitila 1992; Williams 1998) A nurse also has to be patient centred in her approach to planning, implementing and evaluating patient care, showing qualities of empathy warmth, genuineness, all the following skills are also essential; Self Awareness and Assertiveness are skills that the newly qualified nurses have to develop, the need to understand themselves and be aware of their own feelings, actions, values, attitudes, beliefs and how they influence relationships and interactions with others. A nurse cannot understand others until they themselves are self aware. Self-awareness is a lifelong process and requires the individual to look inside themselves and reflect take on board feedback from others. Senge (2006) Assertiveness, another valuable skill in the element of communication Balzer-Riley (2000) suggests that assertiveness is the ability to express thoughts feelings and ideas without undue anxiety or having a negative effect on others. To have leadership skills nurses must be more assertive, it is well documented (McCabeTimmins 2006) that in the past most nurses tended to take a submissive role in communication behaviour, todays nurse with good mentorship and support can be frank, flexible and open-minded and with the right encouragement can motivate and encourage others, without being confrontational or challenging, this can work in the patients best interest to have a confident practitioner. Self- regulation; this is the component of emotional intelligence that enables the individual to be reasonable in the workplace, with appropriate control over feelings and impulses; they are open to change and have the capacity to create environments of trust and fairness. Motivation: driven by not only external incentives such individuals are uniquely internally motivated and will display both innate optimism and organisational commitment. Empathy; this is an essential component, which enables one to understand both the needs of the user of the service and also those of the providers. Social skills; enables the individual to find common ground and manage relationships. (Timmins McCabe 2009) Responsibility is a duty for which one is responsible, while accountability relates to the fact that one can be called to account for ones actions with regard to a duty. Nursing midwifery council, states that a practitioner may be expected to delegate to others who are not registered nurses, they may be health care assistants, (HCAs) or students, but the practititioner still remains accountable for the appropriateness of the delegation. NMC (2004). Delegation is the transfer of selected tasks and responsibility for completion of tasks to another person and retaining supervision and accountability for that activity (Hansten and Jackson 2004). Delegation is a skill that a new nurse may have to use from day one in her job, she may find herself delegating a task to health care assistances (HCAs) or a student, this may seem inappropriate as the HCA probably has much more knowledge of the task than the new nurse. What a new nurse or in fact any nurse has to weigh up when delegating the task to another is, does this person have the right skills and competence to carry out the task delegated to them, has this person had training to carry out the task, who is liable if any harm befalls the patient or the carers, the person who carried out the task? or the person who delegated the task? The law will state that due to professional accountability, only responsibility can be delegated to others, accountability and liability cannot be delegated. (Cornock 2008) This means that even though the individual took the task on, they may state, that they lacked the authority, knowledge and experience to carry out the task, even though the stud ent/ HCA have took responsibility for the task. The nurse who delegated must from a legal perspective remain nearby to monitor the task, and to offer advice if needed. In America, The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (1995), brought about the `five rights of delegation` these are The right task, The right circumstances, From the right person, With the right communication, With the right supervision. The NMC (2007b) also reflect on this advice with regards to delegation, as delegation is a skill that will develop over time with the right mentorship and guidance. (Hinchcliff 2009) As the new practitioners confidence in her experiences, abilities and competence in the field she has chosen, grows, mentoring will be the next stage of her development. Mentoring whether its formal or informal is one of the important roles that every nurse has to take part in. The NMC (2006) states that, nurses who take the role of mentors must be registered with the NMC and be on the same part of the register as the students they assess, the mentor must be on the register for at least 12 months and have completed an NMC approved mentor preparation course, (PA, Panther 2008). The NMC (2004 4.3) states that the practitioner must communicate effectively to others and share knowledge, skill and expertise with other members of the team as required for the benefit of patients. The course is a ten day program following the publication of the NMC, Standards to Support Learning and assessment in Practice (NMC 2006) Reflection, just like clinical skills reflection needs to be learned, it is an activities that is central to a nurses professional practice. Johns (2000) stated; Reflection is a window that the nurse can view and concentrate on herself within the context of her lived experience, this will help her to confront and understand the problem and work towards resolving it within her practice of what she has done and what she would like to do better. When carrying out tasks with the patient although the nurse does her best, using reflective practice she can look back and see how she could have made this event better for the patient, it may identify a lack of knowledge or a skill that needs to be practiced for the future care of a patient. There are several models of reflection (e.g. Gibbs 1988, Johns 2000, Taylor 2006,) these models help the practitioner by asking structured questions about their experiences in clinical practice which prompt the practitioner to remember certain aspects of th e event e.g. who, what, where and when, these questions are a catalyst for the practitioner. When reflection forms part of a structured learning experience then theory and practice become more integrated and theory informs practice and practice informs theory. (Clark et al, 2001), (Fowler, 2006). The purpose of this assignment was to examine how registered nurses develop appropriate leadership skills, and how this can be implemented in improving a patients care requirements. The NMC states that as a practitioner you must keep your knowledge and skills up to date throughout your working life, this will be helped by carrying out Personal Development Portfolios and following the Knowledge and Skills Framework, as this can benefit the practitioner by highlighting abilities, achievements and experiences. Also the portfolio can show the development of analytical skills through reflective study. The practitioner will need to acquire and develop the skills and attributes required to deal with a range of new and emerging nursing responsibilities in todays healthcare. Nurses who are competent in the skills of leadership will be able to plan and design the way care is delivered in the future, this will achieve the goals of the health service providers and improve patient care outcomes. REFERENCES LEADERSHIP 2010 Astedt-Kurki, P Haggman-Laitila, A (1992) Good Nursing Practice as Perceived by Clients: A starting point for the development of professional nursing. Journal of Advance Nursing, 17 (10), 1195-9 Balzer Riley J. (2000) Communication in Nursing, 4th edn. Mosby, St. Louis. Bateson G. (1979) Mind and Nature. Dutton New York. Benner P. (1984) From Novice to Expert: Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice. Addison-Wesley, Menio Park Ca. as cited in; Smith A (2009) Exploring the legitimacy of intuition as a form of nursing knowledge. Nursing Standard 6 vol 23 no 40 pg 35-39 Benton T. 2005) Airforce Officers Guide. 