Explain Why It Is Difficult to Talk Meaningfully About God Essay

Religious language is defined as the communication of ideas about God, faith, belief and practice. This definition makes it difficult to talk meaningfully about it as each of these words have concepts behind them and each and every individual interprets these differently, so religious language is different to everyday language, as it only denotes to an individual’s belief and faiths traditions. There are also many problems with religious language as a whole as it anthropomorphises God, by using terminology such as ‘Him’ ‘King’ and ‘Shepherd’ this is limiting and subjects God to have human qualities, which is against what The Bible wants to portray God as. Also another problem is that some think that religious language is cognitive, thus something must be known about God to talk meaningfully about it. Yet this creates the problem that religious statements are not about objective facts that can be proved true or false but are answers to questions that are unable to be validated, as they are based on objective facts that are open to cognition. These issues have led to religious believers to find ways in which they can talk about God in a meaningful way and the opposite as non-believers are searching for ways to render religious language meaningless. A group of philosophers called the logical positivists who as a group did not seek to understand how we gain knowledge of the external world, but how we use language to convey it. They believed that everything that can be verified is meaningful. Thus the verification principle was developed which stated that if it could be empirical tested by the five senses then it was meaningful, for example, a house is made of gingerbread, is meaningless as it can be proved false by taking stone samples from the house. Yet this causes a problem when talking about philosophical and religious aspects. The logical positivists thought it was pointless to talk about art, music, ethic and God as it could never be verified, so couldn’t be rendered true or false. Therefore it is meaningless as it is used to consider things beyond the human experience and this creates the ‘impossibility’ to understand to meaning of anything being said. A. J. Ayer; a logical positivist introduces two types of verification, strong and weak, to deal with the acceptation of scientific and historical propositions which are struggling to regard as meaningful or not. Strong verification is when there is absolute no doubt that a statement is true, as it is verified through sense, for example, ‘It is sunny today’. Yet weak verification occurs when some of the observations are not conclusively true or false, for example, ‘humans are made of atoms’ as this may be accepted by people who were at the time of the discovery, also future scientific statements are verified by the weak, as they will only be affirmed in the future not at present. The falsification principle created by Flew, stated that religious statements are meaningless as there nothing which can count against a religious believer, as they will not count or accept any of the evidence against their faith. Criticism ‘dies the death of a thousand qualifications’. For example Flew used the story of a father of a terminally ill child, prayed for God to make their child better, but the child died, the father qualifies this by saying it was God’s decision and maybe God’s love is ‘not merely human love’. Tillich believed that religious language was meaningful as it was conveyed through metaphors and symbols, however philosophers such as Paul Edwards thought that revelation could not be portrayed through the verification principle using empirical evidence therefore symbols don’t elude any factual knowledge, and are meaningless. Another critique of Tillich is that he stated that metaphors and symbols can be mistranslated and over time the original meaning may have been lost or forgotten therefore considering symbols meaningless as the meaning may have been changed from what was originally intended to represent. Also with the criticism that symbols can be interpreted in any way the individual wants to, this is demising the ultimate truth of reality it is trying to convey as it may point in a different direction as to which was also originally intended. Overall, the verification and the falsification principles argue that it is not possible to talk about God meaningful way as it is not possible to prove the existence of God of go verify any of the statements related to God.

The novels Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence

The novels Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence and Orlando by Virginia Woolf make interesting comments on sexuality and the gender roles defined by society and the class system. Through Orlando and the other characters of that story, Woolf depicts androgynous characteristics of men and women, highlighting the similarities between the genders. Lawrence’s characters, too, show an interrelationship between the sexes that belies the societal norms. Classification and structure of the societies in both novels denote a separation that, like that of gender, seems superficial as the main characters are able to transcend class by experiencing aspects of different strata. Many of the problems regarding gender and sexuality, it is found, persist regardless of the class. In both stories, therefore, one finds the depiction of relations in which class and conventions dictate the role of women and men on the societal level, yet on the individual level, the relationships between men and women a re often odd and confusing in defiance of these dictates.Though Orlando starts out sarcastically mocking its own direction with the words â€Å"He—for there could be no doubt of his sex [†¦]† (Woolf, 3), the descriptions of the characters and especially of Orlando in the novel demonstrate a fundamental likeness between the two sexes that is often overlooked in a society that stresses the salient yet superficial differences. In fact, Woolf at first draws attention to his being in the middle of slicing a Moor’s head—an action not conventionally considered suited to females, but then she traces his image by defining body parts that are common to both sexes and hold very little gender-differentiating characteristics. She describes his red cheeks â€Å"covered with peach down† (4). Though this â€Å"down† might be in reference to a (very thin) mustache, the delicacy of the description lends a feminine flavor to the entire portrait. Other cha racters are described in this way too. The archduchess Harriet is a very tall woman—who turns out to be really a man, and when Orlando first sees Sasha he is unable to determine her sex as she appears to be straddling both.Sons and Lovers can be seen to portray a similar view of the masculine children of the Morel family. The sons William and Paul are introduced in their youth, which is the time when girls and boys share many characteristics that are differentiated in the future. As they grow up, their co-dependence on their mother further attributes to them an appearance of femininity as they (especially Paul) are unable to make decisions that leave her out. In the sister Annie, too, has an element of the hermaphrodite, as she is described as a tomboy to whom Paul looks up. These facts prepare the readers for the further confusing roles of the sexes and the strange ideas of class and sexuality that come with them.At the beginning of the novels both protagonists (Paul and Orl ando) are pictures of sexual purity. Queen Elizabeth considers Orlando to be a picture of innocence. Soon, however, Orlando encounters Sheba, expresses freedom with his sexuality, and has trouble finding love. It is interesting to note that though Woolf ostensibly portrays the two sexes as only superficially different, Orlando’s sexual freedom becomes tempered once he changes from man to woman, and it is in his female state that he finds love. Paul, on the other hand, exhibits an initial restraint toward sex during his more youthful and effeminate period. It is later in his maturity that he becomes passionate and pursues sexual relations with Miriam. Both Orlando and Paul are met with difficulty in finding what Orlando terms â€Å"life and a lover† (Woolf, 90). Orlando is, however, able to reconcile his differences with†¦ the opposite sex. Paul cannot, however, and remains alone.The roles of the men and women in these two stories are atypical when compared with th ose defined by the class and society in which they live. It is noteworthy first of all that though the class distinctions existed, they all regarded women as members of the softer sex who were in need of protection and guidance from the opposite sex. In Sons and Lovers, Mr. Morel is a poor provider for his family as he dissipates his earnings on drink and lives in a house provided by his mother. His wife directs the path of his sons, and he plays a very small role in his family. Alongside him, Mrs. Morel appears less like the fireside, knitting woman and more like the man who solicits work for her sons and advises them on relationships.Miriam’s reaction to Paul is also one in which the woman expresses the desire to perform in a role that is conventionally reserved for men. He thoughts are, â€Å"Then he was so ill, and she felt he would be weak. Then she would be stronger than he. Then she could love him. If she could be mistress of him in his weakness, take care of him, if he could depend on her, if she could, as it were, have him in her arms, how she would love him!† (Sons and Lovers, 137) The role of protector is given to man by Western society, and in all classes men are seen as the stronger sex that exist to take care of women. Here Miriam wishes to fill that role, take Paul in her arms, protect and love him. Paul’s character, in turn, appears to be one that would fit well into this portrait, as he is already in a subordinate position with his mother.In Orlando, something can be said along these lines as well. The title character weaves in and out of the roles of women and men as though they were only superficially differentiated. He admits that at core he is the same, though by society’s standards he performs adequately in each role. Researcher Ruth Gruber writes, â€Å"There is almost no perversion in Orlando's bi-sexuality. As a man, he has a strong predilection towards women, makes violent love to princesses and lies with ‘loose women’† (87). He is accepted by female prostitutes and male archdukes alike, their genders allowing them no knowledge regarding the truth of this woman who once was man.The fact that the prostitute as well as the arch duke accepts Orlando leads also to the idea that class barriers are as superficial as the ones that separates the sexes—which renders them complicated but superable. Orlando himself declares that he feels attached to the low born, but when he goes to live among the gypsies, he realizes he does share some of the appreciations of the higher classes. This gives the idea that just as human nature transcends gender, so it also transcends class.This idea is reflected too in Sons and Lovers. Paul is also akin to the common people and tells his mother this when she expresses the desire for him to rise to a higher class. This mother, who had accepted a lower position in marrying Mr. Morel, has found little happiness in the descent. Lawrence writ es this in a letter to a friend: â€Å"a woman of character and refinement goes into the lower class, and has no satisfaction in her own life† (â€Å"Letter,† 28). Still, judging from his mother’s desire and that of Miriam who â€Å"hated her position as a swine girl† (Sons and Lovers, 137), it is put forth that the luxuries of the higher class were still (perhaps naturally) desirable to humans.Remarkably, the authors hit upon similar themes in two vastly different types of novels. Orlando, a fantastic piece written by Virginia Woolf, presents theories about gender, class and sexuality that show them to be complex and therefore not as easily defined as convention would have it. D. H. Lawrence’s more realistic tale is able to touch upon these issues as well. The novels challenge both reality and belief by depicting the characters with plausible emotions in their situations. Even in the case of Orlando, the handling of relationships rings authentic i n both his period as a man and as a woman. The class situations and the expressions of sexuality also assist in demonstrating that the complicated nature of the human being transcends barriers of sex and class.Works CitedGruber, Ruth. Virginia Woolf: The Will to Create as a Woman. New York: Carroll and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Graf, 2005.Lawrence, D. H. â€Å"Letter to Edward Garnett, 19 November 1912.† D. H. Lawrence’s Sons    and Lovers: A Casebook. Eds. John Worthen and Andrew Harrison. Oxford:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Oxford UP, 2005.Lawrence, D. H. Sons and Lovers. New York: Signet, 1985.Woolf, Virginia. Orlando: A Biography. Hertfordshire: Wordsworth, 1995.

