Sociology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 23

Sociology - Essay Example This concept is what Wright Mills called â€Å"Sociological Imagination.† Mills (1956) contends that sociological imagination enables the person to look into himself as a part of a larger whole, and failed to â€Å"grasp the interplay of man and society† (as cited in Henslin, 2005). Poverty is not an isolated case pointing out to a particular country. Nations considered being the best in the world when it comes to financial capability, also having cases of families in poverty line. In the United States, though it is the source of the world’s â€Å"American dream,† was also devastated by disasters such as the memorable Hurricane Katrina, which turned the progressive New Orleans into a ghost town. Jobs were scarce after the disaster because of the damages caused by the hurricane to several business industries in both macro and micro levels (Kornblum, 2008). The problem was heightened by the recession of 2009 brought about by the foreclosure of the Lehman Brothers. Banks, real estates, and the marketing industry fell resulting to the retrenchment of jobs to save profit. The fall of the company delivered a domino effect to other businesses most especially in the real estate. Prices of mortgage have gone higher than usual; a price where the jobless and middle class Americans are unable to afford. Ling (2009) reported that families were desperate in search of job, food and shelter. The effect of the recession was clearly seen in certain places in Sacramento where people are forced to build â€Å"tent cities.† Life’s little rewards such as hot meal, hot shower, and accessibility to potable water are not the main issues; the people in the tent cities are more concerned of where to get a meal, shower and water. Living in the tent cities is like â€Å"starting to live all over again.† Poverty and homelessness may come from two significant and nondetachable things: personal and societal factors. The impact of the recession, the struggling budget

Strategic HR Management - Job Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Strategic HR Management - Job Analysis - Essay Example and objectives so as to enhance business performance and build up organizational culture that promote innovation, competitive advantage and flexibility† (Becker, & Huselid, 2006). In the organizational setting SHRM strategy is adopted in order to augment the existing HR policies and initiatives as a strategic component by many organizations. Thus in the formation and implementation of the organization’s strategies through HR activities such as selecting, recruiting, rewarding workers for their performances and training them, the management focuses on the labor productivity. Many writers in the 1980s began to focus on a more strategic approach for the management of human resources rather than the traditional concept of people management or industrial relations. SHRM concentrates on human resource programs with long-term goals. Rather than concentrating on internal human resources, the emphasis is on looking at and solving problems that affect people management programs on a global scale and in the long run. As such the main objective of strategic human resources is to enhance people productivity by concentrating on business obstacles that take place outside of human resources. The main activities of a strategic human resource manager should be to find out key HR areas where strategies could be implemented in the long run so as to enhance the overall employee productivity and motivation. Communication between top management and HR of a firm is important as co-operation is not possible without active participation (Fine, & Cronshaw, 1999). The key feature s of SHRM are; Job analysis can be defined as â€Å"A job analysis is the process used to collect information about the duties, responsibilities, necessary skills, outcomes, and work environment of a particular job. You need as much data as possible to put together a job description, which is the frequent outcome of the job analysis. Additional outcomes include recruiting plans, position postings and

Pre contract cost planning and pre contract cost controlling Essay

Pre contract cost planning and pre contract cost controlling - Essay Example James Nisbet was the first who conceived and developed the technique of elemental cost analysis for construction projects. Nisbet technique demanded the architects to ‘design to cost’ in opposition to the approximate quantities’ method of estimating, which basically involved costing a design: with very little control. Thus, the elemental costing approach facilitated the client to get a more consistent pre-tender estimate, and offered the design team a model so as to control cost at the design development stage itself. As per Nisbet, the cost planning should be developed jointly by the quantity surveyor and the architect and postulated that such close cooperation could, in the long run, result in the integration of the profession of quantity surveyors and the architects as one-stop supply of consultancy firms. In 1962, the cost research panel of RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) established the Building Cost Information Services (BCIS) mainly to gather cost data for the introduction of such cost plans. Now, BCIS has developed a national database in excess of 16,000 element cost analysis, which is available online now. Such data can be utilized to prepare the pre-contract approximating process in the construction sector together to make sure the value for money by assisting the designer to make certain about the most proper distribution of costs well within the concerned project. Thus, cost management is the process of assisting the design team to design to cost instead of the quantity surveyor costing a design (Potts & Ankrah 2013:59). Cost management is a complete process, which make certain that the contract amount is within the approved budget or cost limit of the client. The modus of the design cost control is that by employing the cost planning method which is the evaluation of existing projects into various functional elements so as to offer a means of evaluation between

