Hlten515B Implement and Monitor Care for Older Clients...

HLTEN515B implement and monitor care for older clients Written assignment 1 There are many different forms of dementia and each has its own cause. Some of the main type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of dementia affecting 50%-70% of dementia patients (Alzheimers australia, 2005). This is a degenerative illness which attacks the brain, this is achieved buy tangles which are in the middle of shrunken brain cells and plaques which eventually cause the brain cells to die meaning information can no longer be recalled or assimilated. There are also other types of dementia which include vascular dementia which is caused by circulation of the blood to the brain, Parkinson’s disease which is a disorder of the†¦show more content†¦These strategies may help with relieving distress, agitation and challenging behaviours. Strategies when dealing with dementia patients may include, â€Å"introduce yourself at each encounter, use touch as appropriate, try to determine the cause of the behaviour and then try to reduc e or eliminate it. These behaviours may be caused by boredom, which you would try and use activities as a distraction, Pain which we3 will try non-pharmacological treatment first e.g.: heat packs, Anxiety where we will use reassurance and diversion. Often using a soft approach such as smiling, pleasant voice tones while talking calmly in short sentences will help defuse a situation. There are many community services out there to aid dementia patients these may include community nursing, meals on wheels, homecare, home modification, Alzheimer’s Australia, commonwealth centerlink centres, carers association, counselling, ACAT and respite care. Dementia has a huge impact on not only the lives of them self’s but also the family and carer. Watching the person you love degenerate from a fully functioning person to some one that needs to be fully cared for. As a carer, you are likely to experience a range of different feelings. This is particularly difficult because as dementia gradually causes the person’s abilities and personality to change the nature of relationships will also change (better health). TheShow MoreRelatedImplement And Monitor Nursing Care For Older Clients1795 Words   |  8 PagesDiploma of Nursing HLT51612 HLTEN515B Implement and monitor nursing care for older clients Assessment 2 – Case Study Elements 4 5 - Part 1 – Alcohol Related Dementia - Korsakoff’s syndrome Definition: â€Å"Korsakoff’s psychosis, a form of amnesia often seen in chronic alcoholics that is characterised by a loss of short- term memory and an inability to learn new skills. The person is usually disoriented, mat present with delirium and hallucinations, and confabulates to conceal

America’s Failing War on Drugs and the Culture of Incarceration Free Essays

string(128) " are caught in possession of illicit drugs, is doing nothing to contribute to lessening any of the problems attributed to them\." For over a century, America has waged a failing war on drugs even as it feeds a cultural apathetic and underground acceptance of drug and alcohol use. The views of the dominate group have placed blame on society’s ills on the evils of rampant drug use throughout the past few hundred years, which have given way to a practice of outlawing , persecution, and imprisonment. Such a view has led to the overflow of our state’s prisons, the race to build even more, and need to fund a culture of imprisonment that has a difficult time in trying to figure out if it wants to help the addicted person, or continue to try and fund a gluttonous prison machine. We will write a custom essay sample on America’s Failing War on Drugs and the Culture of Incarceration or any similar topic only for you Order Now We will look at some of the causes for the failed war on drugs, and some of the consequences if our society continues to ignore the need to help the addict, or simply lock them away. America’s failing War on Drugs and the Culture of Incarceration America has always had an underlying culture of drug use with even many of the harder drugs, like cocaine and heroin, being legal up into the early 1900’s, and drugs like methamphetamine and MDMA, or ecstasy, being legal well into the 20th century. Even one of the most invasive drugs of our culture, alcohol, is widely advertised and taken to be a norm of American culture, and prescription drugs like Vicodin and Oxycontin are used by millions legally every day (Brecher, E. M. , n. d. ). However, while alcohol as been able to enjoy its place as an accepted part of the American lifestyle, drug use of the illicit kind has been steadily demonized, criminalized, and used as a means to incarcerate an ever growing number of people, most often minorities and the poor who are unable to afford outside representation. (Steiker, C. S. 2011) It has created an industry and culture of incarceration dependant on keeping certain drugs illegal, and drug use a felonious criminal act, as those in the industry of building prisons and providing prison services, along with many in law enforcement, continue to lobby state and federal government to keep up overzealous laws on drug use, even laws on drugs proven to be less dangerous than alcohol, such as marijuana, which have come to be quite profitable to all involved. The extent of the problem with this unsuccessful war on drugs includes millions of non violent offenders losing parts of their lives, many sentenced to terms in the tens of years under mandatory sentencing, some simply for no more a heinous crime as first time possession of a small amount of marijuana or crack cocaine. The ability to get federal help for school as well as other federal help programs, to engage in certain basic liberties and rights afforded to all Americans by the Bill of Rights, such as the right to vote, or the right to bear arms, are taken away and either incredibly hard to get back, or all but impossible. Furthermore, even when they have finished paying society for their crime, they are still haunted by the deed whenever they look for work, unable to get jobs because of felony convictions, relegating them to jobs of much lower pay and status, even though they themselves may have the education and experience to fulfill jobs of a much higher caliber. (McVay, D. , Schiraldi, V. , Zeidenburg, J. 2004) This process of ‘tough on drugs’ prevention and incarceration keeps the chemically dependent in a vicious cycle where, unable to get help for their addictions and help for success after paying their ‘dues’, their only outcome lies in a repetitive sequence of drug use, bigger crimes to support themselves, and longer imprisonment, in a culture of poverty and incarceration. The outcome is broken hopes, broken dreams, broken families – broken individuals with broken lives. (McVay, D. Schiraldi, V. , Zeidenburg, J. , 2004) If you are not one of these individuals, the problem extends to you – in that it is your tax dollars going to pay for the unsuccessful but profitable war on drugs. Prisoners do not pay for their incarceration – the state and federal government does. The American tax payers pay for housing, food, clothing in both state and federal as well as private prisons, and supervision of these mostly non-violent drug offenders, both inside and outside prison. The tax payer provides the funds for local, state, and federal law enforcement to run their stings, and train their drug dogs and sting operatives, except in the off chance that they intercept a large amount of drug money, or take possession of larger drug dealers properties and vehicles bought with drug money, but rarely are these items sold at value. The burden to pay falls on the state and