Reflection of the Adventure of Huckleberry Finn Essay

This novel was truly hard for me personally to read, because I have not really explored the world of southern society. During the days of reading this book I also learned many lessons of how to view the world in a different perspective. I learned that not all traditions can be explained with science or logic, but to just believe on what others thought it would be. The project that came along with this novel was a great way to analyze what the themes of this story consisted of. The themes in this book had many life experiences built within them. Mark Twain had great purpose when writing this book. I believe he wrote this book to show readers that there is never a right or wrong answer when dealing with one’s perspective. This book was a great way to expand my views on how environments and situations can affects decisions of young boy. I have truly learned from this book. I would recommend this to all future students taking this class. Look more:  examples of satire in huck finn essay I also want to talk about the team participation in my â€Å"Superstition† group. Overall, I believe that everyone did their part in contributing to the presentation. Jamacia led the team in making the Jeopardy game, Megan led the making of the powerpoint, Erik led the team in making games like charades, as well as bringing in the awesome smoke machine. I contributed my writing my paper and helping Megan with the presentation. I believe that our team worked well together.

Investigate Foreign Exchange Markets Research Paper

Investigate Foreign Exchange Markets - Research Paper Example The basic function of the foreign exchange market is to help in conversion of one currency to another. The fundamental thing here is to help achieve the goal of transferring of the purchasing power between two countries. This is made possible by the credit instruments. During the transfer process the foreign exchange market does the payments internationally. Another important function is the credit function which its role is to provide credit. This takes place both locally and internationally and it promotes foreign trade. The other function of foreign exchange market is the hedging process.The exchange rates in prices of one currency compared to another may vary and there might result to a loss or a gain. In that case, the party involved usually takes a high risk if there are huge amounts of net claims or liabilities which are to be met in foreign money. Exchange risks like such should be avoided or minimized if possible. The foreign exchange market provides the facilities of hedgin g to cub some of this problem encountered in the process. The forward market contributes in a big way to make it possible to hedge an exchange an exchange position. A forward contract goes for three months and it entails buying and selling of foreign exchange against another currencies during specific period. The primary market is where the securities are made and in this market is where firms sell new stocks and bonds to the public for the very first time. Initial public offering (IPO) is the same as the primary market. This is the pattern used in IPO: the company consults an underwriting firm to determine the legal and financial details of public offering. Then a registration statement is achieved from the authorities. The governing body must approve the statement which has got details on the price, benefits, and restrictions and this is issued to the people who are buying the securities (Machiraju, 2012). The purchasing power

Marketing Case Study with additional research and reference

Marketing with additional research and reference - Case Study Example As for the brand association, the company has positioned Starbucks store as the third place after home, and school or work, where high quality gourmet coffee is served and is available also for retail purchase. All this positioning is communicated through all the companys marketing efforts, where it builds the perceived brand quality—the layout of its stores, great customer service by friendly and knowledgeable crews, the taste of coffee, as well as extra perks that it offers such as free Internet access or sockets for electronic equipments such as laptops (Schultz 2009). All these four constitute the elements that make up a Starbucks customers loyalty. This is how Starbucks create brand equity. The Asian market promises more opportunities for growth than Europe. For one, the emerging markets are in Asia, and as these new economies grow, opportunities for foreign expansion also emerge as buyer powers increase (refer to the case). Most Asian markets are also open to the Western lifestyle (refer to the case). Because Europeans have longer history which is embedded in their culture as regards the way coffee is consumed such as in countries like Austria and Italy, the Asian market seems more attractive (refer to the case). Among the countries in Asia, Singapore seems to be the most viable country to enter, as Starbucks pose for its market entry in the region (refer to the case). In the mid-1990s, Singapore is the third largest economy in Asia, just after Japan and Brunei. Apart from having a high per capita income in the region, Singaporeans also like American products, which can give Starbucks a distinct advantage (refer to the case). Also, with the emergence of coffeehouses in the country, introducing the coffee lifestyle that Starbucks offer is no longer an issue, which otherwise could have incurred the company

How Schools Mirrior the Dominate Culture Assignment

How Schools Mirrior the Dominate Culture - Assignment Example It is considered to be part of effective classroom management by teachers for a few reasons. First, it is assumed that being immersed in a language makes on be fluent. Secondly, it is believed that it is destructive for every one to speak in a different language while in class especially in ELL classroom (Beare par. 1-3). Characteristics of wealthy white children have been incorporated into school systems as the only authentic standards of behavior. Other cultural expressions which may be adequate in acquiring skills from have been seen as inadequate and, therefore, rejected. This results in inadequate communication and assessment, leading children from poor minority cultures being deemed slow or poor learners. These children end up making the most representation in the special education program as they are assessed according the standards set for middle-class white students. In these tests it is assumed that failure to meet standards mean developmental delay even if the child has knowledge in other developmental areas. Wealthy and middle class white schools often have better performances than others because they pay better hence attracting better teachers (Goldy par. 1). This is at the expense of poor schools for the minority groups as they do not get the best teachers. As stated by the London School of Economics, there is a direct relationship between teachers pay and student performance. If a teacher is paid well, the student tends to perform well and when payment is poor as is the case of minority schools for the poor, their performance tends to be poor. Yet at the time of assessment the standards used do not put into consideration this fact, but judge by the standards of the dominant group (Goldy par. 1). The dominant culture of the white people is mirrored in many ways in schools; these are just a few examples. English language is used extensively in

The Effects of Autism on a Familys Social Participation From a Fathers Essay

The Effects of Autism on a Familys Social Participation From a Fathers Perspective - Essay Example In this study, the researcher conducted a qualitative investigation regarding the impact that autism has on a family's social participation from the father's perspective. The researcher will explain how using the Person-Environment-Occupation model may both increase levels of social participation and increase the overall wellbeing and mental health of family's of autistic children. The nature of Autism, a complex developmental disorder, remains largely elusive up to the present time. However, there have been myriad advances and discoveries regarding this condition (Rutter, 1999). Compared to other developmental disorders, Autism is being diagnosed at a rapid rate with an annual growth rate between 10 and 17% (Autism Society of America, 2007). This disorder has a prevalence rate in one out of every 150 births and affects approximately 1.5 million Americans (Autism Society of America, 2007). There is both a desire to treat the devastating effects of this disorder and a fascination to understand the nature of social interaction of patients with this condition. Large proportions of autistic patients exhibit differences in sensory processing and motor performance that may affect social participation and day-to-day functioning (Chawarska, Klin, Volkmar, & Powers, 2008, 104). In their research, Domingue, Cutler, & McTarnaghan (2000) found that family members that care for autistic children have been shown to have greater difficulty in developing and sustaining vital social connections both at work and at home. Social activities such as dinners, weekend outings, and vacations are greatly reduced and marital difficulties often arise from the difficulty of effectively supporting their autistic child (Fisman, Wolf, & Noh, 1989). In their 2005 study, Rodrigue, Morgan, and Geffken pointed out that fathers have been largely neglected in previous research of families with autistic children. They found that fathers of children with autism reported frequent use of both wish-fulfilling fantasy and information seeking as coping strategies. In addition to this, fathers with autistic children reported a greater financial impact and disruption of family activities when compared to fathers that did not have children with this disorder (Rodrigue, Morgan, and Geffken, 2005). While the researchers found that fathers adapt reasonably well to the needs of their autistic children, they also noted that autism had a significant impact on the family's social participation from the father's perspective (Rodrigue, Morgan, and Geffken, 2005). Cost of Care Numerous costs are involved in the treatment and care of autistic patients. When calculating the price of treatment, it is necessary to include direct medical, direct non-medical, and lost productivity costs. A complete treatment plan for an individual with autism may cost the public $3.2 million over the patient's lifetime (Moldin & Rubenstein, 2006, p. 476). In addition to this, the combined societal cost to treat all individuals with autism may amount to $35 billion over the pa

Research Essay on TV shows Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Research on TV shows - Essay Example During 1999-2000, reality shows such as Big Brother and Survivor were a boom in the silver screen. Watching real people competing with each other or struggling against a personal battle can be great entertainment as well as inspire and motivate viewers. Makeover programs are a significant sub category of reality television where home, garden, behaviour, appearance, wardrobes are drastically transformed to meet certain standards. There is a wide range of makeover programs such as Swan, Queer eye for the straight guy, How to look good naked, Amazing Race, etc. that project peoples personal struggles with relationships, career, sports, fear, weight and physical appearance. Similarly, home improvement makeover programs such as BBC’s Divine Designs or ABC’s most popular Extreme makeover: home edition are some of the most popular programs highlighting home improvement struggles. TV ratings have proved that people love watching makeovers or transformations undergo in the matter of an hour (reality-TV. find the best). To viewers at home anything seems possible when they watch ordinary people achieve their goals. On the flip side, beauty makeover programs have also created a culture where beauty is seen as a commodity ,that ca n be bought and sold, and that a perfect physical appearance is important for self-confidence, happiness and sense of belonging. This paper will delve into two of the most important makeover shows in the history of television – ABC’s Extreme Makeover and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Differences and similarities based on identity, appearance and transformation will be discussed in details. ABC’s Extreme Makeover series, first started airing in November of 2002, offers both female and male contestants a complete physical transformation that centers on thousands of dollars’ worth of cosmetic surgery. (Davis,

Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 20

Report - Essay Example on and agenda (reference, appendices) remember to look at the recommendations so that you take the necessary steps as we agreed during our last focus group discussion. Internews’ Free and Fair Media program focuses on election related issues. The program aims to monitor a number of radio stations in the state to asses their coverage of the electioneering period that is; Pre-election period, Election Campaign period, Polling Day and the day the Results were announced. This monitoring project involves monitoring dangerous speech in the media and the role of the media in promoting peace and conflict mitigation. There are different media topics being covered including, including gender, dangerous speech, issue based coverage, fairness and balance. The report looks into the challenges that the radio station faced and recommendations that when implemented could improve the situation. The report also documents the findings by the media monitors in the period 1st January – 9th March 2013. All cases of reported speech were independently verified. The geographical scope of the content covered was primarily national. This survey indicates that in most of the programs monitored, it is male voices that were dominant as both journalists and sources of information. In terms of political party coverage, Cord Coalition received much airtime compared to other political parties with campaigns and rallies emerging as the popular source of coverage. This report aims to finding out if KBC Swahili Radio station management and journalist’s adherence to the professional code of conduct, that is the journalism code of conduct and the electoral body’s guidelines pertaining coverage of its activities as stipulated in the constitution. The free and fair media program supports a group of media institutions and mainstream media outlets to report fairly and responsibly in matters relating to electoral process. By doing so, these institutions will be playing a positive role of

White soul system designs Essay Example for Free

White soul system designs Essay 1 Analysis 1. 1 Introduction White Soul System Designs is a small computer store that designs and makes many of its own systems and products. It is situated on Queen Street in the centre of Neath. Many people swear by White Soul products and go to the store for any product they wish to purchase or repairs their computers need. Manu people in Neath use this store because the prices of products are guarantied to be the lowest you can find, and the repair system, no fix no fee is very popular. At present only two full time staff members work there. The owner Mr. Adam Williams and his only member of staff Mr.John Edwards. The store is open form 9am 5pm every weekday. On Saturdays it is open from 10am 6pm and on Sundays it is closed all day. Only having two members of staff working eight hours a day, six days a week is very difficult. With increasing numbers of customers Mr. Edwards and Mr. Williams are under pressure to get every ones orders and files in order. Not having a computer system means Mr. Edwards and Mr. Williams have to file all the store customers and stock records manually. This manual system means mistakes are made and customer satisfaction is lowered. This undoubtedly means a loss in profits. This made Mr. Williams think that like their computer systems, they should be up to date. He is currently looking for a new system and approached me to ask my opinions. Not knowing the best solution for the store off the top of my head I decided to observer the current system and speak to the Mr. Williams and a regular customer and get their opinions of how they would like the store to change. 1. 2 Problem Definition The problem with White Souls current system is that it is a manual system with two members of staff. Every thing is done manually and because of this mistakes are made. All customer records and stock orders are stored in filing cabinets in alphabetical order. Lately due to the manual system many customer records have been misfiled. This is a huge problem because if for example Mrs. Abraham went into the store to purchase a new item, one of the members of staff would look under A for Abraham in the filing cabinet. If the customer record had been put into another file by mistake a new customer record would have to be created. This then means the customer proving where they live when a letter and proving they identity with a passport or birth certificate. As you can imagine customers would not be very impressed with this and profits may suffer. Stock records can also be misplaced. This may lead to the staff members thinking they had ordered new stock but to have it never arrive. This is a problem when a customer has specifically requested that item of stock and has to find out that it will not be delivered till the next stock delivery. This again causes customer dissatisfaction and in the long run a loss of prophets. Sometimes, because stock numbers have been mixed up because of bad filing the store gets stock that it didnt mean or want to order. This is a cut straight out of their prophets, as they have to pay for it because they ordered it, even if they didnt mean to. 1. 3 Objectives After a few brief chats with Mr. Williams, he explained to me that the whole objective of this new system was to keep up with the times. He then went onto explain how the current system worked. Adding a Customer If a customer wants to become a member of the store and get special offers and discounts on certain products an application form must be filled in. To become a member more then one form of identification is required and to confirm their address a letter or a bank statement is needed. After the customer identity and address is confirmed an application form will be filled out and filed. Data requirements   Name Surname and forename of the customerAddress Address the customer is occupying   Postcode Area code of the address Date of birth Date the customer was born Phone number Number on which we can contact the customer   Credit Card Number ID issued by the bank uniquely given to the customer Documents used Customer application form (see appendix A1) Problems Some customers have poor handwriting or just handwriting that the staff members struggle to read. This may lead to miss filing or even a mistake made with the customer details. Also a lot of the time customers are not carrying any item that may prove their identity or are not carrying a letter to prove their address. No members may be added to the files with out first proving their identity and address so they have to return home to get these items before they can become members of the store. Searching for and viewing a customer For a special in store discount customers are offered a chance to become a member of the store. Their records are stored in alphabetical order in a filing cabinet. If a customer wants to use this discount their file must be found. One of the members of staff will look in the filing cabinet for the customers file. All customers records are stored in alphabetical order in our files. To look for that customer we get their last name and search the file that corresponds with the first letter of their second name E. g. Charles Powel We would look in the P file Michael Roberts We would look in the R file Bethan Langdon We would look in the L file When the second name has been found we resort to using their first names, we do this because in some cases there will be more than one Powel, Roberts or Langdon. If there are two identical names in the files we have to look at each and match the address, this is the last resort. Data requirements   Customer name The customers surname and forename   Customer address The customers home address Problems A manual filing system is used. All customer records are kept in a filing cabinet that both members of staff have access to. They are stored in alphabetical order using the customers surname. If a customer record was filed under a wrong name it would appear lost or it may seem to the staff that that customer has never completed an application form. This means a new form would have to be filled in and the customers identity would have to be proven again. This lowers customer satisfaction and creates problems for the two members of staff. Amending a customers details If a customer is to move house or to change their telephone number their membership must be updated. Once their file has been searched for and found the new customer information can be added. Data requirements   Name Surname and forename of the customer   Address Address the customer is occupying Postcode Area code of the address Date of birth Date the customer was born. Phone number Number on which we can contact the customer Credit Card Number ID issued by the bank uniquely given to the customer Documents used Customer application form (see appendix A1) Problems Tippex is used to erase the current details before the new details are added. This makes the form look messy and it may become hard to read. And when written over the tippex or writing may smudge and make the form look a complete mess. Again a lot of the time customers are not carrying any item that may prove their identity or are not carrying a letter to prove their address. No members may be added to the files with out first proving their identity and address so they have to return home to get these items before they can become members of the store. Deleting a customer If a customer wishes to no longer be a member with our store their file may be deleted. Again identity is required for this transaction to take place. After the customer is searched for and found it may be discarded. Data requirements   Customer name The customers surname and forename   Customer address The customers home address Problems Once a customer has been deleted from our files we have no contact with them. This means any warrantees are void and the customer cannot claim money back or an exchange of item once they have been deleted from our files. And once again if a customer wants his or her file to be discarded they have to prove their identity. Many customers may not carry identity around with them but this is required. Identity is required to ensure that no files are wrongly discarded. Adding a Stock it em When a new stock item is purchased and arrives at the store, immediately a record of the stock is made. Data requirements   Number Unique stock number given to that item only   Title Name or title of the stock item. Description Description of what the stock item is   Price Price of the stock   Status Status of the stock: Available Unavailable Discontinued Documents used Stock data form (see appendix A1) Problems When a stock data form is filled in it can some times become a mess due to ad handwriting or coffee stains after a long days work. This may make it hard to read. Searching for a stock name If a customer wants to purchase a certain item of stock the stock record must be found from the stock file to see if that stock item is available and to make sure that it is the correct item the customer wished to purchase. Stock number the unique number given to this item Problems Stock items are filed using their stock number, not their name. This is a problem because there is no name order so each record must be checked, and refilled if it is the wrong item. Searching for a stock ID If the customer has gone through the trouble of finding the stock ID or the members of staff know the stock ID from the name a stock ID search can be made. This is much less trouble as the stock items are filed by their stock numbers and each stock number is unique so there can be no matches. Data Requirements * Stock Number A unique stock number given by a member of staff. Problems Not every one knows the stock number so a name search may have to be made. Also if a stock record is out of place then it may be difficult to find it. Amending stock status It is important that each day the stock is checked. Once the stock has been checked the stock records must be modified to show weather the stock is Available, Unavailable or Discontinued. Data requirements   Stock Name The name of the stock item   Stock Number The unique stock number given to this item Problems Tippex is used to erase the current details before the new details are added. This makes the form look messy and it may become hard to read. And when written over the tippex or writing may smudge and make the form look a complete mess. Amending stock details Once an item of stock has been entered into a file it is sometimes necessary to edit the properties of the stock, for example if a sale occurred the stock price would be altered or if a mistake was made when first entering the stock it may be amended. Data requirements   Number Unique stock number given to that item only   Title Name or title of the stock item   Description Description of what the stock item is   Price Price of the stock   Status Status of the stock: Available Unavailable Discontinued.