34th ed. Mechanicburg, PA: Stackpole Books. As Cited in Grimm JW. (2010) Effective Leadership: Making The Difference. Journal of Emergency Nursing. Vol 36 (1) pg 74-77. Casey D, Clark, L. (2009) Professional development for registered nurses. Nursing Standard vol 24 No 15-17 pg, 35-38. Clark A. Dooher J. Fowler J. (2001) The Handbook of Practice and Development. Dinton: Quay Books. Cook, M. (2001).   The renaissance of clinical leadership.   International Nursing as cited in Cornock M. (2008) Where the buck stops. Nursing Standard 12, 17 vol 23 no 15-17 Department of Health (DoH) (2004) The NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework. London Department of Health Ellis P. Abbot J. (2009) How to succeed as a new renal nurse manager. Journal of Renal Nursing 1 (2): 93-96. Faugier, J. and Woolnough, H. (2002).   National nursing leadership programme.   Mental Health Practice, 6 (3): 28-34. Ferrario CG. (2004) Developing clinical reasoning stratergies: cognitive shortcuts. Journal for Nurses in Staff development 20, 5, pg 229-235. Fowler J. (2006) The impotance of reflective practicefor nurses and prescibers. Nurse Prescribing. 4. 103-6. Gibbs G. (1988) Learning by Doing: A Guid to Teaching and Learning Methods. Oxford; Further Education Unit, Oxford Polytechnic. Goffee R. Jones G. (2000) Why should anyone be led by you? Havard Buisness Review. 78(5) 63-70 Grimm JW. (2010) Effective Leadership: Making The Difference. Journal of Emergency Nursing. Vol 36 (1) pg 74-77. Hansten R, Jackson M. (2004). Clinical delegation skills: A Handbook for Professional Practice, 3rd edn. Aspen Publication, New York, as cited in Timmins F. McCabe C. (2009) Day Surgery Contemporary Approaches to Nursing Care Wiley-Blackwell UK.pg. 112. Hargie O. Dickson D. (2004) Skilled Interpersonal Communication: Research Theory and Practice. Routlege. Sussex. Hczynski A. Buchanan D. (1991) Organisational Behaviour: An Introductory Text 2nd edn. Prentice Hall. London. Hinchliff, S. Norman S, Schober, J. (2008) Nursing Practice and Health Care. A Foundation Text 5th ed Hodder Arnold. London. Johns C. (2000) Becoming a Reflective Practitioner: A Reflective Holistic Approach to Clinical Nursing Practice Development and Clinical Supervision. Oxford; Blackwell Science King L. Clark JM. (2002) Intuition and development of expertise in surgical ward and intensive care nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 37, 4. 322-29 Kouzes JM. Posner BZ. (2002) The leadership challenge; How to keep getting things done in organisations. Jossy-Bass. San Francisco. Luckowski A. (2003) Concept Mapping as a critical thinking tool for nurse educators. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development. 195. 225-230 McCabe C. (2004) Nurse-Patient communication: An exploration of Patients experiences, Journal of Clinical Nursing 13,41-9 Nursing Midwifery Council NMC (2004) Guidelines for records and record keeping. Nursing and Midwifery Council Nursing Midwifery Council NMC (2006). The PREP Handbook. London: Nursing and Midwifery Council. Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC), (2006). Standards to Support Learning and assessment in Practice London: Nursing and Midwifery Council Nursing Midwifery Council NMC (2007b). Advice on Delegation for NMC Registrants: A-Z Advice Sheet, London: Nursing and Midwifery Council. Pa, A. Panther, W. (2008) Professional development and the role of mentorship. Nursing Standared. 6, 25, 22, pg 35- Rew L, Barrow EM. (2007) State of the science: intuition in nursing, a generation of studying the phenomenon. Advances in Nursing Science. 30, 1. E15-25 Senge PM. (2006) The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organisation. Random House Business, London. Shell R. (2001). Percieved barriers to teaching for critical thinking skill by BSN Nursing Faculty. Nursing Health Care Perspective . 22. 6. pg286-89 Smith A (2009) Exploring the legitimacy of intuition as a form of nursing knowledge. Nursing Standard 6 vol 23 no 40 pg 35-39 Taylor BJ. (2006) Reflective Practice: A Guide for Nurses and Midwives. Open University Press. Maidenhead. Timmins F. McCabe C. (2009) Day Surgery Contemporary Approaches to Nursing Care Wiley-Blackwell UK. Toofany S. (2008) Critical thinking among nurses. Nursing Management vol 14 No9 Feb (2008) pg28-31 Turnbull J. (1999) Intuition in nursing relationships: the result of skills or qualities? British Journal of Nursing 8,5, 302-306 Williams, A.M. (1998) The delivery of quality nursing care:A grounded theory study of the nurses perspective. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 27, 808-16

The Dynamic Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities :: Tale Two Cities Essays

The Dynamic Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities The most dynamic character in Charles Dickens, 'A Tale of Two Cities,' appears as Sydney Carton. First, Carton presents himself as a drunk, lazy attorney, who feels as though his life has no meaning. However, Carton as well as others know deep down that his life does have true meaning. Carton professes his love to Lucie Manette. Inexplicably, Carton becomes a changed man; this important turning point molds the remainder of the novel. After he exits the den, he finds his independence. When Sydney Carton becomes enlightened, he transforms into a Christ-like figure. He begins to shoulder his way through life. At the beginning of the novel, Sydney Carton presents himself as a drunken attorney. When Carton converses with Charles Darnay, Dickens presents Carton as a drunk, "Carton, who smelt of port wine, and did not appear to be quite sober" (89). Carton appears constantly drunk at the beginning of the novel. Also, Carton has no sense of self-worth. When Carton drinks at the Bar with Mr. Stryver, Stryver describes him as, "[Y]our way is, and always was, a lame way. You summon no energy and purpose" (95). Dickens, also describes Carton as, "Sydney Carton, idlest and most unpromising of men" (92). As most people believe, Carton feels that he himself has no purpose. He agrees with the way other people feel about him and takes no initiative. Proclaiming his love to Lucie Manette before her wedding, Carton has a turning point and becomes enlightened. Carton converses with Miss Manette, "O Miss Manette... think now and then that there is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you" (156). Apparently, Carton becomes a changed man; he becomes a caring person who tries to help others. However, Carton always noticed Lucie Manette; when they were in the courtroom, Carton focuses on Miss Manette. Dickens describes the scene, "when Miss Manette's head dropped upon her father's breast, he was the first to see it." Carton constantly focuses on Lucie. He makes her the center of his attention. Finally, throughout the novel, Dickens perceives Carton as a Christ-like figure.