you, the tax payer, and the state is running out of money to spend on incarcerating an ever growing number of non-violent, drug related prisoners. McVay, D. , Schiraldi, V. , Zeidenburg, J. , 2004) THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES Causes While many drugs enjoyed a period of legalization, eventually most drugs have come to find a place as a scapegoat for many of society’s ills, from poverty, unemployment and homelessness, to rape, murder, and reasons to discriminate certain races based on a stereotypical link to a certain drug. (Steiker, C. S. 2011) At one time even alcohol was a major scapegoat for societal problems, but its strong history and presence in Euro-ethnic culture made it difficult to abstain from for many, and when it was shown that prohibition did nothing to stop many of the problems attributed to it and had actually caused an increase in criminal activity and dangerous binge drinking, it was repealed after 13 years, with much celebration. (Brecher, E. M. , n. d. Accordingly in this day and age, some people are coming to the realization that simply outlawing drugs, making harsh laws to imprison or remove people who are caught in possession of illicit drugs, is doing nothing to contribute to lessening any of the problems attributed to them. You read "America’s Failing War on Drugs and the Culture of Incarceration" in category "Papers" In fact, even while we see a decrease in overall crime, we can still see an increase in certain criminal drug activities meant to supply a non-declining need for narcotics, and an ever increasing bill that makes many law makers choose between other programs to help society, or to pay for the rising cost to lock up more and more drug offenders. However, it is still much easier to demonize a drug and the user for problems in society, and we can see that today for instance, as we deal with the problem of unemployment, and the desire of some to legalize marijuana, even for medical purposes. Legalization happens to be a position many of the 99% Occupier groups stand for, but many opponents counter that it’s the drug use of many of those protesters that contribute to their unemployment, and that making medical marijuana legal is just a way for them to continue to get high, but legally. (Bickman, J. , n. d. ) Consequently, many opponents also see drug use as proof f the moral decline of America, and that along with moral ills like gay marriage and abortion, contribute to the fall of our society from its once lofty heights back in the early and mid 1900’s, where homosexuality and drug use were more hidden, but no less prevalent. To this we add the common practice of giving drug possession and distribution large manda tory sentences, some of which show the disparity in the dominant class’s belief in certain drug use being characteristic of certain class or racial groups, or that some drugs are much more dangerous than others, even though science and common sense has told us otherwise. One can only need to take a look at the number of people in jail and prison for marijuana, which is almost benign in its danger when compared to a legal drug such as alcohol, or the disparity in sentencing between crack cocaine and powdered cocaine that was once 100 to 1, or the same penalty for 1 gram of crack cocaine as for 100 grams of powdered cocaine, now down to a mere 18 to 1, with the relation that crack is mostly use by the inner city African American minority, and powdered cocaine used more by the affluent, white dominant suburban group. Amar, V. D. , n. d. ) One area that is sorely underfunded, and has become a pathway to a ‘college of criminality’, is the juvenile justice system. In a 2005, five year study by the National Center on Substance Abuse at Columbia University, the report found that 1. 9 million of the 2. 4 million juveniles arrested over a 5 year period had substance abuse and addiction problems, but that only 68,600 of them received any substance abuse help. Many of those arrested were for violent crimes, however drug use played a huge part in their behavior, and it isn’t hard to take these results into the adult arena, with the finding among adults arrested who were 18 years or older, 64 percent had used drugs or alcohol when they were 17 or younger. One may correctly assume that juveniles who initiate drug and alcohol use and become arrested, and are given incarceration instead of treatment, have a greater chance of growing up to become adults who engage in criminal and drug using behavior. Brown University, 2005) Consequences The consequences of continuing the past policies of the war on drug can be seen today, there is no need to wait on verification or speculation. We can see the ever increasing number of adult and juvenile offenders incarcerated for minor drug offences, as well as those receiving large sentences for other crimes where drugs were involved. We can see the cost and the burden this increasing prison population has to the state and its tax payers, and the struggle lawmakers have to either increase taxes, lower penalties for possession for drug use, or release large numbers of un-treated, chemically dependent, prison taught and economically disadvantaged prisoners because they simply cannot afford to hold them any longer. Without changing the laws, addicts and other chemically dependent users are first convicted and then given treatment. As we already discussed in the beginning, the conviction staying on their arrest record for years, or even permanently, meaning that even after possible successful treatment, the recovering addict is still treated like a pariah when looking for work and an in-depth background check becomes part of the job seeking process. (McVay, D. , Schiraldi, V. , Zeidenburg, J. , 2004)Without any help or hope, the convicted and untreated addict’s only outlook is a continuing life of drug use, and criminal activity to support them. In states like Kentucky, that have seen an increase in its prison population quadruple over the past two decades, looking into new programs that would have offenders volunteer to enter a six to nine month treatment program in jail, rather than a one to two year program in prison that usually carries a five to ten year sentence along with it, would save the state tax payers millions of dollars a year. In Kentucky alone, it costs $500 million dollars a year to house some 22,000 prisoners, 80 percent of them being non-violent drug offenders. The state, like most others, has seen a steady rise in incarcerations with one in 31 Americans behind bars, when Twenty-five years ago, the number was 1 in 77. (Alcoholism Drug Abuse Weekly, 2009) Still, even with such approaches meant to curb the costs of incarcerating convicted addicts, the fact remains that little is being done to reduce the number of people being convicted in the first place, although the offering of more resources to people who are in their first phases of being caught up by law enforcement due to their addictions is a more effective way to start. Alcoholism Drug Abuse Weekly, 2010) Every year it becomes more and more evident, that our countries failing war on drugs and its policy to want to simply incarcerate those to mandatory sentences for even non-lethal drug such as marijuana, the rising cost to investigate, arrest, persecute and house a population of people who show no signs of serious drug use decline, can only mean that newer policies to treat the addi cted, rather than lock them away, are the right way to go if our country wants to fix the problem of our ever increasing culture of incarceration. (McVay, D. , Schiraldi, V. , Zeidenburg, J. , 2004) How to cite America’s Failing War on Drugs and the Culture of Incarceration, Essays