The Ozone Layer Essay Example for Free

The Ozone Layer Essay The Ozone layer is a stratum of gas found in the upper atmosphere which guards the human beings and other living organisms from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. This layer is made up of ozone gas which is triatomic molecule, comprising of three oxygen molecules (O3) (Ebi McGregor, 2008). It is an irritating, colorless and corrosive gas. It is also a very strong oxidizing agent and therefore at the lower atmosphere, it exhibits some harmful effects on the respiratory systems of animals and corrodes sensitive parts of plants. Ozone cannot be stored for long periods or transported like other industrial gases. This is because it decays quickly to the prevalent diatomic oxygen (O2) and therefore it can only be produced on site (Hov O Hov, 1997). The atmosphere is stratified with the troposphere as the lowest layer. Stratosphere is the layer that is most immediate from troposphere ranging from six to thirty miles above the surface of the earth (Hov O Hov, 1997). The variations in the layers occur due to temperature and pressure changes in the atmosphere. Much of the air (90%) is held in the lowest 10% of the atmosphere due to the compressibility property of gases. Much of the Ozone is found in the stratosphere although it can also be found in small traces in the lower atmosphere. It is very beneficial at the upper atmosphere since it absorbs nearly 97 percent of the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. However, there exist a number of environmental problems from the gas at both layers of the atmosphere. Ozone is the only chemical compound in the troposphere where the variation between the actual atmospheric levels and poisonous levels is so minor (Ebi McGregor, 2008). There is gradual increase in Tropospheric ozone especially in the northern hemisphere where emissions of human origin have been on the rise. At ground level, ozone is destructive to human health, materials and plants. It affects the respiratory membranes and other lung tissues of organisms, thereby inhibiting their respiratory function. When individuals are exposed to high concentration of ozone, they develop complications associated with their respiratory system such as pneumonia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other respiratory illnesses. In most cases, these illnesses if not well manned can lead to premature deaths(Ebi McGregor, 2008). This problem is caused by human activities, majorly in the transport and petrochemical industries. Although the gas is not produced directly from car engines and industrial processes, combustion of the gasoline based engines results to emission of unstable organic compounds into the atmosphere. Several reactions between these compounds and sunlight follow, resulting to formation of ozone at the source of the pollution (Hov O Hov, 1997). Since the process of ozone formation is dependant on sunlight, it is in higher concentrations within the tropics and during summer in the Polar Regions. Moreover, it can be incidentally formed from the diatomic oxygen when electrical discharges occur. Large electric motors that use brushes, laser printers and photocopiers can also produce ozone due to the repeated sparking inside them (Ebi McGregor, 2008). The chemical composition of ozone contributes to its harmfulness to living organisms. It is thermodynamically an unstable molecule and can undergo ozone photolysis in the presence of UV light leading to production of the hydroxyl radical (OH). The radical is important in removal of hydrocarbons from the air but on the other hand, the products end up forming smog (Hov O Hov, 1997). Due to its strong oxidation capabilities, ozone attacks all polymers that contain double bonds within their chain structure. For example natural rubber is vulnerable to attack, causing cracks to develop on the its surface which deepens with time. The rate of growth of the crack depends on the ozone concentration in the atmosphere. Ground level ozone is a major component of smog which has remained to be the most difficult problem in America. It causes negative impacts on human health, such as irritation of the respiratory track, coughing and even decreased lung function in the long run (Hov O Hov, 1997). In addition, it causes invisibility during flights, something that can turn out very catastrophic. It is also worth to mention that, smog affects even vegetation by causing discoloration, damage and loss of leaves which can hinder photosynthesis from taking place (Ebi McGregor, 2008). Furthermore, the molecular orbitals in ozone have strange and continually changing resonating forms. This occurs because of the three atomic nuclei which try to share the uneven compliment of electrons. Due to this, ozone is easily split by a halogen radical, a property that led many industrialized nations to withdraw from production of certain halocarbons. Similarly, it is unsafe to use some halocarbons as refrigerants and aerosols (Ebi McGregor, 2008). On the contrary, stratospheric ozone is considered to be beneficial due to its ability to filter harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. However, there are alarming dangers on the eventual fate of the living organisms on the earth due to the recent depletion of this layer. Since the intensity of the radiation from the sun is constant, reduction in ozone levels will translate to less protection (Titus, 1986). Exposure to ultraviolet rays causes skin cancer in human beings. In case of plants, the rays affect their physiological and developmental processes. Its effects extend to marine ecosystems whereby, the radiation causes damage to the early stages of development in fish, and other marine organisms (Titus, 1986). Solution to this problem can only be realized by tackling the factors causing it, which are mainly of human origin. Using alternative sources of energy instead of petroleum products, results to dual benefits (Hov O Hov, 1997). First of all, it is a step towards minimizing formation of the ground-level ozone that is caused by burning of petroleum based fuels. In addition, it will result to reduction in emission of harmful gases that damage the stratospheric ozone. References: Ebi, L. K. , McGregor, G. ( 2008, Nov). Climate Change, Tropospheric Ozone and Particulate Matter, and Health Impacts. Retrieved May 21, 2010, from: http://ehp03. niehs. nih. gov/article/fetchArticle. action? articleURI=info:doi/10. 1289/ehp. 11463#Ozone Hov, 0. , O Hov. (1997). Tropospheric ozone research: tropospheric ozone in the regional and sub-regional context. Michigan: Springer. Titus, G. J. (1986). Stratospheric ozone. Regensburg: Environmental Protection Agency.

