The Impact of NDEs upon Those in the Helping Professions

The Impact of NDEs upon Those in the Helping Professions Initial statement Every day, somewhere, a physician, psychiatrist, counselor, or other helping professional is presented with a case of near-death experience (Greyson, 1991).Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on The Impact of NDEs upon Those in the Helping Professions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A near-death experience (NDE) is defined as a â€Å"profound psychological event that occurs when a person is either close to death or faced with circumstances resulting in physical or emotional crisis† (Greyson, 1991, p.488). Near-death experiences contain a pattern of perceptions, which form a complete, identifiable occurrence or experience (Greyson, 1991). Traditionally, when such persons have been forthcoming about their experiences, they â€Å"have received reactions bordering on catastrophic from healthcare providers, family members, friends, and clergy† (Griffith, 2009, p. 36). According to Eben Alexan der, who wrote about his own brush with death in his book, Proof of Heaven published in 2012, members of the medical community are skeptical to say the least about NDEs.â€Å"Scientists have argued that they (NDEs) are impossible†, the well-educated neurosurgeon writes. Alexander knew that near-death experiences seemed real to some of his patients, but he believed they were â€Å"simply fantasies produced by brains under extreme stress before he had a near-death experience† (2012, p. 34). Additionally, Linda Griffith writes, â€Å"NDEs are reported to affect nearly one-third of individuals having a close brush with death; that is about five percent of the United States population† (2009, p. 39).Advertising Looking for proposal on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With these blaring numbers, caregivers need to acknowledge these events, whether real or imagined in order to address the nee ds of those they serve. Researchers agree that near-death experiences can radically change the attitudes, beliefs, and values of individuals who experience them. Acknowledging these experiences offers to help professionals the chance to serve and satisfy the needs of certain patients and clients in a healing crisis. Though most near-death experiences bring about some spiritual awakening, there is much questioning about the reality of such an experience (Zaleski, 2012). With many Christian theologians, the skepticism is extreme, and the stories of near-death experiences are largely ignored or repudiated. Some consider the whole thing a childish interest, a narcissistic pre-occupation that distracts people from the churchs mission in a hurting world (Galli, 2012). Religious clergy and scholars are not the only ones preoccupied about the validity of near-death experiences and the attention given to the subject. Emotions tend to run high regarding subjects that touch on religious doctri ne or established and widely accepted scientific truths. Statement of the Problem Often, individuals who experience NDEs are immediately faced with dismissal and disapproval when sharing their near-death experiences. Particularly distressing to individuals who experience NDEs is the typical situation where friends, family, and those persons they have close, intimate relationships with treat them in this fashion. As previously mentioned, Dr. Eben Alexander was once a skeptic about NDEs until he miraculously came out of a near-death coma in 2008.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on The Impact of NDEs upon Those in the Helping Professions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He reports that he spent many years â€Å"not getting it†, and after the experience that changed his life perception, he was determined to help those who had a similar story to tell (Wilson, 2013). Helping professionals still fail to consider the effect upon recovery of individuals who experience NDEs, and their resultant adjustment to a major shift in beliefs and values. Raymond A. Moody, a famous investigator of NDEs writes: There is one common element in all near-death experiences: they transform the people who have them. In my twenty years of intense exposure to individuals who have experienced a near-death experience, I have yet to find one who hasn’t had a very deep and positive transformation as a result of his experience (1975, p. 38). Rice speculates, â€Å"Frequently, the first person individuals who experience NDEs speak to after their experience is a nurse, physician, or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)† (2007, p.7). How the people in these positions react to the shared experiences can have a positive influence on individuals who experience NDEs and their recovery as well. Often, the cases of individuals who experience NDEs are given psychiatric attention due to an associated mental disorder. New and highly broadened beliefs may be difficult to discern from the â€Å"hyper-religiosity associated with mania†. With the guidance and education of a highly trained and aware mental health worker, the patient can differentiate between a religious zeal and the strong feelings