Hospital management system free essay sample

Hospitals deal with the life and health of their patients. Good medical care relies on well-trained doctors and nurses and on high quality facilities and equipment. Good medical care also relies on good record keeping. Without accurate, comprehensive and up to date and accessible patient notes, medical personnel may not offer the best treatment or may in fact misdiagnose the condition, which can have serious consequences. Associated records, such as x-rays, specimens, drug records and patient registers, must also be well cared for if the patient is to be protected. Good records care also ensures the hospitals administration runs smoothly; unneeded records are transferred or destroyed regularly, keeping storage areas clear and accessible; and key records can be found quickly, saving time and resources. Records also provide evidence of the hospital’s accountability for its actions and they form a key source of data for medical research, statistical reports and health information systems. Hospital Management System is powerful, flexible, and easy to use and is designed and developed to deliver real conceivable benefits to hospitals. Hospital Management System is designed for hospital, to cover a wide range of hospital administration and management processes. It is an integrated end-to-end Hospital Management System that provides relevant information across the hospital to support effective decision making for patient care, hospital administration and critical financial accounting, in a seamless flow. Hospital Management System is a software product suite designed to improve the quality and management of hospital management in the areas of clinical process analysis and activity-based costing. Hospital Management System enables hospitals and medical institutions to develop their organization and improve its effectiveness and quality of work. Managing the key processes efficiently is critical to the success of the hospital daily operations. Hospital Management System helps them manage their processes fast, accurate and efficient. 1. 2. Overview of the Current of the Technology In NCMH when admitting a patient the first procedure is for the patient’s related/guardian to fill up a form about patient medical history and financial record which this form will be kept as the patient’s medical record in the hospital. Then the hospital check its record for availability of room and if the patient will be assign to a private or public room, which this record will be in hard copies which are stored in a huge facilities. Afterwards a doctor will diagnose the patient and writes down his/her findings, consultation, prescription, and also his/her orders for the nurses and laboratories examination in a hard copy form which also will be kept as record in the hospital. Then when the nurses do their rounds they will also writes down reports in hard copy form which also will be kept as record in the hospital. The results of the laboratory’s tests and examination are also kept as record in the hospital, in hard copy form. And from all of this record like prescription of medicine, rental of rooms, consultation fees, and etc. will have billing statement for the patient which the billing department will keep records in hard copy form for the hospital. 1. 3. Project Rational Because unlike the current system which uses pen and paper to write down forms and reports which can take a long time to do, is prone to error, cost more, and takes up a lot of space the proposed system will be accurate, more reliable, fast, will have less redundancy, will cost less, and more space conservative, which will make the hospital more effective and efficient in taking care of its patients. And because of this several particular reasons it is not just very beneficial for the beneficiary to implement this proposed system but also is needed for this institution to be on the edge in the 21ist century. 2. Project Description Problem Statement The system design and development was undertaken in order to eliminate the problem of redundant, erroneous, slow and incomplete data that was escalating the inefficiencies in data updating and retrieval. These limitations were mainly caused by the fact that data, under the current manual recording system was entered into books and paper files and was later stored in overcrowded storage rooms that made retrieval and updating of archival records close to impossible. 2. 1. 1. Specific Problem How will the developers create a patient-doctor medical record system that can store and retrieve data fast and accurate? How will the developers create an effective and efficient billing system? 2. 2. Proposed Research Project 2. 2. 1. General Objective To design and develop a hospital management system for a mental health hospital that would enable faster, more accurate, complete, and more efficient storage of retrieval and updating of hospital records and save space at the same time. 2. 2. 2. Specific Objective To create a computerize system that have an efficient and clear fill-up form, and a powerful search engine to retrieve data fast and accurate. To create a computerize billing system that can store and retrieve billing statements fast and accurate, and also at the same time print fast and accurate reports. 2. 2. 3. Scope and Limitation The proposed software product is the Hospital Management System (HMS). The system will be used to get the information from the patients and then storing that data for future usages, stores doctors’ consultation, prescription and orders, stores nurses reports, and stores laboratories results and billing statement. The system will also be able to print out forms and reports from various departments in the hospital and also print out billing statement from the billing department. The intentions of this systems is to reduce over-time pay and increase the number of patients that can be treated accurately. 2. 2. 4. Methodology Methodology is a term used to describe a process, technique or manner in which an action is performed. Under the development a system, a methodology refers to the process that was taken to ensure that a system is effectively and efficiently developed. In designing the hospital management system for NCMH, the following waterfall methodology was used. Waterfall Methodology: All projects can be managed better when segmented into a hierarchy of chunks such as phases, stages, activities, tasks and steps. It follows a linear structure starting from requirement analysis, through design, implementation and maintenance. Most widely accepted methodology for student projects, this model has been well tried and tested. Each phase of it has sub phases which produce deliverables. Requirements are fixed at initial stages before proceeding with development plans in system development projects; the simplest rendition of this is called the waterfall methodology, as shown in the following figure: The graphic illustrates a few critical principles of a good methodology: Work is done in stages. Content reviews are conducted between stages. Reviews represent quality gates and decision points for continuing. The waterfall provides an orderly sequence of development steps and helps ensure the adequacy of documentation and design reviews to ensure the quality, reliability, and maintainability of the developed software. While almost everyone these days disparages the waterfall methodology as being needlessly slow and cumbersome, it does illustrate. Requirements – the developers will analyze what are the resources needed for the completion of the project such as budget, materials, and human resource. Design – after interviewing the beneficiary (Joshua F. Magsumbol), the developers took some time carefully designing what the system should look and function like base on the beneficiary’s specifications. Implementation – when the developers finished the proposed system, the time of implementation is next. Verification – in this phased testing and debugging is performed for final implementation. Maintenance – when the project is finished maintaining the systems efficiency is the next agenda. 3. Project Management 3. 1. Project Description 3. 1. 1. Description of Activities Acquiring of Client – the developers when on around metro manila for less than 2 weeks to find a client, and the developers found a few clients and finally decided to go for NCMH. Planning – the developers took about 3 weeks to plan for the project. Interview – the developers met with NCMH administrator (Mr Joshua F. Magsumbol), for the proposal of the system and to gather information from him to aid us in our endeavours. Documentation – the developers started the documentation of this project around in the 8th week it was supposed to start earlier but something’s came up (details not important), and the documentation will progress as the system’s development progresses. Design – the designing of the system began on the 6th week and the developers is until now still thinking up of designs for the rest of the system. Resource Analysis – the team started analysis of resources on the 10th week and are still analysing the few last resources that are needed to finish this project. Coding or Programming – the development of the proposed system started on the 12th week and is still under development. Testing and Analysis of the system – the developers have not yet started the testing and analysis of the system. Implementation – Since the system in not yet finish the team cannot implement yet the system. 3. 1. 2. Gantt Chart of Activities A Gantt chart is a horizontal bar chart developed as a production control tool, a Gantt chart provides a graphical illustration of a schedule that helps to plan, coordinate, and track specific tasks in a project. In the next page a Gantt chart is shown for the phase’s schedules of this project.

Lucretia Rudolph Garfield Essays - Lucretia Garfield,

Lucretia Rudolph Garfield Lucretia Rudolph Garfield 1832-1918 In the fond eyes of her husband, President James A. Garfield, Lucretia "grows up to every new emergency with fine tact and faultless taste." She proved this in the eyes of the nation, though she was always a reserved, self-contained woman. She flatly refused to pose for a campaign photograph, and much preferred a literary circle or informal party to a state reception. Her love of learning she acquired from her father, Zeb Rudolph, a leading citizen of Hiram, Ohio, and devout member of the Disciples of Christ. She first met "Jim" Garfield when both attended a nearby school, and they renewed their friendship in 1851 as students at the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, founded by the Disciples. But "Crete" did not attract his special attention until December 1853, when he began a rather cautious courtship, and they did not marry until November 1858, when he was well launched on his career as a teacher. His service in the Union Army from 1861 to 1863 kept them apart; their first child, a daughter, died in 1863. But after his first lonely winter in Washington as a freshman Representative, the family remained together. With a home in the capital as well as one in Ohio they enjoyed a happy domestic life. A two-year-old son died in 1876, but five children grew up healthy and promising; with the passage of time, Lucretia became more and more her husband's companion. In Washington they shared intellectual interests with congenial friends; she went with him to meetings of a locally celebrated literary society. They read together, made social calls together, dined with each other and traveled in company until by 1880 they were as nearly inseparable as his career permitted. Garfield's election to the Presidency brought a cheerful family to the White House in 1881. Though Mrs. Garfield was not particularly interested in a First Lady's social duties, she was deeply conscientious and her genuine hospitality made her dinners and twice-weekly receptions enjoyable. At the age of 49 she was still a slender, graceful little woman with clear dark eyes, her brown hair beginning to show traces of silver. In May she fell gravely ill, apparently from malaria and nervous exhaustion, to her husband's profound distress. "When you are sick," he had written her seven years earlier, "I am like the inhabitants of countries visited by earthquakes." She was still a convalescent, at a seaside resort in New Jersey, when he was shot by a demented assassin on July 2. She returned to Washington by special train--"frail, fatigued, desperate," reported an eyewitness at the White House, "but firm and quiet and full of purpose to save." During the three months her husband fought for his life, her grief, devotion, and fortitude won the respect and sympathy of the country. In September, after his death, the bereaved family went home to their farm in Ohio. For another 36 years she led a strictly private but busy and comfortable life, active in preserving the records of her husband's career. She died on March 14, 1918. Bibliography Whitehouse.gov/wh/glimpse.firstladies/html/firstladies.html