Concepts In Clinical Outcomes Nursing Essay

Concepts In Clinical Outcomes Nursing Essay Avedis Donabedians model presents an all-inclusive model of the relationship between variables that contribute to quality of care, healthcare costs and health status. Donabedians (1988) classical approach to the assessment of the quality of patient care within a hospitalization setting is comprised of three components, which include: structure, process, and outcome. The first two variables, structure and process, are labeled indirect variables by Dr. Tim Postema, because of their overall significance and contribution to the third variable, outcome (2005). To better understand Donabedians model, a brief overview of each variable will follow. The structural component is defined by the setting, which includes the attributes of material resources (such as facilities, equipment, and money), of human resources (such as the number and qualifications of personnel), and of organizational structure (such as medical staff organization, methods of peer review, and methods of reimbursement) (Dona bedian, 1988, pg. 1745). Examples of structural component may include but is not limited to the physical working environment itself, staffing mix and ratios of patients to nurse, and the organizational culture itself (institutional policies). The structural component of the model emphasizes characteristics of nurses involved in each patients care, certain characteristics of the patient as well as the organizational structure of the hospital in which the patient care was received (Duffy Hoskins, 2002). The second variable of consideration in Donabedians model (1988) the process component, which he defines as giving and receiving care (pg. 1745) is the specific intervention or interventions that are applied, which includes patient and provider participation. Finally, the third component of Donabedians model (1988) for assessing the quality of care is the outcome component of the model which is defined as the effects of care on the health status of patients and populations ( pg. 1745) . Now that the significant variables have been defined, a discussion of their relationship and how they apply to the assessment of patient quality of care will follow. Donabedians model attempts to explain health care quality in terms of outcomes that are measurable by the interrelationship between the structure, process and other attributable variables such as the improvement in a patients health status and satisfaction (1988). Donabedians model plays a significant role in the assessment of quality of care from the patients perception and is a high priority in the pay for performance reform that has occurred within the past decade (Wachter, Foster, Dudley, 2008), specifically from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). There is a lot of evidence to support Donabedians theory relative to the interrelationship between the process components, such as the care provided, and the outcome of the patients health leading up to their discharge from the hospital (Duffy Hoskins, 2003). Research posits that the three-part approach to the assessment of a patients quality of care is legitimately rooted in the relationship among the variables set forth by Donabedian: structure, process, and outcome (Duffy Hoskins, 2002). Donabedian proposed that good structure increases the chances of good process, and good process increases the chances of good outcomes (Donabedian, 1988, pg. 1745). Additional researchers substantiate this further in their research (Duffy Hoskins, 2002 and Postema, 2005). The findings of these researchers substantiated Donabedians framework through a variety of methodological approaches, yet were able to find the overarching correlations between factors of structure to produce positive outcome measures among patients. Thus, it can be concluded that utilization of Donabedians approach to the assessment of quality of care among hospitalized patients can assist in producing higher quality outcome measures, such as the problem facing many institutions relative to the number of medication errors. Donabedians model of structure, process, and outcome will be used to facilitate my endeavors in decreasing medication errors on the Psych-Med Unit (PMU) at St. Marys Health Care System. A detailed discussion of the appropriate variables will follow to provide a more thorough understanding of how the