Review of How We Do Harm by Otis Brawley and Paul Goldberger

Review of How We Do Harm by Otis Brawley and Paul Goldberger In America, there is an underlying assumption that medical professionals placing their patients care above all else. We believe that our physicians follow important concepts such as the principle of beneficence, and the principle of nonmaleficence. Yet in the book How We Do Harm, Brawley introduces his readers to the back rooms and the unknown conversations of those in who are a part of the medical profession. This insiders perspective is Brawley’s (and his co-author) real genius, the ways he makes makes what could otherwise be an esoteric and dense topic become an enjoyable book. Though a joke about how important money is to the american medical system A Wallet Biopsy, its one that is important because if you can afford the best care,get the best care. If however, you cannot get good care, you get the a bare minimum of care. Yet Brawley does not make this a purely socialist critique. In many ways, Brawley acknowledges that wealth can cause its own problems in America. Patients with sufficient wealth often demand treatment that borders on irrational, and for those with means finding a doctor willing to satisfy their concerns is not hard. The reason for this treatment seeking behavior, is that the American healthcare system is not design to prevent elective treatments which are not only not necessary but also often quite expensive. Yet the doctors are not dupes and the reason why there is always a doctor willing to give into to the demands of patients providing they can pay the costs. Yet at the same time Brawley is not seeking to place physicians on a pedestal who can do no harm. Brawley introduces us to two different but equally heartbreaking cases Helen and Lillia. Helen’s story is a used has an exemplar of the â€Å"more is better† philosophy Brawley sees as endemic in the medical community. After having a mastectomy lump, her oncologist She was â€Å"offered† post surgical chemotherapy. Her oncologist explained that a stronger dose is better than a weaker dose. â€Å"More is better† notes Brawley had been the fallback strategy for oncology since the 1950s with the general opinion being that , more chemotherapy translated to greater the more effectiveness. Yet for Brawley this approach is not the real tragedy of Helens story is that she was recommended a autologous bone marrow transplantation since her insurance company will pay for more of the costs of the transplant and chemotherapy (page 32). As a result of this treatment, Helen experienced far more severe complications than expected and ultimately these complications kept her in the hospital for five months and is then transferred to a rehabilitation hospital. Taken altogether this â€Å"recommended† procedure cost her a year of her life. Then three years later, Helen discovers that this painful experience had no demonstrable effect in improving survival. When Helen asked her oncologist , her oncologist responds â€Å"this was what everybody was doing at the time.† Brawley does points out that Helen is not alone as between 1989 and 2001 at least 23000 women might ha In the second case, Lilla Romeo was first diagnosed with breast cancer (Stage 1) in 1995. She had surgery followed by radiation. Five years after the initial diagnosis, a routine scan (how many scans did she have in the 5 years?) showed the disease had returned. The doctors told her that â€Å"the prognosis turned grim†¦the cancer was incurable, and the goal of treatment was to delay the inevitable.† So Lilla was persuaded, and started non-stop chemotherapy (page 71). In 2003, Lilla remembered an oncology nurse at the New York University Medical asked if she was feeling tired and with a hemoglobin reading just under ten, she was â€Å"suggested and offered† cancer-fatigue drugs (at that time, the popular one was Procrit by JJ) In 2004, she was told that the hospital had switched from Procrit to another drug, Aranesp (manufactured by AMGEN), which caused a burning sensation under her stain at the injection site (page 79). In 2010, when she requested copies of her medical records from the doctors who had treated her, Lilla learned that she had received a lot more Procrit and Aranesp than she knew. Her first dose was administered on 1/11/2001 and then almost weekly thereafter. Altogether, she was given 221 1/2 doses. When Lilla was started on the hemoglobin-building drugs (also known as ESAs), little did she know that the drug companies manufactured a medical condition: cancer fatigue. She also had no idea that â€Å"her infusion was the front-row seat for observing a spectacular, indeed, cataclysmic, failure in medicine.† Dr Brawley strongly believed that these drugs have shortened Lilla’s life. She died on June 9, 2010 at the age of 63 (Just before her death, Lilla was suggested and given â€Å"Avastin†!!) Finally, there is the case of Ralph DeAngelo, who was prescribed aggressive prostate cancer treatment after a positive prostatic specific antigen (PSA) screening. Unfortunately for Ralph DeAngelo, PSA screening has lead to financial gain to many medical businesses, but Ralph DeAngelo ended-up incontinent, sexually impotent, and with a rectal fistula into the bladder (Brawley Goldberg, 2011, pp.215-230). It was very eye-opening to find out that physicians may sometimes prescribe experimental drugs to patients with little or no detailed information or informed consent about the potential side effects and the eventual lack of thorough trial studies on a given drug. It was also sad to be reminded that the American healthcare system lacks good use of its resources. This is particularly true for the â€Å"working-poors† who lack proper access to healthcare. By the time they qualify for Medicaid, they are so sick that their situation is so dire that it’s likely to have a negative outcome. Finally, it was disconcerting to find out that physicians may prescribe some expensive and potentially harmful screenings to patients for their sole financial gains. Part III: Corroboration. Studies have shown that despite the advances made in the war against cancer, there are many disparities in the delivery of care, based on factors such as race, income, and geographic area. Many patients report problems such as lack of insurance, high co-payment for prescription drugs and transportation issues. In addition, African-Americans are more likely to be diagnosed of advance stage cancer than Caucasians (Schwaderer Itano, 2007). In addition, despites their widespread use, some screening tests such as the PSA have shown some limitations. About 75 percent of positive PSA test are false positive, which may be associated with psychological harm more than a year after the test. In addition, diagnostic testing and aggressive treatment of a non life threatening prostate cancer may result in adverse consequences such as erectile dysfunction, incontinence, and even patient’s death (Slatkoff, Gamboa, Zolotor, Mounsey Jones, 2011). Shortly after he turned 70, Mr. Ralph De Angelo, a retired department–store manager in the heart of black America, saw a newspaper advertisement that claimed that prostate cancer screening saves lives. The advertisement also mentioned that 95% of men diagnosed with localized disease are cured. The following is the tragic story of Mr. De Angelo after his prostate screening and how unnecessary harm can be done to those who go for screening of the prostate, breast, etc. This is a classic example of collateral damage (due to overtreatment) described in the book â€Å"HOW WE DO HARM† by Dr Otis Webb Brawley, MD a medical oncologist and Executive Vice President of the American Cancer Society. In 2005, Mr. De Angelo, after his prostate screening, was diagnosed with prostate cancer, with a PSA reading of 4.3 ng/ml (just 0.3 above is considered normal). He was urged to have a biopsy. Two of the 12 biopsies showed cancer. The Gleason score was 3 plus 3 which is associated with the most commonly diagnosed and most commonly treated form of prostate cancer. There is no way to know whether a patient with this diagnosis will develop metastatic disease or live a normal life unaffected by the disease. With this uncertainty, Mr. De Angelo was persuaded by his urologist to perform a radical robotic prostatectomy which he (the urologist) thought was the gold standard of care. After the operation, he was told he had a small tumour 5mm by 5mm x 6mm in a moderate size (50cc) prostate. The tumour was all in the right side of the prostate. This means that the tumor didn’t appear highly aggressive under the microscope. Good news? Unfortunately, Ralph realized that he was then incontinent. Three months later, the incontinence was still there and he had to wear pampers continuously. Besides incontinence, Ralph was also impotent and given Viagra. With a lingering 0.95 ng/ml (even though his prostate has been removed), a radiation oncologist suggested â€Å"salvage radiation therapy† to the pelvis. Four weeks into the radiation, Ralph saw blood in his stool. This was due to radiation proctitis, i.e. radiation damage to the rectum. He continued having incontinence, but also developed a burning sensation upon urination. Later, Mr. De Angelo stopped his radiation with one more week to go. For the rectal proctitis, he went to a gastroenterologist, who prescribed steroids in rectal foam that he had to put up his rectum four times a day. About three weeks after stopping the radiation, Mr. De Angelo realised that whenever he passed gas, some of it came out of his urethra. He also sensed liquid from his rectum soiling his diapers. He was confirmed having a rectal fistula into the bladder†¦there was a hole between Ralph’s rectum and his bladder. After several urinary infections and when the fistula didn’t seem to be healing, he had to see a GI surgeon. He performed a colostomy to keep stool off the inflamed rectum and the hole into the bladder. The next step was an ureterostomy, a surgery that will bring urine to abdominal wall and collect it in a bag, just like his bowel movements. In Dec 2009, Mr. De Angelo’s daughter called Dr Brawley to inform that her father had â€Å"urinary tract infection† which later progressed to sepsis, a widespread bacterial infection in the blood. On the fifth day of hospitalisation, Ralph passed away (only 4 years from diagnosis). Interestingly†¦Ã¢â‚¬ the death certificate reads that death was caused by a urinary tract infection. It doesn’t mention that the urinary tract infection was due to his prostate-cancer treatment and a radiation-induced fistula†¦.Mr. De Angelo’s death will not be considered a death due to prostate cancer, even though his death was caused by the cure. In conclusion, Dr Brawley strongly believed that†¦ â€Å"the majority of these men, who are treated with radiation or hormones or both, got no benefit from treatment. They get only the side effects including those that Mr. De Angelo had: proctitis i.e. inflammation and bleeding from the rectum, cystitis, burning sensation on urination and a feeling of urgency, a rectal fistula in which bowels and bladder are connected. The side effects of hormones can be diabetes, cardiac diseases, osteoporosis, and muscle loss. In the case of Mr. Ralph De Angelo, both the surgeon and the radiation oncologist got paid handsomely. They both likely thought they were doing the right thing. However, Ralph got the side effects, and his quality of life was destroyed (too much collateral damage?). One parting remark by Dr Otis Webb Brawley which is very relevant to this article: â€Å"Prostate-cancer screening and aggressive treatment may save lives, but it definitely sells adult diapers â€Å" Part IV: Practice Application. After reading How We Do Harm, I think that it would affect my nursing practice in many ways. As healthcare professional, this book reminds me of the importance of staying current with my nursing knowledge through continuing education, and reading resources from organizations such as the Mayo Clinic, the American Nurses’ Association and the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention. In addition, as patient advocate, this book reinforces my desire to empower all patients under my care, so that they may be active partners in their healthcare. More than ever, I will encourage my patients to educate themselves on their diseases; in addition, I will encourage my patients to learn more about all treatments options so that they may make the best choice for their healthcare. How American Medicine Does Harm To Patients With powerful incentives set in motion, many hospitals and oncology practices in the US instructed nurses to ask leading questions about â€Å"fatigue† with the intent of expanding sales to a growing number of patients and upping the dosage to each patient. This is referred to as â€Å"an ESA treatment opportunity† (ESA means erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, drugs used to overcome fatigue, low blood counts). (page 85). To increase their earnings, drug companies and doctors set out on a search for treatment opportunities, often forgetting about the sacred trust between doctors and patients (page 85). The exact magnitude of harm is harder to gauge†¦most of the money was spent on drugs (e.g. ESAs) that were prescribed for the wrong reasons and under false, manufactured pretences. These drugs were not used to cure disease or make patients feel better. They were used to make money for doctors and pharmaceutical companies at the expense of patients, insurance companies†¦the technical term for this is overtreatment and overtreatment equals harm (page 97). Doctors do some horrible, irrational things under the guise of seeking to benefit patients†¦.For example offering a bone marrow transplant for a breast cancer patient, prophylactic doses of ESA drugs†¦these are only a few examples. The system rewards us for selling our goods and services, and we play the game (page 122). You don’t deviate from the science. You don’t make it up as you are going along. You have to have a reason to give the drugs you are giving. You have to tell the patients the truth (page 145). Commenting further on ESA drugs, some doctors didn’t bother to check what the patient’s haemoglobin was and erred on the side of giving the ESA every time they give chemotherapy. Doctors routinely prescribed the drugs for uses, in which it had not been studied-such as anaemia caused by cancer itself, as opposed to anaemia caused by chemotherapy (page 78). †¦.Doctors try out things just to see whether they will work (page 160) Earlier in the book (page 29), Dr Brawley mentioned that â€Å"A hospital was the place where they withheld treatment or where they tried things on you without telling you what they were doing and why (page 29/30). When a drug succeeds in controlling cancer, we learn about it at conferences and in scientific journals. Stories of our fiascos, though no less instructive, are almost invisible, especially if there are cautionary tales that lay bare the fundamental flaws in the system (page 157). Cancer is hard to understand, and yet doctors rush patients (page 182). Survival measures time that elapses after diagnosis. By diagnosing a cancer earlier, survival rates are increased. The more you diagnose, the more you push up survival (page 193). Somewhere along the way, we have been conditioned to believe that a new treatment is always better (page 197) A new drug must be better than the old. A new medical device must also be better (page 202). Inappropriate use of certain drugs can be attributed to the profit motive. A recent study of prescribing pattern demonstrated that as soon as the profit motive weakened, inappropriate prescribing of these drugs dropped (page 197). The overuse of radiologic imaging is a major problem†¦..†up to one-third of radiologic imaging tests are unnecessary. This is a serious problem, not just because these tests are expensive, but because they expose the patient to radiation that can cause cancer. Some have estimated that 1% of cancers in the United States are caused by radiation from medical imaging† (page 202). Even when administered properly, cancer drugs can bring the patient to the brink of death. An overdose can easily push him off the cliff (page 279). Much of the money currently spent on healthcare (in the US) is money wasted on unnecessary and harmful, sick care. Even for the sick, a lot of necessary care is not given at the appropriate time. The result is more expensive care given later (page 281). The medical profession frequently allows bad doctors to continue to practice. The profession doesn’t police itself. Chalk it all up to apathy. Or ignorance (page 282). Many physicians are ignorant of some aspects of the field of medicine in which they practice. They tend to think the newer pill or newer treatment must be better because it is new. Ignorance is a failure to think deeply. It is a failure to be inquisitive. It is a failure to keep an open mind (page 282). Dr Brawley’s most direct critique of our healthcare system â€Å".†America does not have a health-care system. We have a sick-care system†.