The Chinese Economic Debate Is China Overheating essays

The Chinese Economic Debate Is China Overheating essays When a bubble economy is thriving, people are prone to believe that it will last forever (Ignatius, 2004). This general feeling existed in Japan in the 1980s and in America in the late '90s. Today, many people believe that this is what is happening in China the "miracle economy," where returns have been so consistently high that people are starting view investing in China On any of the capital's boulevards, billboards advertise "Season's Park," a brand-new fancy apartment complex that bills itself as "Home of the Tycoons (Ignatius, 2004)." The entrance is features images of the Statue of Liberty and the Arc de Triomphe, and there's a telephone "hot line" so newly wealthy Chinese residents can rush to buy property there. The new Chinese leadership understands the danger of overheating, and is now taking slow yet steady steps to slow the economy from last year's 9.1 percent growth rate. However, like Alan Greenspan's 1996 warning about "irrational exuberance" on Wall Street, the Chinese government's warnings have had little effect. During the first quarter of 2004, economic growth "Some people think that China's economy is already overheated; others think it's in the process of becoming overheated," explained Zhao Qizheng, the minister who runs the State Council Information Office (Ignatius, 2004). He believes that China needs "sustainable" growth. Li Ruogu, the deputy governor of China's central bank, has an even sharper opinion: "If credit is growing as fast as it has been, we will be concerned about a bubble," he said (Ignatius, 2004), adding that the central bank had raised reserve requirements for Chinese banks this month mainly "to send out the message that we are concerned about overheating of the economy." Li warned that the central bank may raise interest rates soon, a move many analysts think is long overdue (Ignatius, 2004). Li said inflation during the first quarter was...

Narrative Essay

Narrative Essay Narrative Essay Narrative Essay Unlike other types of essays, narrative essay gives you an opportunity to express yourself and your thoughts.   While writing an essay, you have to explain how your experiences have helped you in life. Everybody has had significant experience that helped us to understand something about ourselves, others or the world in a whole. Narrative essay writing gives you a chance to inform the reader about these experiences, your thoughts and ideas.   While writing narrative essay, you should think about the moments that are worth to discuss. These moments may be from your childhood. Choose a vivid time from your childhood, for example, how you earned your first money to buy something that you really wanted. You must describe any of the events in such a way that your reader understands why the event was important and memorable to you. While writing an essay, you should include details which make an event more real for the reader.   The reader should sense your emotions and be able to dr aw the picture of your experience. Using quotes is not encouraged.   However, is you use quotes, do not forget to express your own thoughts. College narrative essay should be effective and interesting to read. Narrative Essay Writing Help While writing a narrative essay, remember that there are some rules you should follow. You should write it in a first person. However, if it is necessary you may use third person pronouns. It means if you write about your own story, use 'I' if the story is about events that happened to the person you know, use 'he' or 'she'. The narrative essay must be written logically and lack grammar and style mistakes. While writing a narrative essay, you create a story, i.e. your story must have a plot that describes main characters and setting, climax that tell the reader the peak experience related to your thesis, and the conclusion that contains how the narrative's thesis comes to its full realization. Narrative essay writing requires a chronological development of the events. However, you can break this rule. Develop the main idea of your essay.   This main idea is a thesis of your narrative essay. Remember that supporting examples not only prove your thesis statement but also help the reader to draw a full picture. Essay Writing Service If you are hesitant in your writing skills, you are encouraged to ask professional writers working at our site for assistance.   We are educated and experienced in custom essay writing.   knows how to write a narrative essay which gains the attention from the first lines.   Place an order and improve your grades with our help!

Breakthrough career aspiration Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Breakthrough career aspiration - Research Paper Example This is by first being able to identify existing barriers to the medical practitioners of not being 100% compliant with the VAP bundle. Contrary to numerous researchers who normally concentrate on the patients by alleviating their pain first, my first step would be to deal with the practitioners’ case (Fitzpatrick & Kazer, 2012). This is because the patients’ relief in this research would only be realized if only the healthcare providers are able to comply effectively or 100% to VAP bundle. This is because my core aim in this pathfinding research will entail seeking absolute solution towards healthcare providers being able to comply 100% with VAP bundle (Koenig & Truwit, 2006). Hence, being able to decrease incidences of VAP complications and attain zero rate occurrences as per the medical theory (Koenig & Truwit, 2006). This will shun increasing of both the morbidity and mortality rates that are evident presently in the ICU, which I have witnessed all through my career . In addition, my research’s breakthrough will also aid in lessening days that an individual normally stays in the ICU. Consequently, this has prompted both the healthcare and caregivers incur substantial expenses during the patients’ prolonged hospitalization (Doyle, Fletcher, Carter, Blunt & Young, 2011). 2. The uniqueness of my pathfinding research The success of my pathfinding research will yield to numerous benefits especially in achieving zero VAP rate targets, which the  hospital organization has always anticipated to achieve (Pneumatikos, Dragoumanis & Bouros, 2009). This is because Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) cases have always prompted to both the hospital facility and patients’ caregivers to incur untold expenses owing to prolonged stay in ICU. For example, statistics have confirmed that Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) mortality rates range between 24% and 76% despite the efficiency of medical practitioners (Pneumatikos, Dragoumanis & Bouros, 2009). This is an alarming rate, which might trigger fear to patients or their caregivers especially when an ailing person develops VAP complications. Since studies reveal a higher mortality rate of 46% of VAP complications compared to 32% of the ventilated patients (Pneumatikos, Dragoumanis & Bouros, 2009). Therefore, this breakthrough will be remarkable in the medical field where besides decreasing mortality and morbidity rates, it will also relive patient’s pain. Besides, it will also lessen healthcare’s high expenses that are evident currently due to extended hospitalization. 3. Theoretical path that I took Behavior change theory In improving compliance to VAP bundle, the application of behavior change theory proved to be of significant importance where I utilized Prochaska and DiClementes’s change theory (Kritsonis, 2005). This theory offered the theoretical framework required to execute this change though it contends that people usually undergo di verse stages in realization of any transformational transition. According to Prochaska and DiClementes’ theory, intervention is essential in all its five stages to effect the required or anticipated change (Kritsonis, 2005). The initial stage entailed shifting people’s perception from precontemplation to contemplation via organizing educational programs. Precontemplation is where the people owing to their ignorance are

Smoking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Smoking - Essay Example This fact has been firmly established by the more than a hundred years of experience of the consequences of smoking. Concern in society on the implications of smoking has led to public policy towards controlling the decision of the teenagers to start smoking and cessation of smoking strategies in the adult population (Sloan, Smith & Taylor, 2003). Smoking in the United Kingdom The early twentieth century witnessed smoking becoming a mass phenomenon in the United Kingdom, riding on the smoking being the â€Å"in† thing in society. Almost 13 million of the population in the United Kingdom continues as smokers. Estimates suggest that half of the smoking population will have premature deaths, as a consequence of diseases caused by smoking, losing a minimum of eight years in their life span. The prevalence of smoking peaked in the 1940s in men and the 1960s women. Since then there has been a decline in the prevalence in smoking. However, two features stand out in this decline in th e prevalence of smoking in the United Kingdom, with the decline being not so marked among the socio-economic backward classes and among young adults (Edwards, 2004). Smoking surveys in Britain started in 1948 and the prevalence of smoking among men was put at 85%. ... Current estimates suggest that around10 million people continue to smoke in Britain (Cancer Research UK, 2011). Reasons for the Prevalence of Smoking Several key factors have contributed to this decline in the prevalence of smoking to its lowest levels in Britain and demonstrating that Britain has more effectively tackled the smoking menace than many of the other developed countries. The first such key factor is the information campaign against smoking, highlighting the dangers associated with smoking that has been carried out in Britain for several decades (Meikle, 2011). The socio-economic backward classes have been a high risk population for smoking. Reduction in the inequalities in the society in Britain has reduced the proportion of socio-economic backward classes in UK (Alder et al, 2009). Education levels have been rising in Britain. The higher education levels the better the awareness and assimilation of the dangers associated with smoking, which has a negative impact on an i ndividual taking to smoking or continuing to smoke (Bittoun & Browning, 2005). The price of tobacco products has an impact on the prevalence of smoking. The higher the prices of the prices of tobacco products are the lower the levels of smoking. Government action through a taxation policy has kept the prices of tobacco at higher levels (Hayes, 2007). Reasons for Continued Smoking Cigarette smoking starts as an adolescent. These children may look upon smoking as the right way to approach adulthood or they may succumb to peer-pressure and start smoking. Another possible reason for teenagers taking to smoking may be an attempt to demonstrate their rebellion against society. Whatever be