application of this theory will assist in the decreasing the number of medication errors Structure component Nurse characteristics The combination of higher education and years of experience in nursing improves health care outcomes, which include decreased medication errors, lower fall rates, and reducing mortality rates (Tourangeau et. al., 2006; Blegen, Vaughn Goode, 2001). Literature has identified studies that confirm that these certain nurse characteristics (higher education and experience) are related to better patient outcomes (Aiken, Clarke, Sloane, Silber, 2003; Tourangeau, Cranley Jeffs, 2006). Tourangeau et. al.s research (2006) found that more years in nursing experience has a significant and beneficial effect on patient health specifically on 30-day mortality rates in hospitals. Aiken et. al. (2003) found a statistically significant effect which postulates that with an increase in baccalaureate nurses in staffing which is associated with an increased awareness of the culture of safety, there was a decrease in mortality of patients within 30 days of admission. Nursing units with experienced nurse s had lower medication error rates (Blegen, Vaughn Goode, 2001). Patient characteristics Patient characteristics include polypharmacy and multiple diagnoses, including both medical and psychiatric diagnoses. Comorbid diagnosis are associated with the need for the patient to take more medication to manage symptoms and in turn, increases the risk of drug interactions, potential side effects and thus, the need for more medications, errors in the administration of medication, as well as difficulties with compliance upon discharge from the hospital (World Health Organization, 2011). According to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JACHO), polypharmacy can cause an increased risk for falls, hospitalizations and confusion and/or disorientation (2008, pg. 8). Dr. Joseph Parks, a director for comprehensive psychiatric services for the Missouri Department of Mental Health, commented that, polypharmacy issues within psychiatry occur because one provider does not know what the other provider is prescribing and is a significant factor that diminishes th e overall patients quality of care based on potential side effects and adverse interactions (JACHO, 2008, pg. 9). Literature has identified that with multiple physicians prescribing medications for one patient, there is increase in chance for medication errors and thereby, diminishing the patients overall quality of care. (Tamblyn, McLeod, Abrahamowicz Laprise, 1996). This issue is reliant upon patient report, as well as doctor inquiry and thus, the burden falls upon both parties in order to ensure high quality of care. Organization characteristics The organizational structure characteristics including staffing ratios, staffing mixes, hospitals policy on medication administration and the organizational culture itself can influence the outcomes of care (Duffy Hoskins, 2003). Throughout the years numerous studies have been conducted that show that a higher registered nurse mix was related to lower mortality because that demonstrates the professionalism and integrity of registered nurses (Tourangeau et. al, 2006, pg.5). Studies have shown that an increase in nursing staff providing care resulted in decreased mortality (Tourangeau et. al., 2006), which supports the necessity of higher ratio of registered nurses mix in staffing patterns. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2008), whose mission is to improve health and healthcare for Americans, found that hospitals and health systems across the country have been working to achieve the culture of their organizations to develop supportive work environments that encourage nursing reten tion and improved quality of patient care. With a keen awareness of culture of safety often attributed to nursing professionals with higher educational degrees, there is an enhanced awareness that the safety of patients is the utmost priority and is highly valued on an organizational level. Because of the value placed on the culture of safety by health organizations and hospitals each year, staff and other health professionals need to continue to focus on improving their precision and skills utilized while caring for patients. In doing this, they become not only aware of potential medication errors, but also avenues to implement interventions to eliminate the