Impermanence, Selflessness, And Dissatisfaction Essay examples -- essa

Impermanence, Selflessness, and Dissatisfaction Buddhism is neither a religion nor a philosophy, but rather a way of life. This does not imply that Buddhism is nothing more than an ethical code: it is a way of moral, spiritual and intellectual training leading to complete freedom of the mind. (DeSilva, 1991:p 5). Of the many Buddhist sects, Zen Buddhism places particular emphasis on living ‘the right' life, and does not revolve around rite and ritual. Buddhism outlines the three characteristics of existence, which aids one in achieving enlightenment. Impermanence, selflessness, and dissatisfaction are concepts that are easily understood on an intellectual level, but to apply these concepts in one's life is challenging. Impermanence is concerned with the thought that nothing remains static, and change is to be expected. Selflessness holds that there is no immortal soul or external Self that exists in each individual; (Fadiman & Frager,1994:p 545) selflessness is closely connected with impermanence. Dissatisfaction is a larger concept entir ely- it involves the acknowledgment that suffering exists. The world is founded on suffering, (DeSilva, 1991:p 21) and once anything becomes a problem there is bound to be suffering, unsatisfactoriness, or conflict- conflict between our desires and the state of reality. Dissatisfaction is the most difficult characteristic of existence to apply to one's life, as it involves not only the acceptance of this state, but also outlines one on how to treat and cure this state.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The notion that the world is an ever-changing environment on all levels of existence is not a radical idea. In fact, those that have not yet accepted change as a natural state of nature is denying the reality of life. A being and the empirical world are both constantly changing. They come into being and pass away. All is in a whirl, nothing escapes this inexorable unceasing change, and because of this transient nature nothing is really pleasant. There is happiness, but very momentary, it vanishes like a flake of snow, and brings about unsatisfactoriness (DeSilva, 1991:p 29). Both pleasant and unpleasant conditions come and go, it is then the responsibility of the individual to deal with each situation in the ‘right' way. Understanding that there is no universal truth, that thoughts and ideas evolve- leaves one open to impr... ... individual is in the fortunate position of having the ability to end the suffering conditions, whether they be psychological or physical.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Consequently, the Buddhist characteristics of existence are useful to the average individual. These concepts can aid the individual in healthy analysis of their behavior and motivations, as well as offer methods that enable one to actively change aspects of their life that they may be dissatisfied with. BIBLIOGRAPHY DeSilva, J.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Spectrum of Buddhism: The Writings of Piyadassi.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Buddhist Missionary Society: New York, 1991. Fadiman, J. Personality and Personal Growth. HarperCollins College Frager, R.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Publishers: United States, 1994. Suzuki, D.T.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Manual of Zen Buddhism. Rider: London, New York, 1956. Web Sites http://www.ncf.carelton.ca/freenet/rootdi...ism/introduction/truths/NobleTruth- -1.html http://www.inet.co.th/cyberclub/over_buddhism.html

Criminology DNA Forensic Science Essay

We begin life as a single cell zygote, about 0. 1mm in diameter. The numerous biological instructions that enable our developmental and functional processes to occur from zygote to adult are encoded in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Forensic DNA analysis involves the intersection of several scientific disciplines, including molecular biology, genetics, and statistical analysis (Lynch, 2013). In order to understand the usefulness and the limitations of DNA in the analysis of physical evidence, it is important to be familiar with the basics principles underlying these diverse disciplines. Besides identical twins, each individual’s DNA is unique. After all it is the genetic material that contains all the information necessary for any organism to develop and function. However, only a one-half percent that is of interest to forensics scientists. This is the portion that varies greatly between individuals and it is what manifests itself in the individual traits such as eye color, hair color, and blood type. Most often the differences in DNA sequence do not show themselves in physical appearance; however, these sequences can only be examined using special laboratory techniques. Forensic scientists use these genetic differences from DNA to distinguish an individual between the individuals in a population. In 1944 Oswald Avery defined the role of the cellular component known as DNA as the vehicle of generational transference of heritable traits. In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick elucidated the structure of the DNA molecule as a double helix. Form follows function; the very nature of the molecule provided an explanation for its unique properties (Berg, Tymoczko, Stryer, Gatto & Gatto, 2012). In 1980, David Botstein and coworkers were the first to exploit the small variations found between people at the genetic level as landmarks to construct a human gene map. In 1984, while searching for disease markers in DNA Alec Jeffreys discovered the science of personal identification. He termed this method DNA Fingerprinting, a method to detect loci sequentially (Alberts, Johnson & et al, 2008). This term is later replaced by DNA typing or DNA profiling, â€Å"Early in the use of DNA, profiles for the purpose of dentification were called DNA fingerprints, a term which is now rarely used† (Porter, 2005). The first forensic use of DNA occurred in England, â€Å"†¦ a DNA test was performed by Dr. Alex Jeffreys, who had developed DNA ‘fingerprinting† (Porter, 2005). One of the most significant facts of the case is that an innocent suspect was the first accused of the murder was freed based on the DNA evidence. Perhaps the most significant scientific advance bes ides the determination of the structure of DNA was in 1986 the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR multiplies the sample and yields results which were once unobtainable, â€Å"Furthermore, the statistical chances of a random coincidence in DNA of two individuals with the same profile have now reached enormous figures in the billions (Porter, 2005). Observation of cells and embryos in the late 19th century had led to the recognition that the hereditary information is carried on chromosomes, â€Å"thread-like structures in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell that became visible by light microscopy as the cell begins to divide† (Alberts, Johnson & et al, 2008). As biochemical analysis became possible, chromosomes were found to consist of both DNA and protein. DNA is the name given to a group of molecules that occur in all cells of all living organisms and that carry that organism’s genetic information. That, is they carry the instructions for making the chemical compounds, proteins, by which cells stay alive, grow, develop, reproduce, and carry out all the functions that constitute life as we know it. DNA molecules are very large, complex molecules made of only a few simple sugar units combined with a phosphate group and one of four nitrogen bases, adenine A, cytosine C, guanine G, and thymine T (Alberts, Johnson & et al, 2008). The combination of one sugar molecule, one phosphate group and any on nitrogen base is called a nucleotide. A complete DNA molecule consists of very long chains of thousands of nucleotides joined together. The DNA molecule is comprised of two strands each wrapped around the other in the form of a double-helix. The bases on each strand are properly aligned in a manner known as complementary-base pairing. As a result, adenine pairs with thymine and guanine pairs with cytosine. Each gene is actually composed of DNA specifically designed to carry the task of controlling the genetic traits of our cells. The position a gene occupies on a chromosome in known as a locus. Approximately 30,000 human genes have been identified. DNA duplicates itself prior to cell division. DNA replication begins with the unwinding of the DNA strands of the double helix (Berg, Tymoczko, Stryer, Gatto & Gatto, 2012). The two separate strands, now separated, act like a template for the formation of daughter strands. Each strand is now exposed to a collection of free nucleotides that will be used to recreate the double helix using base pairing. The enzyme DNA polymerase catalyzes the sequential addition of nucleotides to the growing DNA strands. The advent of DNA technology has dramatically altered the approach of forensic scientists toward the individualization of bloodstains and other biological factors as evidence. The high sensitivity of DNA analysis and the subsequent search for DNA evidence has even altered the types of materials collected from crime scenes. Saferstein, 2013) Modern methods of obtaining DNA have made it possible to obtain convictions on blood left at the scene, on semen, or even spittle behind on a postage stamp. â€Å"It is surprising how often DNA is left behind, often when the criminal accidently cuts himself at the scene but also numerous other ways. DNA evidence makes detection of crime more probable† (Porter, 2005). During an investigation, forensic evidence is collected at a crime scene, analyzed