From Fossil Fuels to Renewable Energy Essay Example for Free

From Fossil Fuels to Renewable Energy Essay The gas pump. As of late, it has been the bane of drivers everywhere. With the prices of crude oil skyrocketing combined with the prices at the pump and nearly everywhere else, many people are looking toward renewable energy sources to supplement or replace the use of fossil fuels. This interest in renewable resources has generated new energy policies around the world, has spawned new energy technology and has produced ideas on a different way of living. Adding to the interest is the awareness on humanity’s impact on our environment, there is so much interest that the United States and many other countries have started to explore the option of producing power by the cleanest sources possible. However, it may not be enough. With the threat of oil reserves being used up and the energy crisis unresolved it is imperative that the United States begins to utilize solar, wind, and hydroelectric power in an effort to decrease the dependency on fossil fuels. Many people notice the rising costs of just about everything. The rising costs are due to the rising cost of energy. Nearly everything in our economic system requires energy to create, to ship, to stock, or to provide and the energy costs are passed down to consumers. The price for energy has not been terribly high in the past, but now the price is rising. One look at your electric bill will tell you that energy, however inexpensive it is to make or obtain, does not come cheap; at least, not anymore. The price of fossil fuels, not just in a monetary sense, but in an ecological sense is taking a toll on the country and the world. Acid rain, carbon dioxide and global warming are all consequences of cheap acquisition of energy. Coal supplies a large part of the energy needed to produce power in US and is one of the largest sources of energy in the world (Energy Perspective, Walter Deal 2006), but strip mining ruins the landscape, destroys ecosystems, and when burned causes acid rain. Oil has been this country’s, and the majority of the world, most used form of energy for years. From powering our vehicles and homes to creating lubrications and solvents, its uses are prolific. But we’re are now faced with the possibility of oil supplies becoming scarce, and it has everyone jumping out of their pants to find a better source of energy. Combine this with the fact that the by-product of using oil (carbon dioxide) is practically burning a hole in out atmosphere and we have a doozy of a problem. Enter renewable resources. Why have we not thought of this before? What has kept the US, and indeed the world, from investing in renewable resources much earlier? The answer is technology. The green energy has always been there, but the capabilities to harness the forces were not advanced enough to take advantage of it. Perhaps it still has not reached that level yet but we are getting close. For years, people have used the sun for a variety of things: warming things, lighting torches, burning ants, and to cook. The energy radiated by the sun is phenomenal. In fact, the energy the sun shines onto the earth daily is enough to supply the world’s yearly energy needs (National Geographic, 2008). This energy potential of sunlight was not lost on seventeenth century scientists. In 1873, William Adams and Richard Day found that when selenium was exposed to sunlight it created a low charge of energy, though it could not power anything (US Dept of Energy, 2008). Later on, in 1908 William Bailey invented the solar panel whose design is extremely similar to the solar panels used today. Solar energy technology, while not developed enough to harness the full power potential of sunlight, has been used consistently since the mid-1960’s to power satellites, spacecrafts, electronics, cars and homes through the use Photovoltaic cells (US Department of Energy, 2008). The Photovoltaic cell, which produces electricity when light strikes the cell causing an electron imbalance, has gone through numerous transformations to make the cell as efficient as possible. There are solar plants littered across the country, most notably in Kerma, California where they use the Photovoltaic system to supplement Pacific Gas and Electric’s electric grid during peak power usage (US Dept of Energy, 2008). These cells can be used in homes across the country and the current technology has created a Photovoltaic cell that is more durable, flexible and easily maintained. In addition to Photovoltaic cells, parabolic trough mirrors, parabolic dishes and power towers use mirrors to direct the sunlight to a specific area where it is used to create steam, that steam is then used to create electricity (The Economist, 2008). Now SolarReserve, a development firm partnered with United Technologies and US Renewables Group, has designed a system that will capture and store sunlight for several days. The system is similar to traditional capture of sunlight by using mirrors to direct sunlight to towers where molten salt is kept, usually a collection tower. The salt is heated by the sunlight, which can then be stored or used immediately. Since molten salt is an efficient heat carrier and storage medium, it can create energy on demand or stored for later power production thus solving the problem of power generation during cloudy or stormy days. SolarReserve first demonstrated this technology at their site in Barstow, California and states that the technology is ready to be used for power production on an electrical grid (Wald, New Ways to Store Solar, para. 13). The benefit of this type of solar technology, and other solar power production, is that the fuel source is free. The acquisition of sunlight requires no drilling, no decimation of land and no major disruption of fragile ecosystems. Solar power is also a clean energy source, giving off no emissions in addition to being abundant and renewable. Sunlight also creates another renewable resource. Wind. The power of wind has been harnessed to irrigate, to grind grains, and to produce electricity. Turbines here in America only provide 1% of the electricity consumed, but the potential for the wind industry is huge. Several countries around the world use wind as a portion of their power generation. Denmark, for instance, generates 20% of their energy from wind. Spain has generated 8% of their power from wind and they are expected to raise that number in the next year (Greenpeace, 2008). Early wind turbines were used to grind grain and to bring water to irrigate crops, now the turbines are created to crank out electricity. Wind farms are cropping up everywhere; just recently T. Boon Pickens announced that he was partnering with General Electric to build the world’s largest wind farm in Texas (The Economist, 2008). This partnership comes about due to the suddenly lowered costs of turbine production. Couple that with the fact that, aside from the cost of construction, the generation of the electricity is free and (theoretically) will not go away, you have a deal of a life time. Current turbines have become more reliable than earlier ones; they are easily built and generate power as soon as they are up. Some snags manufacturers of turbines and the electric companies have come up against are the questions of storage, the issue of visual impact or noise pollution, and the effect turbines have on animals. Electric grids have traditionally used alternating current to transfer power to the grid; however, the location of turbines can sometimes be remote places, which can mean that power is lost in the transportation to the grid. The non-traditional idea of using direct current has cropped up, since direct current travels well over long distances and there is less power loss, using direct current grids to transport the power to areas where the energy can be used effectively solves the transportation dilemma (US Department of Energy, 2008). The use of DC instead of AC forces a change in the way power is transported on a grid and although many balk at the idea, Europe has already a similar system in place and plans on extending it to the United Kingdom. The system pushes power to the grid and channels excess power to help push water uphill to Norwegian hydroelectric systems. While wind has been making leaps and bounds in technology and production, the hydroelectric systems in Europe and most of the world have helped power these countries for years. In reality, hydropower has been used for centuries around the world and it had been used in ancient Greece to turn water wheels to grind wheat into flour (US Dept of Energy, 2008). The water wheel is probably the most well known way of producing energy from water, and it was this early application that spawned the idea for current turbines. The amazing thing about water is that it is perpetually recycling itself. It is evaporated into the air from oceans and streams then comes back to the ground to start the process all over again. This process is what makes hydroelectric power so attractive. Unfortunately, although hydroelectric power accounts for one fifth of the world’s power generation and is the cheapest source of energy, the building of dams can displace wildlife and destroy ecosystems. There have been some advances to making dams more eco-friendly though. By building fish ladders and developing aeration techniques, installations can have a minimal impact on wildlife and the environment (National Geographic, 2008). There are even some technologies that are being developed to harness the power from ocean waves. With mechanisms similar to wind turbines, the energy in the ebb and flow of the tides is captured to produce clean energy. Unlike wind energy, tidal energy is constant and easy to predict, which makes â€Å"coordinating the flow of electricity in the grid quite manageable† (Holzman, 2007 para. 7). Tidal turbines are also easier on the eyes. Whereas wind turbines and solar plants may mar a skyline, tidal turbines are generally not visible at all. While you may see commercials and ads touting the beneficial effects of renewable energy going on right now, the generation of clean power is not an immediate process. It is going to take a lot of hard work and a great change in lifestyle to accomplish it. Although there are many companies working hard to provide the technology or the means to produce clean power, consumers can help by investing in green energy. Many utility companies offer a green power program that allows consumers to donate a portion of their power bill to the research and development of clean energy (Environmental Protection Agency, 2008) and consumers can get tax credits for energy efficient home improvements. Although renewable resources such as solar, wind and hydroelectric power may be expensive at the outset, the use of clean energy will pay for itself in terms of environmental impact, and especially its renewability. Because it is not a change that will happen over night, it is important for consumers to remember that they too can assist in investing in the future of renewable resources. By donating a small amount every month through their power company a consumer can help his or her utility company pay for the additional costs that are accrued in using green power and the new technologies to generate green power. If a change is to come, everyone has to be on board and willing to change their lifestyles from the current â€Å"throw away† lifestyle. Change for the better has to come from consumers as well as the pioneers of renewable energy. References The power and the glory: A special report on energy (2008). The Economist, 387(8585), 1-14. Deal, W. (2006, May) Energy Perspectives: Another Look at Fossil Fuels, The Technology Teacher, 65(8), 10-14 Greenpeace: Global Wind Energy Outlook. Retrieved July 2, 2008, from http://www. greenpeace. org/international/press/reports/globalwindenergyoutlook Hydropower: Going With the Flow. Retrieved July 6, 2008, from http://science. nationalgeographic. com/science/environment/alternative-energy/hydropower-profile. html Wald, M (2008, April 15). New Ways to Store Solar Energy for Nighttime and Cloudy Days. The New York Times. Retrieved July 2, 2008, from http://www. nytimes. com/2008/04/15/science/earth/15sola. html? _r=1ref=businessoref=slogin US Department of Energy: Solar Technologies Program. Retrieved July 6, 2008 from http://www1. eere. energy. gov/solar/photovoltaics. html US Department of Energy: Wind Hydropower Technologies Program. Retrieved July 6, 2008 from http://www1. eere. energy. gov/windandhydro/ Holzman, David C. Blue power turning tides into electricity. Environmental Health Perspectives 115. 12 (Dec 2007):