tendency of potential risk all together (ISMP, 2006). Process component Bar code scanning As stated previously, process components is the giving and receiving of care (Donabedian, 1988). Relative to the ascribed problem outlined in this paper, the solution that has proven to improve medication administration and thus decrease medication errors is with barcode scanning systems for dosing and medication administration (ISMP, 2002). The ISMP (2002) asserts their confidence in the barcode scanning system by encouraging the use of the technology in any setting which medications are administered. The Institute of Medicine released a report in 2001 that suggested ways to use information technology to come through with a safer, more efficient way to prevent medication errors and improve healthcare quality with the automation of patient-specific clinical information (pg. 5). Medication administration errors are responsible for one-third of the errors (ISMP, 2002). According to the ISMP a bar coding and scanning system is a promising attempt at the reduction of errors in the stage of medication administration based on the accountability and accuracy of this technology (2002). At a patients bedside, bar code scanning identifies the patient, lists the medications ordered, checks for allergies or alerts for medication interactions, and electronically signs the patient record for the nurse (ISMP, 2002). Donabedians Assessment of Patient Quality Care: St. Marys Health Care System St. Marys in Grand Rapids already has this bar code scanning system. The issue on the PMU is the work arounds nursing professionals have implemented to make their medication administration easier. These work arounds are ways nurses can still administer medications without scanning the medication and/or patients identification band; despite the benefits it provides to the staff, it raises a variety of risks for the patient and puts them at greater danger for adverse medication reactions, multiple dosing, incorrect dosing, and so forth. There are other issues reported by nurses that make the work arounds essential, such as the all-too-common issues faced with the use of technology, that being technological malfunctions, limited availability despite the demand for the equipment, and sometimes merely, the time it consumes to find the equipment making the use of such technology more time consuming. As a registered nurse for over nearly 30 years, I can see that the bar code system has proven advantageous and significant in the quality of patient care based on the mere assumption that under hospital care, the utmost elite care is to be provided including medication administration. The bar code scanning procedure implementation enables nurses to look at the (medication/dosage) order, when it was last administered , the dosing, as well as if there are any potential medication interactions to be on the alert for, medication allergies, and whether there are any safety or physical maladies due to missed doses or inaccurate administration (ISMP, 2002). Finally, the technological advances provided for nursing professionals are implemented in order to better account for patient care and safety. The bar code and scanning system is computer-oriented and therefore, supplies a database and record for future use in the event there is any debate about the procedure utilized while hospitalized or even during hospitalization at an alternate hospital. Outcome component Literature has identified that there is an alliance between professional nursing care and positive health outcomes (Duffy Hoskins, 2003). Identifying ways to improve the process of medication administration can improve medication errors. Bar code scanning technology offers a productive way to avoid medications errors and increase patient safety (Begliomini, 2012). Measuring medication errors can be accomplished using many different processes; but with computer analysis of the patients information, measurement becomes much easier and more capable and feasible than error reporting or reviewing charts for purposes of accountability, prevention, and ongoing improvement of both process and clinical practice (Classen Metzger, 2003, pg. 41). In summary, the literature reinforces the idea that a decrease in patient medication errors is best accomplished by use of the bar code scanning for medication administration and therefore a responsibility for the nurse.