Recommendations for Healthcare Worker Health and Safety

Recommendations for Healthcare Worker Health and Safety Liz Rushe Comprehensive plan and aims Outline the aims of the assignment and background details of the setting My name is Elizabeth Rushe, I am currently doing a healthcare QQI awards course, as part of my course work and assignments, and I have to do some work experience, in a nursing home setting, for sixty hours. I applied in Riada House in Tullamore Before I started my work experience, I had to apply in writing, for the work experience and sent in my cv along with my guards clearance and my insurance letter, two references, when I had all the paper work in order I had to set up a meeting with the manger, to meet with them and see, when I could start doing my work experience. I met with the manager her name was Geraldine, she was very nice and made me feel very welcome, and she asked me all about the course and asked did I like it. Geraldine said that they do have a lot of students doing work experience in the setting, we talked about when I would start and what I needed to wear, which was a black trouser and polo shirt. I asked her about the setting, she told me that there were 35 bedded units, consisting of 6 respite care and 29 long term care beds. The care team at Riada House aim to provide high quality, person centred care within a supportive, homely and welcoming environment. The care team aim to promote independence and residents choices. The rights and dignity of each resident will be respected at all times. I thanked Geraldine for her taking the time for meeting me and that I look forward, to starting my work experience there and that I would see her on the date that I was starting on, as I walked up the hall to the main door, any staff members that I met, they all smile and said hello, as I met them, which tell me that this is a nice place. Liz Rushe Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace Noise and sound HAZARDS As a healthcare assistant, working with noise and loud can cause stress for both patients and the healthcare assistant, especially on a long shift. Patients are not able to get a full night sleep, as they may have waked up shortly are falling asleep and too tried to get up the next day. As someone has the radio or television up a bit too high, or a staff member letting something fall in the middle of the night that might have made a loud noise. RISK Loud and distracting sounds and noises can interfere with the healthcare assistant duties, as this can distract them and not concentrate on the patient that they are attending, which puts the patient at risk. CONTROL MEASURES Make sure that all televisions and radio are turn off or turn down low after 8pm in the evening and that all the ward doors are closed to help aid a good night sleep.   That all staff are wearing low and comfortable footwear, (cushions souls). Liz Rushe Stress HAZARDS If the healthcare assistant is under or feeling stress in the workplace, this can cause physical and mental health problems and up set to them,   this can cause them to be distracted in their work and not having their minds fully on their job, this could result in putting the patient, other members of staff and them selves at risk. This   may lead to the healthcare assistant been absence for work, this can lead to more problems for the healthcare assistant, as they are out of work, they are not getting their full wages. RISKS The healthcare assistant can start to have problems, such as high blood pressure, skin problems (eczema, rash), the healthcare assistant can have disturbed sleep, which will affect them carry out their daily duties and this can affect their confidence in their work. The healthcare assistant can take to drugs, alcohol, or even develop an ulcer from worrying, which can also lead to hair loss or going grey. If the healthcare assistant is on any medical, or coming into work after taking drugs or alcohol, this could affect them in their work environment CONTROL MEASURES Taking up daily exercise, as getting out in the fresh air can help your mood; also as you are walking, they might find it can tell them to talk to another person about what is going on in their lives. Going to their manger and having a talk with them, might the only thing that they have to do to fit the problem, that they are having and if not it might be the first steps that they take to putting it right. Liz Rushe Diet, exercise and lifestyle HAZARDS Having a good lifestyle, might not always be a good thing, if we do not take any exercise at all, this could affect the healthcare assistant, in their daily work. Taking daily exercise is one of the key in fighting and preventing heart disease, depression and anxiety.   Going for a walk can help change your mood, after a bad day at work or just help clear your head, if anything was worry you, if they are getting it hard to focus on their job, which can lead to bad judgment. A well balance diet can help too, this can start feeling good on the inside, and this diet must contain, protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, mineral, salts and fibre, plus some fat. RISKS If something is wrong at work, this can affect the healthcare worker, judgement and choices that they made about each patient. If they are not concentrating on what they are doing, they can easily mix up mediation. By not taking exercise can be the cause of back pain, other injury, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, or type two diabetes, depression. CONTROL MEASURES Regular physical exercise is great; taking 20 30 minutes, three times a week will help improve our physical and mental health.   Reducing the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, etc. having a well balance diet, can help us feel good, this also helps   our bladder and bowl keep in working order, penalty of roughage dose help. A few drink free nights together and giving up smoking will improve the healthcare worker chance of living long and fitter as well. Liz Rushe Dangerous chemicals, fumes and dust HAZARDS The healthcare assistant should always read the labels on all chemicals, before use, and never mix any chemicals together. All chemicals are dangerous and need to be treated with care, as the can catch fire or cause some long term health problems for the healthcare worker. If chemicals get on the skin, this may cause skin irritation, chest problems, as the fumes can be dangerous. RISKS The healthcare assistant could be out of work for a long time, due to inhaling fumes that have cause chest problems, or skin irritation. If not stored properly, some chemicals can catch fire, which could lead to someone getting buried. CONTROL MEASURES All chemicals must be labelled clearing, that everyone knows what the are and how to use them, store away in a locked and safe area or cupboard. Good housekeeping is always top of the list, as damp dusting, will help keep down dust that can lead to health problems. All ways wear PPE, gloves, mask, and apron when dealing with any chemicals. Never put any chemicals into minerals bottles at ant time. Liz Rushe Occupational related illness HAZARDS People and patients coughing or sneezing on you, passing their germs to you. It is important that healthcare assistants always follow policy and procedures, by wearing PPE, gloves, aprons etc. The healthcare worker should report anything that they see, that could cause a hazard, such as wet floor, this could cause someone to fall or slip, which could result in the person been injury. RISKS Bad house keeping can cause a risk, such as air borne bugs (dust), spills that occur, if not clean up straight away, can result in slipping or falling, which lead to that person been out of work (back injury). Steps could be highlighted for safety if in a dark area, also keep all hall ways clear of any equipment or boxes. CONTROL MEASURES If the   healthcare assistant is not trained in the right control measures, they should look to be trained, and it is important that the healthcare worker, maintain a good standard of house keeping, spraying door handles, hand rails, good hand washing, and report any defects that they see, on equipment, or in the wards. Liz Rushe Manual handing HAZARDS If the healthcare assistant is not trained probably in moving, or lifting patients in a hoist, this could result, in the healthcare assistant or patient getting hurt. Always use the slip sheet, instead of pulling the patient up the bed by hand. Not wearing the right footwear, can be a hazard, wearing non slip soles and comfortable can help been on your feet all day and reduce back injury. RISKS If the task needs two people, the healthcare assistant must not attempt, to do this by themselves, as this could result in the patient or the healthcare assistant getting hurt. Never lift by them as this could lead to the healthcare assistant been out of work, due to back injury, always using a hoist. CONTROL MEASURES The healthcare assistant must make sure before using any equipment, that it is in good working order and report it if needs attention and always be in the correct standing position before moving anyone. Make sure that before moving or changing the patient, that you have everything that is needed; it is too late half way through. The healthcare assistant must give themselves penalty of room in moving a patient and not wearing clothes that could restrict their movement. Liz Rushe Select one occupational related illness and give a detailed description of CAUSES Back injury is the most common injury in the healthcare sector, along with contacts with germs, falls, trips, and slips on wet floors. As the healthcare assistant goes about their daily duties, it is important for them to follow policy and procedures, to reduce the risk of injury to themselves or patients. By not using a hoist when lifting a patient into or out of a bed, chair or if need be into the toilet, there will be a pulling on the back. The healthcare assistant who does not take care, when picking up, putting down any such items as boxes, etc. Not using the slip sheet, when moving a patient up in the bed and pulling them up using their own arms. When making or changing a bed, the healthcare assistant must always raise the bed up to hip level, before starting this task, as this can reduce the risk of back injury. When showering a patient do not lift them, with another assistant, use a hoist to lift them into the shower bed or onto a chair to wheel them into the bathroom. When feeding a patient sit down beside them at their level and do not stand, bend down over them. When changing a patient in the bed, bending over the patient, can lead to back discomfort and after doing this for a length of time, will cause back injury. Liz Rushe Symptoms As the healthcare assistant goes about their daily duties, they may find that not using their manual handing properly   and lifting patients, with their arms   and pulling them up in the beds and chairs that now they are suffering with back pain and discomfort. They may feel tried and not able to do much around the house. This may start to affect the ability to do their normal work duties and affect their home life as well and if this is not look after, might lead to been out of work, for a long time. The healthcare assistant must watch out for things left out in hall ways, as they can fall over them and hurt their backs and walking into rooms, after been cleaned, as the floors might be still wet and they can slip and fall. As the healthcare assistant finds that the simple thing of rolling a patient over in the bed, can hurt them, as this could be the result of wear and tear over a period of time. This can also lead to the healthcare assistant to start getting pains in their, legs, arms and neck as the injury gets worst. The healthcare assistant may have to, leave work and go to the doctor, which could lead to been out of work for long periods of time. Liz Rushe Impact on the worker The impact on the healthcare assistant was out of work, due to wear and tear, or a fall, can have big effect on their lives. If they are out of work, they might not be able to do anything at home, such as hover, wash a floor or other basic things and this could start them feeling down in them selves. As they sit at home the healthcare assistant, could start to eat to much as that all they can do or turn away from food, as they get more and more depressed. Their sleep might be affect, which could lead to been up during the night and asleep all day, which could lead to the person been moody. Along with this, their wages might be affect, which will bring other problems with it, such as doctor bills, any medication that they might have to get, plus if they have to see a physiotherapy, this can start to add up and not been on full wages , can become expensive. This may cause the healthcare assistant to become stress and depress, as financial problems may start to arise.   As the healthcare assistant is at home, they might not see anyone until their family comes home, which this can be lonely on the person. They should try and get out for a walk every day even if they can not go very far, as they will meet someone along the way to talk to them. Liz Rushe Preventative measures It is the healthcare assistant responsibility to be trained fully in manual handing and if not go to the staff nurse or manger to request that this is done.   The healthcare assistant must always follow what they have been shown, through manual handing, as this dose prevent a lot of injury. The healthcare assistant must report any faults in the setting or any equipment that needs to be repaired. Suitable footwear can help, as been on your feet all day can affect your back. Put manual handing into use, by bending your knees when bending and lifting any boxes and always use correct stand, when moving a patient, use your legs to take some of the pressure. Regular exercise can help prevent, some back injury and getting patients who are able to move, to get them to do most of the moving themselves, where possible. Always use the hoist, when lifting or moving a patient to a chair, toilet, shower or bed and never lift anyone by yourself, always have someone with you to assess. When moving a patient up in the bed, always use a slip sheet and never pull a patient up with your arms. Bring the bed up to hip high, when changing the bed or a patient, as the healthcare assistant will not have to bend over, and there for reduce the pull to the assistant back area. When feeding a patient, sit down beside them at their level, so you do not have to bend over them or reach to them. Liz Rushe Recommendations One of my recommendations would be that all healthcare staff, trained in manual handing, before the start the job, and any up date training to be done, for all staff in the setting.   As lifting without a hoist can be dangerous, also that all staff that have anything to do with changing, feeding or looking after the patients. Follow policy and procedures correctly, as this can stop injury to the patient and healthcare assistant. I also recommendations that all staff and students shown how to steer, and walk slowly with a wheelchair, especially around corners. I recommend that all staff wear appropriate foot wear (cushion souls), as I think that this dose helps with back problems. All healthcare staff should their PPE personal protective equipment, gloves, aprons, masks, when dealing with any patients that soiled or any body fluids. For all staff to use the hand gel, as many times as they can during the day, as this is better than hand washing, in killing more germs. All nurses, healthcare assistants, cleaning staff to report anything that they find in the wards, hallways or other parts of the setting that is in need of repair, as this can cause an accident or maybe become a risk for someone. As good communication between staff and manger, is especially to keep everything running smoothly. Liz Rushe Assignment evaluation As part of my assignment, I had to go work experience, in a nursing home setting, as I started this course and doing my work experience, I have learned so much about policies and procedures, health and safety, that following them is very important. I have learned how much care and attention the patients need on a daily basic and this is given to them, by all the staff with kindness and respect. Staff must follow the health and safety policy and procedures, to ensure that everyone is working in safe environment. I have learned that all staff must do everything they can   to prevent the spread of infection and that staff that are dealing with patient of high risk are taking appropriate measures, such as hand washing, hand gel and wearing PPE at all times. When changing a bed, to have the laundry trolley beside the bed and not to bring the dirty sheets to the trolley, in another room.