of elation stemming from a genuine transcendent experience. Steven Rice, Master of Divinity spent many years as a clergy member who worked closely with seriously ill and dying patients. He claims to be a reformed person because of the stories he has listened to about the near-death experiences of many.Advertising Looking for proposal on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In a letter to the editor, in a professional journal, he expresses his thanks to readers for the support of his article, â€Å"Supporting a Patient After a Near-death Experience†. Also in the letter, Rice shares his desire to learn more about how the experience has made a person feel, and what the experience has done for the person. Rice exclaims that terminally ill patients who have experienced NDE are eager to approach their â€Å"impending death or the afterlife, whether or not they consider themselves religious† (2007, p. 8). Apparently, research has focused more on the reality of near-death experiences than it has focused on the after effects of NDEs, the relationships between the NDEs and the influence of attitudes, beliefs, and values of their helping professionals. Thorough research between the relationship of individuals who experience NEDs and their helping professionals (as relates to adjusting to life after a NDE) is an area worthy of study. Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study is to explore the impact and role of the acceptance of NDEs among those in the helping professions concerning the quality of the care they provide to those seeking their care. Research Question What impact do the attitudes, beliefs, and values of helping professionals about near-death experiences make in the care they provide for individuals who have experienced NDEs? Significance of the Study Despite many research attempts conducted concerning NDEs and their beliefs and values, minimal study has been directed concerning the beliefs and values towards NDEs in non-NDE populations. â€Å"There appears to be a correlation between knowledge of NDEs and attitudes toward them. People with a great knowledge of NDEs, tend to have positive attitude towards individuals suffering from NDEs† (KetznebergerKeim, 2001, p. 227). Individuals who have experienced NEDs may face unique issues, which need to be addressed. With the incidence of NDEs increasing from t he early 1970’s due to advancements in modern medicine, healthcare and mental health providers need to factor in the reality of the occurrence of NDEs in their education and training (Wilson, 2013). The importance of the study is to show effects of mis-diagnosis, and or discounted problematic issues of NDEs by those in the helping professionals in relation to the significance of validating their experiences, and being well prepared for treatment on behalf of those seeking recovery or help after a near-death experience. Literature Review This literature review will explore attitudes, values, and beliefs and how they affect the quality of services that caregivers offer to patients suffering from near-death experiences. The review will use behavioral theory as the theoretical framework. Theoretical Framework Behavioral theory will be used as the theoretical lens for this study. Behavioral theory states â€Å"cultural and sub-cultural conditioning moulds and shapes behavior and subsequently the personality† (Sikazwe, 2009, p. 2). Using the behavioral theory, the literature review will analyze the beliefs, attitudes, and values of therapists and relate them to how they conduct themselves when dealing with NDErs. Duffy and Olson (2007) give a clear and accurate meaning to the importance of understanding a patient after a traumatic NDE. They state that health care professionals should know how to respond when a patient reluctantly begins to speak of the experience. It is crucial for a therapeutic environment of trust to be established so the patient can express the meaning of the experience. Being nonjudgmental and employing active listening are crucial aspects of helping a patient after a near-death experience (Duffy Olson, 2007). Sadly, NDEs are frequently mis-diagnosed or ignored, and individuals who encounter NDEs are left to sort their experiences out on their own, sometimes with little or no support from friends, family, or spouses. Often associat ed with NDEs are issues such as marital conflicts, identity crises in areas of work, religion, depression, family difficulties, and adjustment disorders (Moody, 1975). For an example, it is estimated that over half of marriages where one partner has experienced an NDE ends in divorce (Christian, 2005). Attitudes, beliefs, and values of helping professionals about near-death experiences significantly affect the quality of the services they extend to individuals who have experienced NDEs. At times, the professionals impose their interpretations of beliefs about the experience on the patient. Rather than relying on the understanding and account of the individuals who experience NDEs, the professionals act out of their judgments or preconceptions. Griffith (2009) suggests that caregivers, at times, fail to acknowledge the NDE as a tremendously important