DBQ on Western Front Essay -- essays research papers

DBQ: Settlement of the Western Frontier   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the years between 1840 and 1890, the land west of the Mississippi River experienced a wild and sporadic growth. The natural environment contributed greatly to this growth spurt and helped shape the development of the trans-Mississippi west. The natural environment dictated and facilitated the development of the west by way of determining who settled where, how the people survived, why people wanted to settle, and whether they were successful or not.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many Americans packed few belongings and headed west during the middle to the late nineteenth century. It was during this time period that the idea of manifest destiny became rooted in American customs and ideals. Manifest Destiny is the idea that supported and justified expansionist policies, it declared that expansion was both necessary and right. America’s expansionist attitudes were prominent during the debate over the territorial rights of the Oregon territory. America wanted to claim the Oregon territory as its own, but Great Britain would not allow that. Eventually the two nations came to an agreement and a compromise was reached, as seen in document B. The first major party of settlers that traveled to the west settled in Oregon.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To many families the prospect of owning land was the central driving force that brought them to the land known today as the wild Wild West. Much propaganda wa...

No Easy Task

The well being of a nation begins with the development of its younger generation. They are the ones that will assume the task of running and maintaining the well being of this nation in the future. Unfortunately the task of to lead these youths in the right direction is no easy task. Numerous articles and studies have confirmed that our youth problems is a rising issue and should receive extra attention. Youth problems range from poor school achievement to youth pregnancy, crime, and drug addictions. Many experts have noted that one of the major causes that contribute to youth having problems is the lack of strong family value and substantial home-life. Youth belonging to this category are normally ones that have single parents or weak or uncaring parents. The above perspective along with some other variables, such as income level, media influence, and educational level, should explain why the youth problem phenomenon occurs. One of the fundamental ways to view why youth develop problems is to view their family structure. Many youth do not have what is considered to be a healthy or complete family. For example, if a youth is raised by a single parent, he or she may lack many of the family essentials, such family warmth, love sharing, or normal family life. The youth may also develop shame feelings among his or her peers. Another scenario might be a youth raised by weak and uncaring parents. The youth might not receive the adequate attention and guidance necessary for their thoughts, actions, and perhaps wrongdoing. In this case the youth may develop two types of feelings. They will either feel abandon because of the parents uncaring nature, or, the youth might feel exceptional freedom because the parents simply is weak or do not care. In both cases, youths having such family structures develops much higher percentage to differentiate themselves from their common peers. The second variable that seems to have a large influence as to why youth develop problems is the income level in which they reside. Income level is one of the issues that can t be changed so easily. Government aid and subsidies could only do so much in the aid of poverty stricken neighborhoods. Generally a great percentage of youth growing up in such a poor neighborhoods have a higher chance in exposing themselves to the numerous problems, such as, pregnancy, drugs, crimes. It is unfortunate, but no doubt that environment in which these youth grew up in are surrounded by such factors. Government funding and local group activist have trying to cure these blighted neighborhoods. Local activity centers, and youth organizations, and schools are fighting there ways into these area in hope to help give youth of these communities a better chance to succeed. Another variable that should be considered in why youth develop problems is media influences. Like Debra J. Saunders noted in her December 1999 editorial, youth are constantly being expose to the electronic media set out to influence youth to follow certain trends and mode of thinking. This is very true in this cyberspace, electronic media era. The Internet, television, and other media unconsciously place many messages in the minds of the youths. The youth are spending more of their time attracted to these media than they are in their necessary duties. The power or the media is so great that many of the youths mode of thinking are drawn to the character lifestyles of movies idols. The media have directly manipulated what is reality and what is fantasy in the mind of the youths. Therefore youths often try to be somebody or do something they saw from these electronic media exposures. Perhaps that the numerous in school shootings by teenage youths across the nation are the indirect results from too much media exposures toward youths. The final area that seems to contributes to youth problems are the educational level in which the youths are associated with. Educational levels vary greatly in schools that youths attend. The educational achievement accomplished by students determines if new educational programs are needed to aid underachieving students build there necessary skills to advance. Because the lack of such programs in some school, many youths in this category, find it difficult to continue their educational course. Therefore the rate of youth problems is the dependent variable of the drop out rate. Many students choose to alternative course of action if they cannot succeed in school. Their minimum knowledge is insufficient to land them much hope in making it the real world. Consequently problems are prone to along the route for these youths. We have briefly looked into the issue on contributing factors in youth problems. The variables we discussed are family structures, income level, media influences, and educational levels. It is important to acknowledge how these links intertwine in the life of a developing youth. Though we cannot simply generalize that a youth will develop problems once they have encounters with any or all of these variables for there are numerous successful examples for us to refer upon. But numerous studies have shown that the risk for youth to develop problems such as teen pregnancy, crime, drugs, and violence is at a higher rate when they are being raised in an environment that contains the variable we have discussed today.