in a laboratory and often presented in court. Each crime scene is unique, and each case presents its own challenges. Complex cases may require the collection, examination and analysis of a large amount of evidence. In terms of forensic DNA analysis, there is a variety of possible sources of DNA evidence. The more useful sources include blood, semen, vaginal fluid, nasal secretions and hair with roots. It is theoretically possible to obtain DNA from evidence such as urine, feces and dead skin cells, though this is often classed as a poor source due to the lack of intact cells and high levels of contaminants preventing successful analysis. Prior to analysis, the it will be necessary to extract DNA from the sample. This is generally achieved through the following simplified steps. The sample cells are lysed (broken down) in a buffer solution. Denatured proteins and fats are pelleted through centrifugation. The cleared lysate is then passed through a column, often containing a positively charged medium that binds to the DNA. Contaminating proteins, fats and salts are then removed through several washes. The DNA is recovered in a buffer solution (Rankin, 2005-2013). The use of DNA analysis in forensic science is based on a variety of techniques focusing on polymorphisms. â€Å"Different sequences are studied in different techniques, including single nucleotide polymorphisms, mini satellites (variable number tandem repeats), microsatellites (short tandem repeats) and mitochondrial DNA, each different with regards to length and repetition (Rankin, 2005-2013)†. The latest method of DNA typing, short tandem repeat (STR) analysis has emerged as the most successful and widely used DNA profiling procedure. Generally, â€Å"DNA extraction is the first step in forensic DNA analysis for use in human identification, and is essential to generating STR profiles from forensic biological samples (Lounsbury, Coult, Miranian, Cronk, Haverstick, Kinnon, Saul & Landers, 2012)†. STRs are locations on the chromosome that contain short tandem repeats that repeat themselves within the DNA molecule. They express a high degree of polymorphism, making them of particular use to the forensic scientist. As STR regions are non-coding, there is no selective pressure against the high mutation rate, resulting in high variation between different people (Saferstein, 2013). Though there have been thousands of short tandem repeats found in the human genome, only a small number are utilized in forensic DNA analysis. STR loci are ideal for use in forensic science for a number of reasons. They represent†¦ â€Å"discrete alleles that are distinguishable from one another, they show a great power of discrimination, only a small amount of sample is required due to the short length of STRs, PCR amplification is robust and multiple PCR can be used, and there are low levels of artifact formation during amplification (Rankin, 2005-2013)†. The method of enzyme based produced PCR-ready DNA after only 20 minute incubation and requires no centrifugation or sample transfer steps. Implementation of this method into the workflow for forensic cases could reduce sample and DNA preparation time. The enzyme based method allows easy integration for downstream processes, such as PCR (Lounsbury, Coult, Miranian, Cronk, Haverstick, Kinnon, Saul & Landers, 2012). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a technique for replicating small quantities of DNA or broken pieces of DNA found at a crime scene, outside a living cell. Polymerase chain reaction is the outgrowth of knowledge gained from an understanding of how DNA strands naturally replicate within a cell. For the forensic scientist, PCR offers a distinct advantage in that it can amplify minute quantities of DNA many millions of times (Saferstein, 2013). The PCR cycle consists of three primary steps: denaturation, annealing and extension. â€Å"Denaturation, the sample is heated to 94-95oC for about 30 seconds. This separates the double-stranded DNA by breaking hydrogen bonds, allowing primers access. Annealing, the samples is kept at 50-65oC, depending on the primer sequence, to allow hydrogen bonds to form between the primers and the complementary DNA sequence. Extension is also known as the elongation stage. The sample is heated to 72oC for duration depending on the length of the DNA strand to be amplified and the speed of the polymerase enzyme (Taq polymerase) which builds up the strand. Deoxynucleotide triphosphates are added to the 3’ end of the primer (Rankin, 2005-2013)†. Each PCR cycle can take only 5 minutes. This procedure can then be repeated as necessary until the original sequence has been amplified a sufficient amount of time, with the amount being doubled with each cycle. Following PCR, the products are separated using electrophoresis. Electrophoresis is essentially a method of separating molecules by their size through the application of an electric field, causing molecules to migrate at a rate and distance dependent on their size. The gel essentially acts as a type of molecular sieve, allowing smaller molecules to travel faster than larger fragments. Following electrophoresis, it may be necessary to visualize these bands using radioactive or fluorescent probes or dyes (Berg, Tymoczko, Stryer, Gatto & Gatto, 2012). Another type of DNA used for individual characterization is mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA (mDNA) is located outside the cell’s nucleus and is inherited from the mother (Saferstein, 2013). Recent developments in forensic mRNA profiling systems have allowed the simultaneous inference of a variety of human cell types from small amounts of samples. In addition to body fluids such as blood, semen, saliva, menstrual secretion and vaginal mucosa, the presence of skin cells can also be determined. Since more cell types can be examined, RNA profiling complements the existing detection methods of body fluids which are mainly serology-based and presumptive in nature. In forensic genetic analyses, â€Å"†¦the highest priority often goes to establishing the possible contributor(s) of DNA to an evidentiary trace. As a consequence, RNA profiling is incorporated into a DNA/RNA coassessment strategy that generates both a DNA and an mRNA profile from the same stain (Lindenbergh, Maaskant & Sijen, 2012)†. Mitochondrial DNA is generally used when other methods such as STR analysis have failed. This is often in the case of badly degraded bodies, in cases of disaster or accidents where an individual is too badly damaged to identify. The most significant advantage of the use of mitochondrial DNA is the possibility of analyzing even highly degraded samples. If a specimen is severely decomposed to the point that it is not possible to successfully extract a DNA profile using nuclear DNA, it may be possible through mitochondrial DNA. However the use of mDNA does have its disadvantages. As mitochondrial DNA is only maternally inherited, this cannot form a full DNA fingerprint of the individual, thus this technique is only beneficial if the DNA profiles of maternal relatives are available, such as the individuals mother or biological siblings (National Institute of Justice, 2012). Possibly the most momentous device to arise from DNA typing is the ability to compare DNA types recovered from crime scene evidence to those of convicted sex offenders and other convicted criminals (Lynch, 2013). Numerous countries have produced computerized databases containing DNA profiles to aid in the comparison of DNA fingerprints and the identification of suspects and victims. The first Government DNA database was established in the United Kingdom in April 1995, known as the National DNA Database (NDNAD). As of 2011, there were over 5. million profiles of individuals in the system. Similarly, the FBI in the US formed their own DNA database, the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), in 1994, though it was not implemented in all states until 1998(Saferstein, 2013). Staff members involved in the handling and analysis of evidence will often also submit their DNA profiles to the database in the case of accidental contamination. There is the possibility for DNA databases to be shared be tween countries; however some countries focus on different loci in DNA fingerprinting. Currently, U. S. crime laboratories have standardized on 13 STRs for entry into a national database (CODIS). Currently, DNA evidence is treated as exceptional, but it also is upheld as a model for other forms of forensic evidence to emulate. Many terms, such as investigation, inquiry, argument, evidence, and fact were established in law well before being associated with science. However, while legal proof remained qualified by standards of moral certainty, scientific proof attained a reputation for objectivity (Lynch, 2013). Although most forms of legal evidence, including expert evidence, continue to be treated as fallible opinions rather than objective facts, forensic DNA evidence increasingly is being granted an exceptional factual status. It did not always enjoy such status. Two decades ago, the scientific status of forensic DNA evidence was challenged in the scientific literature and in courts of law, but by the late 1990s it was being granted exceptional legal status. DNA profiling is often treated as an exceptional technique that has navigated the imaginary gulf between forensic and scientific culture, and has become so reliable that it can be used as a benchmark for evaluating all other forensic technologies. The STR system replaced the earlier systems, and automated scanning of samples replaced visual examination of profile results. The use of all these genetic tools allows forensic scientists to with more certainty find and convict criminals.