tool for transformation. They overlook the insightful possibility of experience to initiate both positive and negative transformations in beliefs, personality, and physiological functions. Most of the times helping professionals have prejudices against NDE individuals. This leads to the caregivers labeling both the NDE and the patient with a medical verdict based on their understanding. This, in return, leads to the professionals alienating those who have experienced NDE instead of helping them. Ketzneberger and Keim maintain, â€Å"When an individual who experiences NDEs meets diagnostic criteria for treatable condition, the patient, and the caregiver need to know that the diagnosis is autonomous of and unassociated to the NDE itself† (2001, p. 229). Normally, caregivers are unable to establish a therapeutic relationship with individuals who experience NDEs due to dishonesty. They disrespectfully express their reservations to the experience discounting the individual’s attitude. They, at times, go to the extent of revealing the contents or existence of the near-death experience without the individual ’s consent (KetznebergerKeim, 2001). This discourages the near-death experience individual from sharing their emotions with the caregivers, therefore, affecting their recovery process. Deep emotions characterize the near-death experiences. Therefore, individuals who have experienced them normally have strong feelings that they need to vent, share, or explore. Failure to respond to their feelings, descriptions, and interpretations hampers the ability to reveal hard-to-describe experiences. In addition, it intensifies the individual’s fear of being ridiculed or misunderstood (Duffy Olson, 2007). Insensitive behavior or comments ruin the resuscitation efforts of the NDE individuals (Wilson, 2013). Wilson says, â€Å"Patients who appear unconscious may be aware of their surroundings, and may later recall behavior that is callous or offensive† (2013, p. 2b). At times, caregivers engage in insensitive behavior or say insensitive opinions during the resuscitation proc ess. This leads to the individual’s struggle to resolve issues with startling memories in their future. The prejudice that a majority of the caregivers have towards the individual makes it hard for them to maintain human contact with individuals recovering from NDE. Consequently, it is likely that they fail to help the patient regain bodily consciousness through physical and verbal orientation. Duffy and Olson (2007) make recommendations on how the professionals can work on their attitudes, beliefs, and values, therefore, offering quality care to patients recovering from NDEs. They suggest that every professional ought to establish a rapport with the victim and to create opportunities that can persuade the individual to share their experiences. The way the professionals communicate or conduct themselves when talking about the NDE experience shows their willingness to help the patient (Duffy Olson, 2007). Duffy and Olson (2007) even recommend the rotation of listeners in hosp ital units as a way to avoid burnout. At times, caregivers lack the patience to listen to the NDE individual. This leaves the patients with no option but to keep the experience to themselves, which affects their recuperation process. Helping professionals need to distinguish between their expectations, and those of their patients to work effectively with individuals who have had the near-death experience (Griffith, 2009). Caregivers need to have a clear understanding of the help that patients with a near-death experience require from them, and let the patients know about their expectations too. At times, caregivers fail to consider the individual’s level of functioning and personality before their near-death experience (Griffith, 2009). Therefore, they end up not addressing the challenges that a near-death experience poses to the patient. In its place, therapists strive to address the existing aspects of patients’ mental health problems caused by other sources. Eventua lly, it boils down to conflicting goals or interests. As therapists attempt to help the patient cope with psychological and behavioral challenges, they end up increasing the patient’s NDE-related distress. To address this challenge, caregivers need to address only the near-death-related challenges and refer all the other issues to a different therapist (Griffith, 2009). Conclusion Attitudes, beliefs, and values of helping professionals about near-death experiences significantly affect the quality of the services they extend to individuals who have experienced NDEs. In most cases, caring professionals use their interpretation of NDE to treat patients suffering from NDEs. Besides, they at times make insensitive comments, which interrupt the patient’s capacity to resuscitate. The prejudice the caregivers have towards NDErs deters them from establishing personal contact with patients. To add to the existing literature, this study will conduct a research on patients recover ing from NDEs. The study will seek to understand how attitudes, values and beliefs of caregivers affect the quality of services given to individuals suffering from near-death experiences. References Alexander, E. (2012). Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeons Journey Into The Afterlife (Vol. 1). New York, NY: Simon Schuster, Inc. Christian, S. (2005). Marital Satisfaction and Stability Following a Near-death Experience of One of the Marital Partners. Web. Duffy, N. Olson, M. (2007). Supporting a patient after a near-death experience. Nursing, 37(4), 46-48. Galli, M. (2012). Incredible journeys. Christianity Today, 56(11), 24-30. Greyson, B. (1991). Near-death experiences and systems theories: A biosociological approach to mystical states. Journal of Mind and Behavior, 12(4), 487-508. Griffith, L. (2009). Near-death experiences and psychotherapy. Psychiatry MMC, 6(10), 35-42. Ketzneberger, K. Keim, G. (2001). The near-death experience: knowledge and attitudes of college students. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 19(4), 227-232. Linzmeier, B. M. (n.d.). Attitudes toward near-death experiences. In Near Death Experience Research Foundation (NDERF). Retrieved Moody, R. (1975). Life After Life. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc. Moore, R. (2013, January 20). Donate to the NDE medical training video. In International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS). Retrieved Rice, S. (2007). Letters: insights on near-death memories. Nursing, 37(6), 8. What is a near-death experience? (2011, February 5). In International Association for Near-Death Studies. Web. Sikazwe, H. (2009). Behavioral theories and the impact on human interactions: A compilation of articles, essays and discourses around the world. Web. Wilson, C. (2013). Publishers in seventh heaven over near-death memoirs. United Methodist Reporter, 159(42), 2b. Zaleski, C. (2013). Visions of heaven. Christian Century Journal, 130(1), 6.

Definition and Examples of Semantic Narrowing

Definition and Examples of Semantic Narrowing Semantic narrowing is a type of semantic change  by which the meaning  of a word becomes less general or inclusive than its earlier meaning. Also known as specialization  or restriction. The opposite process is called broadening or semantic generalization. Such specialization is slow and need not be complete, notes linguist Tom McArthur. For example, the word fowl is now usually restricted to the farmyard hen, but it retains its old meaning of bird in expressions like the fowls of the air and wild fowl (Oxford Companion to the English Language, 1992). Examples and Observations Narrowing of meaning . . . happens when a word with a general meaning is by degrees applied to something much more specific. The word litter, for example, meant originally (before 1300) a bed, then gradually narrowed down to bedding, then to animals on a bedding of straw, and finally to things scattered about, odds and ends. . . . Other examples of specialization are deer, which originally had the general meaning animal, girl, which meant originally a young person, and meat, whose original meaning was food.(Sol Steinmetz, Semantic Antics: How and Why Words Change Meanings. Random House, 2008)Hound and IndigenousWe say that narrowing takes place when a word comes to refer to only part of the original meaning. The history of the word hound in English neatly illustrates this process. The word was originally pronounced hund in English, and it was the generic word for any kind of dog at all. This original meaning is retained, for example, in German, where the word Hund simply means dog. O ver the centuries, however, the meaning of hund in English has become restricted to just those dogs used to chase game in the hunt, such as beagles. . . .Words may come to be associated with particular contexts, which is another type of narrowing. One example of this is the word indigenous, which when applied to people means especially the inhabitants of a country which has been colonized, not original inhabitants more generally.(Terry Crowley and Claire Bowern, An Introduction to Historical Linguistics, 4th ed. Oxford University Press, 2010) Meat and ArtIn Old English, mete referred to food in general (a sense which is retained in sweetmeat); today, it refers to only one kind of food (meat). Art originally had some very general meanings, mostly connected to skill; today, it refers just to certain kinds of skill, chiefly in relation to aesthetic skill - the arts.(David Crystal, How Language Works. Overlook, 2006)StarveModern English starve means to die of hunger (or often to be extremely hungry; and dialectally, to be very cold), while its Old English ancestor steorfan meant more generally to die.​(April M. S. McMahon, Understanding Language Change. Cambridge University Press, 1994)Sand[M]any Old English words acquired narrower, more specific meanings in ME as a direct result of loans from other languages. . . . OE sand had meant either sand or shore. When Low German shore was borrowed to refer to the land itself along a body of water, sand narrowed to mean only the granular particles of disintegrated rock that cov ered this land.