What is a child Essay -- essays research papers

What is a Child? Discuss how a scientific, a social constructionist and an applied approach attempt to answer this question. This essay will attempt to discuss how sociologists have attempted to answer the question. Childhood is viewed differently, depending on the country being considered, the period of time being studied or a personal viewpoint. According to the UN convention, a child is anybody under the age of eighteen. Several studies have been undertaken by sociologists to examine childhood. This essay will attempt to discuss three major approaches: 1) a scientific approach tries to study this objectively by observation and experimentation to prove a theory. This essay will discuss Kohlberg’s theory of â€Å"Moral development†. It will not include Piaget’s theory as Kohlberg’s theory used Paiget’s theory as a building block to his theory. 2) A social constructionist approach studies this by exploring social and cultural beliefs. The two discourses are the Romantic and Puritan discourses. 3) And an applied approach draws on both the scientific and social construction ist theories and uses the studies to understand the practicalities of Children’s rights through law, policies, and professional practices and the children themselves. The models used are the justice and the welfare model. The Scientific theory researches and endeavours to establish objective facts by using experimentation and observation. It follows mainly three stages of activities, 1) forming a concept that explains the facets of child development. 2) Formulates predictions from these concepts and then finally 3) tests these predictions through research, explanation and assessments. One such scientist was Kohlberg and his theory of Moral development. Kohlberg based his ideas on Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. He categorised these into three main levels with two stages at each level. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  PRECONVENTIONAL 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Punishment – obedience – When you do wrong you are punished and when you obey you are rewarded 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Self-gratification – Doing good or bad is to do with satisfying your requirements †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  CONVENTIONAL 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Interpersonal concordance - being good is about being loyal to people who love and care for you. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Law and ... ...es offer insight into the complex question of what is a child? But no single approach can be used independently into answering the question. Although the first two studies are linked and use research, theory and studies of growing, development, and socio-economic status and culture, the third is not a distinctive academic method. Where the Scientific approach endeavours to give simplicity and direction to professionals, the Social Constructionist tries not to reduce childhood simply to stages of development and the applied uses the both the above approaches to tackle the reality of childhood. The question itself means diverse things to different people male and female. The answer can be distinct depending on the society, cultural background, traditional beliefs and the various points in history. Word Score – 1378 words References Open University – Book 1 Childhood, Woolfolk, A. E. (1993). Educational Psychology. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Gillian, C. (1982) In a different Voice; Psychology Theory and Women’s Development, Cambridge (Mass), Harvard University Press. Asquith, S (1996) ‘When Children kill children: the search for justice’, Childhood,3(1) pp.99-116

Women and the American Revolution Essay -- Essays on American Revoluti

Women generally did not fight in the revolution, and the traditional status of Eighteenth Century women meant that they were not publicly able to participate fully in the debates over the revolution. However, in their own sphere, and sometimes out of it, woman participated fully in the revolution in all the ways that their status and custom allowed. As the public debate over the Townshend Acts grew more virulent, women showed their support for the cause of freedom by engaging in certain "feminine" pursuits. A common practice was to publicly ban English imports, especially tea, from their homes. Creating homespun, that is, the tedious creation of homemade fabric from spinning and weaving their own cloth, was another public way of showing support for the cause of freedom. During the American Revolution, many women were directly affected by the fighting since their father or brothers or husband or sons were off fighting. This meant that the women often had to take full responsibility for the family farm or business. More and more women became "deputy husbands" and represented the family in legal or commercial transactions. In some instances, as the fighting came close to their lands, women even had to take up arms to defend their person or property when the occasion demanded. Several women in Groton, Massachussetts, put on their husbands' clothing, armed themselves with muskets and pitchforks and defended the Nashua River Bridge. They captured a notoriou...

Abstract of Investment Analysis

Investment Analysis is a classical application in Long-Range Planning. It deals with the investigation of uncertainties, the evaluation of alternatives, the answer to â€Å"What-if† questions. The study of how an investment is likely to perform and how suitable it is for a given investor. Investment analysis is key to any sound portfolio-management strategy. Investors not comfortable doing their own investment analysis can seek professional advice from a financial advisor. An analysis of past investment decisions. An investment analysis is a look back at previous investment decisions and the thought process of making the investment decision. Key factors should include entry price, expected time horizon, and reasons for making the decision at the time. For example, in conducting an investment analysis of a mutual fund, the investor would look at factors such as how the fund has performed compared to its benchmark. The investor could also compare performed to similar funds, its expense ratio, management stability, sector weighting, style and asset allocation. Investment goals should always be considered when analyzing an investment; one size does not always fit all, and highest returns regardless of risk are not always the goal. For any beginner investor, investment analysis is essential. Looking back at past decisions and analyzing the mistakes and successes will help fine-tune strategies. Many investors don't even document why they made an investment let alone analyze why they were wrong or right. You could make a proper decision, extraordinary events could lose you money, and if you didn't analyze it, you would shy away from making the same decision. Finally to conclude I made measurement for interpretation and better solution, which may helps the company performance.