Marx’ Alienation and Durkheim’s Anomie

Section one: Explain Marx ’concept of alienation. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the two concepts of alienation and anomie and to show their similarities and differences. One of the most important Marx’ theories is the concept of ‘alienation’. By the concept of alienation Marx claimed that people are using their ability to control their life under the capitalistic conditions. Created in the middle of the 19th century, it is a form of dehumanization. Marx’ theory of alienation is represented in the book Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts.For Marx, alienation depicts a ‘’socio-psychological condition describing the separation of individuals from their natural and social environments’’. (www. academia. edu) Marx typifies four main types of alienation. 1. Alienation of the worker from the product of his labor: ‘The worker places his life in the object; but now it no longer belongs to him, but to the object' (18 44b: 324); The worker cannot control the conditions in which he is working. 2. Alienation of the worker from the act of producing: ‘His labour is [†¦ not voluntary, but forced; it is forced labor  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ (1844b: 326); The worker becomes a servant of what he produces. The object is not in the worker’s control and it is not his production. 3. Alienation of the worker from himself, as a producer: ‘estranged labour [†¦ ] tears away from him his species-life, his true species-objectivity' (1844b: 329); The workers are alienated from themselves. Their work takes from their humanity because they cannot realise their true humanity in creating the object they produce. 4.Alienation of the worker from other workers: ‘each man [†¦ ] regards the other in accordance with the standard and the situation in which he as a worker finds himself' (1844b: 330); The conditions of work also alienate the worker from other men. They are no longer a team of creative workers. Moreover, the conditions of their work put them in competition with each other. They should work faster and harder, they should produce more. They become an enemies rather than to be team. According to Marx, capitalism alienates people from their nature and humanity.They cannot show their potential in the communication with the others, in the connection with what they produced and in this way they cannot show them as human beings. Section two: Explain Durkheim’s concept of ‘anomie’. The French sociologist Emile Durkheim introduced the concept of anomie in his book The Division of Labor in Society, published in 1893. The term anomie means social disorder and is also used by Durkheim in his studies about suicidal behavior – in 1897 in his study on Suicide.Anomie is usually translated as normlessness, but it best understood as insufficient normative regulation. (www. brooklinsoc. org) The concept was explained as a condition where the activities of t he members in a society are no longer controlled by a norms. It refers to a ‘breakdown of the social norms’. (www. criminology. fsu. edu) Anomie refers to an environmental state where society fails to exercise adequate regulation or constraint over the goals and desires of its individual members (Durkheim, 1951: 241—276).Individuals sometimes experience alienation from values and group goals during times of fast change in the society. This leads to conflicts and dissatisfaction. Industrialization with the division of labor affiliated anomie. In the process of producing, which is repeated, workers are losing their sense to feel their role in the production. The anomic suicide is taking place when the individuals are not regulated sufficiently by the society. This kind of suicide is more likely to happen of there are times when the economy is fluctuating.As one of the important functions of a social order Durkheim pointed the social solidarity: there is defined pla ce for every individual in the world that was created and reinforced by the social values of morality, religion, and patriotism. His observation was that these strands of solidarity are stronger or weaker in different societies. But he also observed that there are some forces in the modern society that are opposite to these moral ‘strands of social cohesion’ (www. understandingsociety. blogspot. dk).In his theory of suicide, he explains differences in suicide rates across societies as the result of different levels of solidarity and its opposite, anomie. Durkheim highlights the situation of â€Å"anomie† to refer to the circumstance of individuals whose relationship to the social whole is weak. ( www. understandingsociety. blogspot. dk) Section three: How the two concepts are alike or different? The two theories are exposed by the authors as a essential problem of modernity as moving to a industrial state in Durkheim’s view and moving to a capitalist state in Marx’s view.Another important similarity between the two theories is that they both arose in the 19th century when analysing the nature of labour – Marx’s concept was based on the labour process and Durkheim’s was written with the division of labour in mind. From these topics, the authors are trying to explain a variable changes, which are taking place in the society. Marx’s concept of alienation is showing another kind of separation – separation of the person from his/her nature as a free producer and creator, and separation of the person from his/her natural sociality. www. brooklinsoc. org) Thus, the modern capitalistic society is destructive of true society. In comparison, Durkheim and Marx are diagnosing a similar feature of modernity. But in Marx is comparing the present with the future as a society, full of equal and free producers. On the other hand in Durkheim's case there is an implicit contrast between a pre-modern world in wh ich individuals have a well-defined social and moral place and the contemporary world in which these strands of solidarity are breaking down. www. brooklinsoc. org) But in each case the author is grappling with a deficiency in modernity – a lack of moral and social setting that gives the individual a basis for self-respect and sociable cooperation with others. Bibliography: Marx. Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts 1844 Durkheim. The Division of Labor in Society 1951 www. brooklinsoc. org www. understandingsociety. blogspot. dk www. academia. edu

Johnson Beverage Inc Essay

As president and primary owner of Johnson Beverage, Inc. (JBI), Jack Johnson was beginning to realize that retaining long-term customers was becoming a challenge. During a delivery run yesterday, driver Joe Stevens had noticed a competitor’s sales manager talking with the general manager of Saver Superstore, one of JBI’s largest customers. Then, that morning, Johnson’s sales manager, Marsha Ketchum, had mentioned that, during her visit with the same general manager on Wednesday, he was starting to make some noises about wanting to negotiate a lower price. This could cause a dilemma because this customer had been one of the company’s largest and most loyal customers for years. Johnson leaned back in his chair. These things always seemed to come up on Friday— just in time to monopolize his thoughts over what otherwise would have been a restful weekend. Deciding to address the situation head on, he scheduled a meeting with Stevens, Ketchum, and several others for later that afternoon. Company Background JBI distributed beverages to retail customers. The company had been in business for two decades and had become a preferred distributor among several retail outlets in the local area. JBI primarily distributed bottled sports drinks made by small specialty beverage companies, and its business had grown steadily with the popularity of sports drinks over the past 10 to  20 years. Last year, JBI’s revenues totaled $12 million. The company serviced about 20 customers whose beverage purchases totaled anywhere from about $100,000 to over $1 million annually. The undiscounted list price on the sports drinks that JBI distributed was $15.20 per case of 24 bottles. The full cost (excluding customer service costs) of the bottled drinks was $13.10 per case. The company offered discounts to some of its customers, which varied by customer based on a number of factors, including the volume of drinks the customer purchased, the future potential of the customer, and the negotiating success of the company’s sales representative, among others. This case was prepared by Associate Professor Luann J. Lynch. It was written as a basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation. Copyright ïÆ' £ 2009 by the University of Virginia Darden School Foundation, Charlottesville, VA. All rights reserved. To order copies, send an e-mail to sales@dardenbusinesspublishing.com. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, used in a spreadsheet, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of the Darden School Foundation. Rev. 6/09. This document is authorized for use only by madelene manu at Douglas College. Please do not copy or redistribute. Contact permissions@dardenbusinesspublishing.com for questions or additional permissions. The Meeting Johnson opened the meeting by summarizing what he had heard from Stevens and Ketchum over the past couple of days. â€Å"It looks like we’ve got some competition for one of our best customers: Saver Superstore. I guess I’m not too surprised. They’re a big customer.† â€Å"This isn’t the first time this has happened,† added Ketchum. â€Å"You might remember that this same competitor has approached Saver Superstore before. But that time, we were able to keep the business by offering a bit more of a discount. I think we’ll have to do more of that this time, or I’m afraid we’ll lose the customer.† Johnson responded quickly. â€Å"We can’t get into a price war on this. I know this is a big customer, and a loyal one too, but it’s certainly not one of our most profitable. I had Jim pull some numbers together on several of our accounts. Saver Superstore is one of our lowest-margin customers. Take a look.† Jim Thomas in accounting, who was also in the meeting, had prepared a report (Exhibit 1), which Johnson laid on the table for the others to look at. Thomas explained how the accounting group compiled the numbers: For each customer, we just pull the revenues right out of the accounting system. We know what they ordered and what we shipped, and we know what price we charge each customer, so that part is pretty easy. And we know that the cost per case, excluding our customer service costs, is $13.10. So we can multiply $13.10 per case by the number of cases we shipped to get our cost of goods. Then, we subtract our cost of goods from revenues for each customer and get a gross margin. Now, you may remember that we’ve talked about how hard it is to trace our customer service costs to any particular customer. Our customer service costs run about $1.2 million a year, roughly 10% of revenues. To make things easy, we allocate those to each customer based on its share of the company’s total revenues. So if a customer accounts for 5% of our revenues, we allocate it 5% of our customer service costs. Then, we calculate a customer margin for each customer. Johnson looked at the numbers and said: I don’t think we can lower our price to Saver Superstore much more and make any money on this one. And just think, if we offer a larger discount to them, then we’ll have our other customers wanting the same thing—especially the other big ones. I can see it now: Marsha is going to walk in here next  month and tell us that Oscar’s OddLots has heard about the deal we struck with Saver Superstore, has been talking with that competitor, and they want the same thing. This document is authorized for use only by madelene manu at Douglas College. Please do not copy or redistribute. Contact permissions@dardenbusinesspublishing.com for questions or additional permissions. Oscar’s OddLots, a large local retailer on the edge of town, was another of JBI’s large customers. Jason Rodgers, the operations manager for JBI, was listening carefully. This was the first he had heard of the situation, but to a careful observer, his nod would have revealed what he was thinking. He said: You know, I’m not a bit surprised to hear all this. Saver Superstore is a great customer. They buy lots of beverages, and they’re easy to deal with. They place their orders on a regular basis and almost never ask for anything special. I don’t remember the last time we had to run around in the warehouse pulling together a rush order from them. Who wouldn’t want that business? Stevens agreed, â€Å"You’re right. I almost never have to change my delivery schedule because they’ve asked for quick delivery. And they’re right around the corner, so they’re easy for us to get to.† Rodgers continued: I think about some of our other customers. They seem to never be able to  anticipate that they’ll be out of stock. Then they call us and make it our problem to deal with. It seems like we have some customers that we work on all day every day. Why can’t that competitor go after those customers? It’s hard for me to believe that some of those customers are more profitable than Saver Superstore. Maybe we ought to add what we guys in the warehouse call a â€Å"pain factor† onto those other customers and then see who is most profitable for us. As Johnson listened, he realized Rodgers might be onto something. â€Å"Jim, what types of costs are included in those customer service costs?† Thomas replied, â€Å"Well, that number includes several things.† He continued: It includes anything related to handling the beverages, like picking the beverages from the warehouse shelves according to the order instructions, moving the beverages over to the dock, and loading them on the delivery truck. It includes any costs related to taking, coordinating, and administering the orders, like what we pay the people in the sales office who take phone orders from customers, the supervisory costs to administer the order, and similar things. It includes anything related to delivering the beverages to the customer’s location, like the cost of the delivery trucks, truck maintenance, and what we pay Joe and people like him to drive the trucks. It includes anything related to all those rush orders you’re talking about, like overtime, extra scheduling, and stuff like that. And it includes what we pay Marsha for what she does, like visiting the customers to check in on them. So there’s quite a bit of stuff in there. Johnson thought about this. â€Å"So you’re telling me that there are some customers that you are spending a lot more time on than others? And it’s not Saver Superstore?† This document is authorized for use only by madelene manu at Douglas College. Please do not copy or redistribute. Contact permissions@dardenbusinesspublishing.com for questions or additional permissions. â€Å"That’s right,† Rodgers replied. Johnson continued, â€Å"But since our accounting system is allocating these customer service costs based on revenues, and since Saver Superstore is one of our biggest customers, it’s allocating a large share of those costs to Saver Superstore.† â€Å"Exactly,† Thomas said. Let me do this: Let me spend a couple of days collecting some information. I’ll need some help from each of you because I want to try to find out how much of your time you are spending on each of our customers. Maybe it’s time to get more sophisticated about how we look at these customer service costs. It may be worth the effort. Stevens, Ketchum, and Rodgers all agreed to spend some time with Thomas so he could summarize the amount of activity they devoted to each customer. They would meet again the following Friday. Thomas promised to compile an analysis that might help them determine how profitable each of their customers really was. Activity Analysis Before he left for the weekend, Thomas decided to pull together some information about the customer service costs he had described in the meeting: handling the product, taking the orders, delivering the product, expediting rush orders, and visiting the customer. He searched through the accounting system and determined how much of the annual $1.2 million in customer service costs was associated with each of those categories (Table 1). Table 1. Customer service costs during the prior year by area of activity. Area of activity Total $ Product handling Taking orders from customers Delivering the product Expediting deliveries (other than automobile) Sales visits to customers Total $ 672,000 100,000 140,000 198,000 90,000 $ 1,200,000 This document is authorized for use only by madelene manu at Douglas College. Please do not copy or redistribute. Contact permissions@dardenbusinesspublishing.com for questions or additional permissions. Then, on Monday, Thomas met individually with Stevens, Ketchum, and Rodgers. With their help, he determined what he thought to be the primary driver of the costs in each of those customer service categories (Table 2). Table 2. Cost drivers by area of activity. Area of activity Cost driver Product handling Taking orders from customers Delivering the product Expediting deliveries (other than automobile) Sales visits to customers Number of cases sold Number of purchase orders Number of miles traveled Number of expedited deliveries Number of sales visits Thomas determined from the company’s accounting records that the company sold 800,000 cases of beverages and processed 500 purchase orders the previous year. Stevens checked the mileage records for the