Fitting In :: essays research papers

Fitting in Fitting in is an important part of life because it has almost everything to do with turning out in life. Knowing the right people will directly effect a persons life later on, job wise and high school reunions. Part of fitting in is rejection. This happens because when someone does not reject a particular person then they might be rejected for not rejecting that person. "... waking up in the morning and wondering if anyone would really miss me." this is a thought that might course through someone's mind after being rejected. Most people respond differently, Some people might dress and act totally different just to try to "fit in" that way. Most will just forget about that group or single person. I have often observed that people often times try to find out why that person or group rejected them and try to make it better. Being rejected is like someone saying "You do not fit in with us so leave us alone" its a nasty feeling. Some people let others down easy and that is nice of them. Why is it so hard to fit in? There is so much social pressure now that it is getting harder and harder to "fit in". When I say social pressure I mean how to act, look, sound, walk, and so on. Clothes play a very important role in fitting in with the crowd. People say that a first impression is the most important one so people try to make the best first impression by dressing up or showing someone there not. Some people try to stay in fashion, they do this to stand out or be noticed. A huge role in fitting in is changing or, in other words, being someone you are not. To describe this I think of putting on a mask over your whole body. Some people just spend all day "lying there and thinking about all the stupid things I've done today." Lastly, being liked by other people is what "fitting in" is all about. Like I said before, you change yourself, dramatically sometimes, just to fit in. Changing yourself might include dress, hair, self. Changing yourself might just make it harder to fit in so people just stick to what they have changed themselves since they do not know what else to do. Often people wonder "What if I say this to them, well if I say this then they might not like me. Even though...." Emotional stress can damage a person so much they just do not care anymore. Individuals will do amazing things just to achieve "Fitting in" after

Addiction to Modern Technology Essay

Software for Accountants: From Tax Preparation to Full Service AccountingWhether your business exclusively offers tax preparation services or provides full-spectrum accounting services, it’s important to maintain a profitable investment in software tools that allow you to accurately and efficiently perform your professional services. Typical tools for accountants include client write-up, auditing, tax preparation, payroll, and time and billing modules. Each of these modules are designed with the end-goal of managing 3rd party accounting more effectively and efficiently.Multi-Company AccountingAccounting software designed for the professional accountant offers an advanced set of features beyond what is typically found in standard commercial accounting packages. One critical capability of software designed with the accountant in mind is the ability to handle accounting for numerous corporate entities. Your accounting business may have dozens or even hundreds of clients, whose financial data all needs to be accessed from the same software, yet kept completely separated. Increased security measures and a more complex database structure are two of the ramifications of managing books for multiple companies. Given the amount of data your business may store on clients, it’s important when considering different options, that you consider how the software handles tens of thousands of individual records. Even accountants with few clients can easily exceed the record capabilities of many non-accountant specific systems. See more: Satirical essay about drugs The effects of overloading a system can include reduced performance (freezes, waiting on reports) and even system access issues.An Emphasis on ReportingStrong reporting features are critical for accountants. Accountants are constantly creating reports for clients. If clients can’t understand the reports, there is a major problem. Software designed for accountants typically offers additional report views distilling information into easily understandable formats such as executive reports, charts, and summary statements. Reports also need to be able created on an ad-hoc basis in order to answer questions that clients may have regarding their company’s financial performance. Tax PreparationTax preparation is not straight-forward and simple. If it was, thousands of business likely wouldn’t outsource their tax preparation to accounting firms. The reality is that preparing corporate tax information is a highly complex process. Tax preparation software is designed to make the process easier by keeping updated tax tables, automatically performing complex calculations, and by assisting with electronic filing. No matter where you are or what local, state, provincial, or federal tax regulations apply, there are programs designed to help you quickly and accurately file your clients’ returns.Regulations CompliancePublic accounting firms are also on the front lines of keeping up with the accounting compliance regulations. Understanding FASB, GASB 34, IFRS, DCAA and other regulatory requirements is only part of the battle though for the public accountant. Software controls are constantly evolving to better meet the regulatory requirements of clients in different industries and access to the right tools can make the difference is securing clients with specific compliance requirements.Data Integrity and SecurityData integrity is another area of paramount concern for public accountants. A company doing their own books has an opportunity to reverse entries as errors are discovered. This is not the case with public accountants. The expectation is 100% accurate information the first time around.Software tools for accountants also focus on providing advanced security measures. Clients naturally have concerns about turning their data over to a 3rd party. It’s important for accountants to be able to identify specific measures included in software tools which can prevent fraud or loss of data.http://findaccountingsoftware.com/guide/industry/accounting/| The cloud benefits accountantsThe age of the cloud has made the lives of many accountants much easier. Instead of constantly sending files back and forth, they now can run their desktop accounting software in the cloud and work with clients to manage their accounting. By using accounting and budgeting software in the cloud, accountants don’t have to waste their time backtracking with clients, allowing them to spend more energy on providing they can provide other services such as analyzing their financial data and helping their clients improve their cashflow and profitability.The cloud allows accountants to become an integral part of their clients’ budgeting process, and eventually their business. Often, when a client feels a sense of trust for their accountant, they will begin relying on them for financial advice on other aspects of their business such as additional revenue/services, when it is right to use business credit cards and some of the best practices for successful recordkeeping.http://www.planguru.com/blog/accounting-software-in-the-cloud-b