Should Examinations be Abolished Essay

Good morning everyone. My name is YONG YU, representing class 2/7.The motion of today’s debate is â€Å"Should examinations be abolished in school† In my point of view, I strongly agree that examinations should be abolished in school! Firstly, the approach of present examination systems means the beginning of fear, tension, anxiety and stress in the minds of the students under which if a student doesn’t performs according to his/her parents expectations may lead to students even taking the extreme step of ending their life by doing suicide. Secondly, some people also think that exams are not a reliable test of gauging the ability of the students as luck plays a major role. It is impossible to set the questions at the same difficulty every year, if it is easier, he will score higher. It is possible to study the tested subjects for the exam then forget everything and yet score high marks. Therefore, I question that I want to ask you is, â€Å"What’s the point of having examinations, when it causes many negative impact In conclusion, I strongly believe that Examinations should be abolished in school!! Should examinatons be abolished in schools? Read more: If There Were No Exams Essay Good morning/afternoon/evening teachers and fellow friends . I am Ashraf from class 2/7 . I am here today to talk about the motion ‘ Should examinations be abolished in schools?’ First of all , i would like to say that i strongly disagree with the idea of abolishing exams eventhough they are troublesome for students and even teachers . Here are my reasons why examinations should not be abolished in schools . Firstly , examinations are part and parcel of school . You come to study in schools . You want to know where you stand . You want to know how good or how bad you are at your academics . So , what is the use of going to school , studying but there is no exam to test you ? That brings me to my next point . Without the presence of examinations , students would be much more lazy . They would not feel the importance or even the need to study . They might drop out of school or not care about the slightest thing that concerns school . Students also would give up easily because there is not a need for them to understand something and be good at it . This not only affects the students . It affects the teachers , the parents , the community and the country . If examinations are abolished , teachers would not feel the need to teach students until they understand a certain topic . It makes their work easier . But , for teachers who are committed in teaching , they would be getting a rough time trying to teach the students . These teachers would then feel they are not qualified for teaching . This would bring their morale down . This might even break their ambition . In conclusion , abolishing examinations would have more negative impacts compared to positive impacts . So i stress my point , i repeat it , Examinations should not be abolished in schools . Whether examinations should be abolished in schools. Meghan on Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:53 pm Hello, this is Meghan from class 2/7 express. I strongly believe that examinations should not be abolished. Examinations have been around for as long as anyone can remember. Examinations have been used in primary schools, secondary schools, junior colleges, polytechnics, so on and so forth. It should not just disappear from our society. I believe and feel that examinations help us get better in the subject. By taking examinations, our teachers may help us to improve our grades, and help us correct our mistakes. When taking an examination, our goal is to score high grades, and to make our teachers, parents and peers proud of us. As many different questions may come out on the examination, students are urged to study more, learn more. There are many reasons why students want to score high grades. One of the many reasons  which I experience time and again is because of competition. Students like to fight against each other to get higher grades on their examinations, as many students today, even though we do not like to admit things, are quite arrogant. Now, examinations also give us a chance to apply what we have learnt in school, and apply it in real life. Also, don’t examinations drive us to understand what the teachers are teaching. I’ve even heard a student, back in primary school say, â€Å"I don’t like to study! It’s irritating. I’ll just cheat.† Now, some people think that cheating is an easier way to make parents and teachers proud, but that’s actually. The cheaters are the ones who would be suffering. Not only they might get caught, but they won’t actually learn anything from the entire experience. See, the things we learn earlier in life help us to get THROUGH life. Just think about it. When we go to kindergarten, and learn simple English, and simple Mathematics, that got us through primary one, right? So basically our knowledge would keep building up and up, helping us to get through life. Also, have you ever thought about it? In Mathematics, for example, they base some problems on real life situations. See, we can use those skills in real life! So examinations are actually really helpful. Examinations are all based on one’s understanding of a formula, topic, or subject. So if we understand more, we would be able to get higher grades, and hence we would be able to apply our skills in real life. Some people might think, â€Å"What? How is algebra supposed to help me? Like if I were a hawker?† Now, not all jobs involve skills like that. Many jobs involve many different topics. There may be many reasons by students why they think examinations should be abolished, but this one reason rises high above all, in terms of importance: Examinations are the only way of determining the students understanding the subject. I would like to say once again, I stand firm by my idea, we should not abolish school examinations. Thank you for your attention. Should Examinations be abolished in school  Izzah(14) 2/7 Good morning Mrs Sng, teachers and fellow students.I am a representative from  2/7, here to express my opinion whether examinations should be abolished. As a student myself, I strongly believe that major examinations should be eradicated.Now,I shall move on to my first substantives for the day. This word could make a happy and cheerful student turn into a wreck in just one day. Exams. Exams have absolutely prove itself as a lethal weapon to students.As a result, this causes the student to be stressed before and after the exams itself. Before the exams, I am sure that most students will be extremely stressed out . Thus, they will most probably burn the midnight oil to study topics and cause the student to fall sick or suffer from sleep deprivation. It can even result to disastrous outcomes such as harming his/her self and worse,suicide. This also applies after the exams. A student may not achieve his/ her desirable results or the high expectations setted by their parents. Hence, the student will be depressed or afraid to face their parents. With all these factors in mind, it is obvious that examinations does not enhance the journey of learning, but hinder it instead. As a fellow student myself, every student had come across this scenario before. When a particular student score highest in the class, even without lifting a finger, it definitely will spark off a sense of jealousy between the students.As a result , they will become competitive .Hence, they will only try to beat the top scorers and not focuse on the main point of attending school, to actually gain knowledge and understand what is being taught. In conclusion, this competitive environment is not a condusive one to study in. Even so, I believe there is still some good left in examinations. However, I suggest an alternate arrangement that will help to lessen the immense pressure on the students. I suggest projects that require the teachers to assess students in oral and physical practices such as presentations and Science practical tests. I also suggest to have class tests that only test student based on a particular topic so the student can prepare for the test better thus the student will get better results. It is also because a major exam may not cover all topics that being taught. Hence, the suggestions I have stated will make the assessment of students much fairer. With that, I strongly believe examinations should be abolished due to the fact that it causes harm in the emotional and physical being of the student and a competitive environment that will affect the learning process.I have also stated alternative arrangements that could be implemented to make assessments of students better. With that, I thank you. Cue Should examinations be abolished Masyitah Shakirah on Mon Mar 19, 2012 2:04 am Good morning everyone.My name is Masyitah.I am going to talk about whether examinations should be abolished.In my honest opinion,I think that examinations should not be abolished. My first reason is because through examinations,students can know their level of understanding towards a certain topic of a subject.They will then approach their teachers if they know their weaknesses and if they need help in certain topics.After that,the students would be able to score well in their upcoming examinations.they would also be proud of themselves if they are one of the top scorers in their schools. Exams is also a form of encouragement for students to study harder and get better results for the coming examinations.I am sure the students would want to be the same standard as their friends.Without examinations,students will be lazy to study and they would not be bothered to do all the homework given by their teachers.As examination results will be printed out on a sheet of paper and parents have to sign on it,the students would surely try and do their best in every examinations because they do not want to get scoldings from their parents and want to make them proud. Even though I feel that examinations should not be abolished,I think that the number of examinations given per year to the students should decrease.This is so that the students would not feel stress as they need to rush through their revisions for a lot of subjects.The teachers would also have time to let their students understand the subject better until the whole class is  ready to move on to the next topic. In conclusion,I strongly believe that examinations should not be abolished because it can train the students to plan theri time well and be disciplined.However the amount of examinations given should be reduced so that it would not cause the students to be stress because they came to school to study,not to cramp their brains with a lot of things in just a few months before the examinations.With that,I thank you. Masyitah Shakirah Re: Should Examinations be Abolished in Schools? JunYe on Mon Mar 19, 2012 6:06 pm Hello everybody, this is JunYe from class 2/7E. Today, I am going to talk about the motion â€Å"Should examinations be abolished in schools?