delivery vehicles and determined that the vehicles had traveled a total of 44,800 miles. Rodgers was able to determine that the company made 4,480 deliveries, 2,500 of which were expedited deliveries. And finally, Ketchum checked her daily travel log to determine she had made a total of 360 sales visits to the company’s customers. Thomas’s next step was to determine how much of these cost drivers were attributable to each customer. Again, he was able to obtain some of that information (e.g., number of cases) relatively easily from the company’s records. Then his colleagues helped him determine customer numbers for the rest of the activities. Exhibit 2 presents this data for the four customers included in Thomas’s first report (Exhibit 1). Exhibit 1 JOHNSON BEVERAGE, INC. Report of Customer Profitability during the Previous Year for Four Customers Prepared by Jim Thomas Net revenues Cost of goods Gross margin Customer service costs Customer profit Customer profit (% of net revenues) Saver Superstore $ 1,168,000 1,048,000 $ 120,000 116,800 $ 3,200 0.3% Oscar’s OddLots $ 1,192,000 1,048,000 $ 144,000 119,200 $ 24,800 2.1% Midwellen Supermarket $ 121,520 104,800 $ 16,720 12,152 $ 4,568 3.8% Downtown Retail $ 454,500 393,000 $ 61,500 45,450 $ 16,050 3.5% Total for JBI $12,000,000 10,480,000 $ 1,520,000 1,200,000 $ 320,000 2.7% Exhibit 2 JOHNSON BEVERAGE, INC. Additional Information from Prior Year for Four Customers Price per case Number of cases Number of orders Number of deliveries1 Miles traveled per delivery Number of expedited deliveries Number of sales visits 1 Saver Superstore $14.60 80,000 16 110 5 10 12 Includes both expedited and regular deliveries. Oscar’s OddLots $14.90 80,000 40 400 19 250 25 Midwellen Supermarket $15.19 8,000 20 200 11 130 18 Downtown Retail $15.15 30,000 30 230 4 90 9 Total for JBI $15.00 800,000 500 4,480 10 2,500 360

Failure of Structural Adjustment Programme

INTRODUCTION According to Collin dictionary government is the group of people who are responsible to govern country. Christian council of Tanzania and Tanzania Episcopal conference define government as the chief agency for organizing and in the end of controlling both development and order in the society. Also it is an organized body of persons and institutions that form an agency or machinery of the state which formulates, expresses and realizes the will of state. Therefore, government consists of the activities, methods and principles involved in the governing a country or other political unit. Government failure is the public sector analogy to market failure and occurs when a government intervention causes a more inefficient allocation of goods and resources than would occur without that intervention. Likewise, the government’s failure to intervene in a market failure that would result in socially preferable mix of output is referred to as passive government failure (Weimer and Vining, 2004). The failure is an outcome of policies enacted to regulate trade which create systemic inefficiencies and economic cost that adversely affect a product‘s manufacture and sales. This arises when government has created some inefficiency because it would not have solved a given problem or a set of problems more efficiently. The government supply side failures largely result from principal/agent problems. Market failure – occurs when the supply of a good or service insufficient to meet a demand. A market failure result when prices cannot achieve equilibrium because of some distortions for example, the limits on specific goods and services. In other words, government regulations implemented to promote social wellbeing inevitably result in a degree of market failure. Structural Adjustment Programme are economic policies which countries must follow in order to qualify for new World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans and help them make debts repayments on the older dept owed to commercial banks, governments and World Bank, (Whirled Bank Group, 2003). THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY BEFORE STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT After independence in 1961, the new government adopted the colonial style of economic structure. Between 1960 and 1962, for example agriculture contributed more than 50% to gross national product (GNP), and sisal, coffee, cotton and tea contributed 60% to the total foreign exchange earnings (Taube 1992). Tanzania neglected not only to satisfy its own national food requirements, but also to diversify its export products and promote light manufacturing. Politicians were soon overtaken by the reality of severe deficiencies in the supply of food products, energy, housing, manufactured goods, health and educational services, as well as intermediate inputs and implement for the agricultural sector. Between 1961and 1966 Tanzania economy operated primarily under free market conditions and the government adopted the World Bank’s transformation approach to agricultural development as a component of its first five year plan (Wenzel and Wiedemann 1989). In 1963 Tanzania implemented the Agriculture Product Board Act, which was the government’s marketing board for scheduled crops. This board managed maize, wheat, rice, cashew nuts and oil seeds through market purchase, price regulation, and regulation of storage, transport and processing (Bryceson 1993). DURING ARUSHA DECLARATION In 1967, the ruling party (TANU) which nowadays is Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) passed the first national economic declaration establishing Tanzania’s era of economic socialism. This was the Arusha Declaration. This clearly meant to address the deficiencies in Tanzania’s economic development, but it explicitly enclosed socialism and a planned economy, which the country’s new leaders thought appropriate at the time. Ujamaa (familyhood and relationship) became the expression for Tanzanian‘s social economic system and a synonym for Tanzania socialism. Through this self reliance approach, Tanzania forced its own withdrawal from international market. GOVERNMENT FAILURE Although Tanzania experienced reasonable macroeconomic performance until the mid – 1970s, unfavorable external conditions wiped out the previous economic achievements and led to the crisis period of 1980 – 1985 (Ndulu 1994). The justification for nationalization of private firms and extensive involvement of the state in productive activities was the ability of the state to control negative externalities, exploit economies of scale and operate firms at officially optimal level, the outcome proved otherwise for Tanzania. The government failure occurred in the following ways; The state owned cooperation turned out to be inefficient in almost all areas of their operations. For example many supply companies operated below standard such as National Milling Cooperation which was supplying food stuffs like maize, packed maize flour, rice and wheat causing higher demand in urban areas. Another company was Regional Trading Company (RTC) for supplying commodities like sugar, soaps, wine from Dodoma, and these caused shortages of the commodities. Due to lack of fund from central government health services, water, education (especially primary schools) remained a big problem in both urban and rural areas. The government operation in providing these social services was highly contributed by among other things inadequate foreign exchange as the country relied much on agricultural products which did not competed strongly with the same crops from other countries in the international market such as coffee from Brazil, cotton from Egypt and India. There was also the Tanzania – Uganda war of 1978 – 1979 as much as national earnings was directed to the war. There was extreme weather conditions (drought or too much rainfall) leading to falling of local production in key food crops and high domestic inflation. These conditions contributed to severe poverty to most of the people since they depended on agriculture for their survivor. R. E. Stren adds that Tanzania faced a severe balance of payments originally caused by the rising prices of imported oil. The rise of oil price resulted to the rise of prices of products as well as provision of social and economic services. Due to this the majority could not afford to access these services. Young (2003) argues that the government had been adamant that the buses she owned retain their monopoly status, but the desperate economic situation and the existence of informal sources of transport forced the government to legalized the â€Å"daladala† in 1986. The owners of trucks and pickups were allowed to carry passengers for a fee if they obtain a contract from the public transport authority and met various safety requirements. These situations led to Tanzania