Movie “The Blind Side” Essay

I have selected the movie; â€Å"The Blind Side†, it is the true story of Michael Oher, a homeless teenager who was able to overcome great obstacles in order to become a first round draft pick in the NFL. Michael Oher had a rough childhood as he didn’t know his father and his mother was addicted to drugs. He was in and out of foster homes and at times living on the street. The football coach at Wingate, a private school, saw football potential in Michael and got him admitted into the prestigious school. However, he had learning disabilities and still did not have a permanent home. Leigh Anne Tuohy, the mother of a Wingate student, and wife of the owner of several Taco Bell restaurants, finds out about Michael’s predicament and invites him to stay the night at their home. Once Michael is in the Tuohy home, a close relationship develops between him and the Tuohys. The one night stay turns into a permanent living situation for Oher. Leigh Anne makes it her personal mission to make sure Michael has everything he needs emotionally and academically to graduate from high school and to get admitted to Ole Miss. After a successful college football campaign, Oher was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round in 2009, thus fulfilling his dream. This movie has it all. As you watch it, you experience the emotions of both sadness and joy, as you watch this young man go from being homeless to being drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft.

Major General George H. Thomas in the American Civil War

Major General George H. Thomas in the American Civil War George Henry Thomas was born July 31, 1816, at Newsoms Depot, VA. Growing up on a plantation, Thomas was one of many who violated the law and taught his familys slaves to read. Two years after his fathers death in 1829, Thomas and his mother led his siblings to safety during Nat Turners bloody slave rebellion. Pursued by Turners men, the Thomas family was forced to abandon their carriage and flee on foot through the woods. Racing through Mill Swamp and the bottomlands of the Nottoway River, the family found safety at the county seat of Jerusalem, VA. Shortly thereafter, Thomas became an assistant to his uncle James Rochelle, the local clerk of court, with the goal of becoming a lawyer. West Point After a short time, Thomas became unhappy with his legal studies and approached Representative John Y. Mason regarding an appointment to West Point.   Though warned by Mason that no student from the district had ever successfully completed the academys course of study, Thomas accepted the appointment. Arriving at age 19, Thomas shared a room with William T. Sherman. Becoming friendly rivals, Thomas soon developed a reputation among the cadets for being deliberate and cool-headed. His class also included future Confederate commander Richard S. Ewell. Graduating 12th in his class, Thomas was commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to the 3rd US Artillery. Early Assignments Dispatched for service in the Second Seminole War in Florida, Thomas arrived at Fort Lauderdale, FL in 1840. Initially serving as infantry, he and his men conducted routine patrols in the area.   His performance in this role earned him a brevet promotion to first lieutenant on November 6, 1841. While in Florida, Thomas commanding officer stated, I never knew him to be late or in a hurry. All his movements were deliberate, his self-possession was supreme, and he received and gave orders with equal serenity. Departing Florida in 1841, Thomas saw subsequent service at New Orleans, Fort Moultrie (Charleston, SC), and Fort McHenry (Baltimore, MD). Mexico With the outbreak of the Mexican-American War in 1846, Thomas served with Major General Zachary Taylors army in northeastern Mexico. After performing admirably at the Battles of Monterrey and Buena Vista, he was brevetted to captain and then major. During the fighting, Thomas served closely with future antagonist Braxton Bragg and earned high praise from Brigadier General John E. Wool. With the conflicts conclusion, Thomas briefly returned to Florida before receiving the post of instructor of artillery at West Point in 1851. Impressing West Points superintendent, Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Lee, Thomas was also given the duties of cavalry instructor. Back to West Point In this role, Thomas earned the lasting nickname Old Slow Trot due to his constant restraining of the cadets from galloping the academys elderly horses. The year after arriving, he married Frances Kellogg, the cousin of a cadet from Troy, NY. During his time at West Point, Thomas instructed Confederate horsemen  J.E.B. Stuart and Fitzhugh Lee as well as voted against reinstating future subordinate John Schofield after his dismissal from West Point. Appointed a major in the 2nd Cavalry in 1855, Thomas was assigned to the Southwest. Serving under Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston and Lee, Thomas combated the Native Americans for the remainder of the decade. On August 26, 1860, he narrowly avoided death when an arrow glanced off his chin and hit his chest. Pulling the arrow out, Thomas had the wound dressed and returned to action. Though painful, it was to be the only wound that he would sustain throughout his long career. The Civil War Returning home on leave, Thomas requested a year-long leave of absence in November 1860. He suffered further when he badly injured his back during a fall from a train platform in Lynchburg, VA. As he recovered, Thomas became concerned as states began leaving the Union after the election of Abraham Lincoln. Turning down Governor John Letchers offer to become Virginias chief of ordnance, Thomas stated that he wished to remain loyal to the United States as long as it was honorable for him to do so. On April 12, the day that the Confederates opened fire on Fort Sumter, he informed his family in Virginia that he intended to remain in federal service. Promptly disowning him, they turned his portrait to face the wall and refused to forward his belongings. Labeling Thomas a turncoat, some Southern commanders, such as Stuart threatened to hang him as a traitor if he was captured. Though he remained loyal, Thomas was hampered by his Virginia roots for the duration of the war as some in the North did not fully trust him and he lacked political backing in Washington. Quickly promoted to lieutenant colonel and then colonel in May 1861, he led a brigade in the Shenandoah Valley and won a minor victory over troops led by Brigadier General Thomas Stonewall Jackson. Building a Reputation In August, with officers like Sherman vouching for him, Thomas was promoted to brigadier general. Posted to the Western Theater, he provided the Union with one its first victories in January 1862, when he defeated Confederate troops under Major General George Crittenden at the Battle of Mill Springs in eastern Kentucky. As his command was part of Major General Don Carlos Buells Army of the Ohio, Thomas was among those who marched to Major General Ulysses S. Grants aid during the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862. Promoted to major general on April 25, Thomas was given command of the Right Wing of Major General Henry Hallecks army. The bulk of this command was made of up of men from Grants Army of the Tennessee. Grant, who had been removed from field command by Halleck, was angered by this and resented Thomas position. While Thomas led this formation during the Siege of Corinth, he rejoined Buells army in June when Grant returned to active service. That fall, when Confederate General Braxton Bragg invaded Kentucky, the Union leadership offered Thomas command of the Army of the Ohio as it felt Buell was too cautious. Supporting Buell, Thomas refused this offer and served as his second-in-command at the Battle of Perryville that October. Though Buell compelled Bragg to retreat, his slow pursuit cost him his job and Major General William Rosecrans was given command on October 24. Serving under Rosecrans, Thomas led the center of the newly named Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Stones River on December 31-January 2. Holding the Union line against Braggs attacks, he prevented a Confederate victory. The Rock of Chickamauga Later that year, Thomas XIV Corps played a key role in Rosecrans Tullahoma Campaign which saw Union troops maneuver Braggs army out of central Tennessee. The campaign culminated with the Battle of Chickamauga that September. Attacking Rosecrans army, Bragg was able to shatter the Union lines. Forming his corps on Horseshoe Ridge and Snodgrass Hill, Thomas mounted a stubborn defense as the rest of the army retreated. Finally retiring after nightfall, the action earned Thomas the nickname The Rock of Chickamauga. Retreating to Chattanooga, Rosecrans army was effectively besieged by the Confederates. Though he did not have good personal relations with Thomas, Grant, now in command of the Western Theater, relieved Rosecrans and gave the Army of the Cumberland to the Virginian. Tasked with holding the city, Thomas did so until Grant arrived with additional troops. Together, the two commanders began driving Bragg back during the Battle of Chattanooga, November 23-25, which culminated with Thomas men capturing Missionary Ridge. With his promotion to Union general-in-chief in the spring of 1864, Grant designated Sherman to lead the armies in the West with orders to capture Atlanta. Remaining in command of the Army of the Cumberland, Thomas troops were one of three armies overseen by Sherman. Fighting a number of battles through the summer, Sherman succeeded in taking the city on September 2. As Sherman prepared for his March to the Sea, Thomas and his men were sent back to Nashville to prevent Confederate General John B. Hood from attacking Union supply lines. Moving with a smaller number of men, Thomas raced to beat Hood to Nashville where Union reinforcements were heading. En route, a detachment of Thomas force defeated Hood at the Battle of Franklin on November 30. Concentrating at Nashville, Thomas hesitated to organize his army, obtain mounts for his cavalry, and wait for ice to melt. Believing Thomas was being too cautious, Grant threatened to relieve him and dispatched Major General John Logan to take command. On December 15, Thomas attacked Hood and won a stunning victory. The victory marked one of the few times during the war that an enemy army was effectively destroyed. Later Life Following the war, Thomas held various military posts across the South. President Andrew Johnson offered him the rank of lieutenant general to be Grants successor, but Thomas declined as he wished to avoid the politics of Washington. Taking command of the Division of the Pacific in 1869, he died at the Presidio of a stroke on March 28, 1870.