†. I strongly agree that examinations should be abolished. There are a few reasons on why examinations should be abolished in schools. Firstly , as we all know examinations are used to test on students to let the teachers and students know how well they are in a particular subject. Students might be misled by parents that examinations will definitely make life-long changes to their life and hence , putting students under tremendous stress and unable to concentrate while learning or revising. Secondly , as most students are concerned about the grades they get and thus causing them to be over-reacting when they get disappointed in their grades. They might be under depression and emotionally unstable. Students in this state tend to become short-tempered with either their work or their fellow classmates and even the teachers are being used to vent anger on. In conclusion, I think the examinations should be abolished in schools as it is not that effective enough to let the students concentrate and learn. Thank you. JunYe Guest Should Examinations be abolished? BryanSim on Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:50 pm Hello everybody, I am Bryan from class 2/7. I am here today to talk about the motion, ‘ Should examinations be abolished in schools? ‘ I agree that examinations should be abolished. I will state a few reasons on why examinations should be abolished in schools. Firstly, examinations may put students under tremendous stress as if students do not do well in the examination, parents might scold them when they bring the papers back home for parent’s signature. As a result, students may study very hard to avoid their parents’ scolding. Secondly, Students may not really benefit from the examination as some students only memorise the things that are tested on the examination and after the examination, they would forget they had memorise as they need to memorise things tested on the next examination. Lastly, I think that examinations should be changed to surprise tests as surprise tests would not give students to memorise the things tested and this would mean that the students have to use their knowledge that they have. In conclusion, I think that examinations should be abolished in schools as it put students under tremendous stress and while students are in great stress, some of them do not really benefit from the examination. Thank you. BryanSim Should Examinations be abolished in schools ? Liyana on Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:11 pm Good morning teachers and fellow students. I am Liyana representing 2/7, and I strongly believe that examinations should be abolished in schools. Firstly, students get stressed whenever examinations are around. They might stay up late, or skip meals just to revise for their upcoming examinations. This is unhealthy for the students as the body would not get enough rest and nutrients, and there’s a likely chance that the students might get sick. Also, students are stressed after the examinations too because they will worry about what score they are going to get. Also, knowing students these days, we are very competitive. We always want to be the top. An  over-competitive environment is not a good place for students to learn, because then, all they want to do is to be the top. This is bad because is defeats the purpose of going to school in the first place, and that is to learn and gain knowledge. Also, students might not need to even pay attention during lessons and still get a high score. All they need to do is to memorise all thier notes given by their teachers, memorise information from their textbooks as nowdays examination is really about memorising. Students would then have a mindset that they can score well, even without paying attention in class. Just to summarise the points, the mindset, and an over-competitive is bad for students, because they will not really achieve the main goal, and that is to, again, gain knowledge. So I would like to end off my speech by saying that examinations should be abolished in schools.

Dehumanization in All Quiet on the Western Front Essay

In All Quiet on the Western Front by Enrique Maria Remarque, the reader follows Paul Baumer as he fights through World War I and discovers the trials of being a soldier. As they survive through the war with each other, Paul and the other soldiers began to understand certain realities of life. Going into the battlefield teenagers, the soldiers come out as old men, burdened with their experiences. The war, meant to glorify Germany and turn its men into heroes, deadens and dehumanizes Paul and the other soldiers until they can’t recognize themselves. As soldiers, Paul and his friends are treated with little care. Their superiors act as if they are animals, replaceable and expendable because there are so many of them, and they hold so little power by themselves. Although only teenagers, these soldiers have had to grow up quickly in order to fight for their apparently insignificant lives. It is said that â€Å"[they] are the Iron Youth† (21). By describing the soldiers as â€Å"Iron,† Paul expresses how much the war has changed them. Iron, which can be interpreted both literally and figuratively, is a strong metal that covers a lot of the Earth as well as residing in its core. Therefore, with the soldiers described as â€Å"iron†, they are referred to as replaceable, expendable, and abundant in numbers. Also, â€Å"iron† can be used to describe someone who is determined, tough, and strong, showing how much these 19 year old soldiers have had to grow up in order to stay alive in the war. They lost their childhood, aging into old men because of the devastation and experiences they’ve encountered. And slowly, as their childhood goes, their humanity and liveliness leaves as well. The more the soldiers are treated like cattle, disposable and soulless, the faster they regress. Remarque often uses beast imagery to describe the soldiers at war, showing their relapse into animals while on the battlefield. We have become wild beasts. We do not fight, we defend ourselves against annihilation. It is not against men that we fling our bombs, what we do know of men in this moment in which death is hunting us down†¦ we can destroy and kill, to save ourselves, to save ourselves and be revenged (73). By using beast imagery, Remarque shows how the emotions of he soldiers are stripped away until they are only left with the instinct to do anything to stay alive. They fight not against other men, but other beasts as well, for deep down, all soldiers are the same, fighting for their comrades and for themselves instead of for their country. Just as men do beasts, Death â€Å"hunts† the soldiers on the battlefield, chasing after them as they become animals: replaceable, expendable, and superfluous. While the individual soldier is extraneous, many men make up the armies that fight wars. Most often, Remarque describes how these many soldiers change mentally because of the war; by describing how these men physically come together to form a fighting company, Remarque shows just how much the war has changed them. Farther on, the mist ends. Here the heads become figures; coats, trousers, and boots appear out of mist as from a milky pool. They become a column†¦. individuals are no longer recognizable†¦. a column – not men at all (57). The â€Å"column† that Remarque uses to describe the soldiers shows how they are the support that holds the military up. Without the columns of soldiers, the lieutenants, generals, and other leaders in the army would be insignificant because they would have no inferiors and not enough men to fight a war. The â€Å"individual† soldier is irrelevant, too. He has no power on his own, because men do not fight wars. Armies do. When one soldier falls, another takes his place without second thought, as if an automaton or a well-trained dog. They follow orders without questions, and eventually the soldier can no longer comprehend the man he used to be before the war, because they have lost all personality and individuality. They have become blank, same, and dehumanized, more beastly with every day at the front. By the end of the war, the soldiers that returned to Germany are unrecognizable. They have fought like animals, run from Death, and seen so many horrors. While they went to war to be heroes, to fight for their country, the soldiers came back broken and empty, only shells of their former selves. They have regressed slowly, losing the will to live, and changing until they can’t recognize themselves.