try her own economic reforms in early 1980s. These include Nation Economic Survival Program (NESP) in 1981 -1982, Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) in 1983 – 1985. Due to these homegrown reforms, Tanzania adopted a series of donor supported reform programs starting in 1986. The first was Economic Recovery Program (ERPI), followed by the ERPII in 1989 – 1992. Despite all these efforts by 1980s Tanzania was the world’s second poorest country in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is these economic crises and poor services delivery which forced most of sub-Saharan African countries to implement the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) as a precondition to aids and loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB) and other donor agencies. In order to solve the persistent severe economic crisis which has been confronting Tanzania since the late 1970s, Tanzania signed an agreement with WB and IMF in 1986 to adopt SAP. SAP WITH MARKET FAILURE Structural adjustment program by World Bank and International Monetary Fund gave a new limited role for governments. No longer should the government supply services itself, instead the ultimate goal would be for the central government to serve in the role mainly educator, promoter and regulator and communities in league with the private sector in that of provider. Structural adjustment program failed also in many countries including Tanzania because many stakeholders (countries) had little or no participation in making its policy. This means, these reforms had been imposed on countries that were neither ready nor had the capacity to implement them. According to Lugalla, Structural Adjustment Programmes had the following principles which had to be adopted: There was devaluation of the local currency. That is the dollar gained more value than the Tanzanian shilling. Due to this the foreigners who bought raw materials such as cotton benefited much as their currency was high. Also the government ended up in importing manufactured goods in higher prices resulting to low profits. The introduction of cost sharing in education and health. Before the introduction of these reforms the government used to provide these services freely, but now the people were forces to contribute. Due to this, many people could not access these services because they were not able to contribute. There was a policy of trade liberalization. This policy aimed that the government should allow free trade where the price of commodities was controlled by donor countries. There were frequent price changes which aimed at benefiting the foreigners and not the producers. Creation for conducive environment for foreign investments. The government had to put easy, friendly and flexible conditions that were more beneficial to the investors than the country. Introduction of democratization which is understood as multipartism. The government was under one party rule but it was forced to adopt multiparty system as a condition to receive loans and grants. By 1992 Tanzania became a democratic state where different political parties such as Tanzania Labor Party (TLP), NCCR-Mageuzi, CHADEMA, Civil United Front (CUF) and others were introduced. Although the aim of Structural Adjustment Programme was said as to improve the socio-economic problems of the country, it proved failure. Failure of the program in Africa is also basing on the fact that there’s assumption that a uniform set of principles can yield successful policies for all countries irrespective of their differences. Failure of Structural Adjustment Program in Tanzania can be seen in; Since Tanzania has been implementing social and economic reforms prescribed by SAP, social services are still a problem both in quantity and quality. The urban areas (cities and towns) has witnessed the problems multiplying rather than decreasing. People have difficulties in accessing clean water, adequate shelter, better health care etc. Let us take Dar Es Salaam as example, there’s frequent water cut which sometimes leave areas dry up to a week, electricity problem in the whole country, overflowing sewage and hospitals without medicine especially public hospitals,( Lugalla). SAP emphasized on reducing government expenditure on the unproductive sectors social development in urban areas in Tanzania. Lack of sufficient budget has made it difficult to finance a variety of urban development projects including the provision of adequate housing. As a result seventy percent of the urban populations live in poor houses without necessities such as sanitation and adequate garbage collection. For example areas like Vingunguti and Hananasif in Dar es Salaam are composed of slum settlement without proper sewage systems. SAP has reduced the health budget significantly. The state allocation budget for health is now estimated at less than five percent of the government’s recurrent budget. Information from the ministry of finance shows that, every Tanzanian is currently spending five US Dollar a year to service foreign debts but spends only two US Dollars for his or her own health. A research from Dzodzi Tsikata from university of Ghana Legon, shows that SAP has much effect on women in Africa. SAP has exacerbated gender issue in, for example work places, wage differences between men and women are growing. For example in Tanzania and Nigeria, poor and middle class women are giving up formal employment for informal sector work because it pays more. SAP also due to its export promotion policy, has increased extractive activities such as logging and mining leading to deforestation and mining pollution and the reduction of ordinary people. These failure of SAP in Tanzania and Africa in general has posed critic from individuals and leaders like the late J. K. Nyerere the first president of Tanzania who tried to resist this program saying it was just for the Washington consensus. Another critic was made by the United Nations economic commission for Africa that SAPs are too narrow, rely mainly on fiscal and monetary instruments and have little relevance to long-term development goals. Another failure is seen in agricultural sector following the devaluation of Tanzanian shilling. For example in 1986, the rate was 192 shillings per dollar; this situation raised the price of imported inputs. This has resulted to poverty implication to the livelihood of farmers in the country. The removal of fertilizer subsidies had the effect of raising the price of fertilizers and therefore reducing profit. The removal of subsidies on maize meal is likely to have negatively affected urban consumers. However, under Structural Adjustment Programmes there was sound macroeconomic substantial growth in economy. The overall economic growth has been rising consistently from almost one percent in the mid 1980s to 6. 7 percent in 2004 (URT, 2005). A substantial improvement has been achieved due to adoption of various expenditure measures and processes including Public Expenditure Review (PER), Medium term Expenditure Framework (MTF) and Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS). Conclusively; Despite the setbacks, Tanzania has made tremendous progress on many fronts. However the remaining central challenge is making growth deliver more efficiently in terms of poverty reduction. The focus on this should be on accelerating growth of agriculture and rural sector development, to engender economic opportunities in rural areas where poverty remains pervasive. Equally important is the need to sustain robust growth, a necessary element to achieving the millennium development goals. Also since the inception of economic reforms in 1986, a promising number of Tanzania’s population has benefited from gradual poverty reduction. Understanding of the issues by wider segment of society through debates and participatory approaches engenders broad ownership of the reforms. The government should insist on the various homegrown programs to ensure sustainability and credibility to citizens as they will feel accountable and responsible for their development. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Bidyut Chakrabary and Mohit Battacharya(2003); Public Administration: A Reader; Oxford University Press. David Reed (1992); Structural adjustment and the environment. Economist Intelligence Unit (1995). Tanzania and the Comoros Gibbon, Peter and P. Raikes (1995). Structural Adjustment in Tanzania, 1986-1994. Center for Development Research: Copenhagen. Joe L. P. Lugalla; Online Journal for African Studies; University of New Hampshire; Available at www. africa. ufl. edu ; Sited on 16/12/2011. J. K. Nyerere (1973); Freedom and Development; Dar Es Salaam; Tanzania Printers. L. A. Msambichaka and A. 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