Give up willpower this year - Emphasis

Give up willpower this year Give up willpower this year At this time of year, our thoughts inevitably turn to fresh starts and making resolutions for better ways to live and work. If youve pledged to give up cake or make the gym your second home, youre certainly in good company. My friend Philippa is one of many who have declared this Dry January (which I confidently predict will be followed by Wet February – you heard it here first). Or maybe youve decided its your working habits that need to shape up, that this is the year you wont leave writing up reports, emails and proposals to the last minute anymore. Its an issue many of us struggle with, and some to a very dramatic extent. I recently read of a man who always left writing reports until the night before they were due. Well, he did that until he discovered that he could get up at 4am on the actual day he had to submit them and write them then. Clearly, thats no way to live. And definitely not a great route to writing great reports. Being unsure of where to begin your document can lead to a lot of wasted time and (if were honest) procrastination. Too often, we dont start to write until the fear of writing something imperfect gets displaced by the fear of not writing anything at all. Of course, lots of people put off starting that crucial document or critical email for much longer than they might like to admit. The fear factor The trouble is that willpower sometimes just wont cut it. If your brain perceives something to be a threat (the prospect of failure), it will do all it can to avoid that threat until a bigger one (the consequences of not writing anything at all) comes along. Believe me, your willpower is not much of a match for millions of years of evolution. The way to get round this is to trick your brain by still avoiding the threat while doing something that actually moves you closer to finishing. So if writing is the problem, dont write. Plan instead. The art of getting started Most painters sketch out the general outlines of their pictures before putting paint to canvas. This gets all the elements in the right place and then naturally leads them into the act of painting itself. When you take time to plan, you do the same thing with your writing. In fact, planning is doubly useful. Not only does it overcome procrastination, it separates your writing and thinking processes. And that separation will produce much better results. Too many people use the writing process to work out what they think. This is actually dangerous. First, its likely to result in quite a disordered document or email. Second, it fools you into believing that what youve written is logical. More likely is that what youve written is the record of what could be a jumbled thought process – a record that you then inflict on the reader. Map it out There are many ways to plan. Lists are better than nothing. Mind maps are much better, as they are non-linear: they allow you to make connections between ideas that may not have initially occurred to you. But, however you plan, try not to do it on-screen: this will make it difficult to get the necessary perspective. And let’s not forget, your computer is also where all the tempting distractions of the internet lurk. So, instead, use a pen or pencil and a piece of paper. (Yes, paper.) And switch off – or even step away from – your screen if it helps. Since you’re unlikely to beat evolution, you may as well work with it to get the results you want. As well as have the occasional lie-in. Image credit: alphaspirit / Shutterstock

Integrated Marketing Communications Plan for Volkswagen Research Paper

Integrated Marketing Communications Plan for Volkswagen - Research Paper Example The Volkswagen Group is one of the largest car manufacturing companies in the world. With its latest launch â€Å"Polo†, Volkswagen has come out with an innovative ad to attract large number of consumers. The IMC tools used by Volkswagen in the case of Polo have been advertising through both print and electronic media, internet marketing, online banners, direct marketing, etc. Volkswagen’s prime IMC strategies related to the Polo car can be discussed as follows:Advertising is the form of communication which s non-personal and provides information about the services, products and the organization. Volkswagen’s television commercial of the Polo car was to make a new beginning in the small car segment. The company through the ad campaign has tried to differentiate itself from other car makers as its television was made to attract young males while other small car makers are largely targeting females. The advertisement has been used extensively by Volkswagen to creat e awareness about the new Polo car and its unique features which makes it a choice for young males rather than showing females taking their cars for shopping. The ad campaign for the Polo car was on the line of â€Å"Dedicated Followers of No One†. The ad campaign has been used by Volkswagen to target people especially males who like to have their own style rather than keep changing with the trends. Interactive marketing or internet marketing as become the most sought after advertising prospect for the companies. With more and more people using internet the companies are getting more inclined towards internet marketing through which they can target a healthy number of people. Volkswagen has used this medium to extend its reach globally in context to the Polo car. The company has very well used internet marketing by putting ads through online banners on popular social networking sites and other websites. Further a special micro site was created to attract the target market esp ecially the young males. The page of the website was designed as a driving game to give the people excitement of driving a Polo car. Celebrity interviews were also posted on the micro site as a tactic to attract consumers. The interactive marketing was used to further create eagerness amongst the young car lovers. Social Media Volkswagen also used social media strategy in the form of a game based on Marco/Polo. The company promoted the Polo car on a popular social ne