(C.M. Millward and Mary Hayes, A Biography of the English Language, 3rd ed. Wadsworth, 2012) Wife, Vulgar, and NaughtyThe Old English version of the word wife  could be used to refer to any woman but has narrowed in its application nowadays to only married women. A different kind of narrowing  can lead to a negative meaning  [pejoration] for some words, such as vulgar (which used to mean simply ordinary) and naughty (which used to mean having nothing).None of these changes happened overnight. They were gradual and probably difficult to discern while they were in progress.(George Yule, The Study of Language, 4th ed. Cambridge University Press, 2010)Accident and FowlAccident means an unintended injurious or disastrous event. Its original meaning was just any event, especially one that was unforeseen. . . . Fowl in Old English referred to any bird. Subsequently, the meaning of this word was narrowed to a bird raised for food, or a wild bird hunted for sport.​(Francis Katamba, English Words: Structure, History, Usage. Routledge, 2004)

Discussion and Respond Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Discussion and Respond - Dissertation Example 2. Response to ‘HC Jobs, How should you Flex?’ Communication is I believe key to working with a wide variety of healthcare professionals and situations. Why I have picked communication as a focal point despite the presence of more complex issues like variable medical beliefs, culturally different expectations and different approaches adopted. This reason is because communication lies at the root of all these other problems. Through effective communication not only can different health professionals compare techniques, discuss medical practices, ask questions but also it aids to resolve complex issues of employee management. 3. Response to Tannenbaum and Schmidt Delegation cannot be categorized as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ but the need for it various from situation to situation and depends on the management style of a leader. Generally it is a key aspect of a managers job as he himself cannot perform all tasks which are assigned to him in a specified time line. In order to meet deadlines a manager needs to delegate authority, which incorporates a division of authority and powers to a subordinate for the purpose to achieving effective results.

Fiancial Information for managers Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Fiancial Information for managers - Coursework Example The four financial statements are the income statement, balance sheet, the statement of retained earnings, and the statement of cash flow. The purpose of this paper is analyze and describe how managers can utilize ratio analysis to analyze the financial results of an enterprise. Managers can utilize the data contained in the financial statements to perform analysis of the financial state of the company. A technique that can be used by managers to analyze the financial performance of a corporation is ratio analysis. Ratio analysis involves using financial formulas that utilize whose inputs are data retrieved from the financial statements of the company. There are different categories of financial ratios. Two of those categories are liquidity, profitability, and financial leverage ratios. In order to illustrate the value of ratio analysis this paper includes a ratio analysis of Marney Ltd. Appendix A shows financial ratios corresponding to the fiscal years 2008 and 2009. The ratios that are included in the analysis are gross profit margin, operating profit margin, current ratio, acid test ratios, average sales period, and average settlement period for account receivables. The gross margin of a company is calculated by dividing net profit by sales (net income / sales). Managers should seek a high gross margin metric. Firms that have low gross margin are not attractive common stock investments because its profitability is poor and the firm may run the danger of ending up with negative net margins. Gross margin is considered a ratio of broad profitability (Garrison & Noreen, 2003). The gross margin of Marney Ltd in 2008 was 46.3%. The gross margin figure of the company is good. In the following year the gross margin of the company was 41.4%. The movement in gross margin of the company from one year to the other was a reduction in gross margin of 4.9%. A reduction in gross margin is a bad sign. The reduction in gross margin could have occurred due to higher

Pressure Care Essay Example for Free

Pressure Care Essay After reading Mrs Fs care plan, it states that she prefers a female care staff to assist her with any daily living needs she requires. Mrs F has no specific preference to how she is moved, and is able to move with the support of one care staff. I also check Mrs Fs Norton Scale risk assessment which states that she is at high risk of pressure area breakdown, and therefore it is essential I check to see if she has any pressure breakdowns. Upon entering the room, I assist Mrs F will putting in her hearing aid, ensuring it is on the correct setting and volume. Once Mrs F can hear me, I ask her if she is ready to move, to which she replies she is. I explain the Mrs F that I am going to help her stand up from the bed, and take her into the bathroom, for her to use the facilities and to get washed and dressed, to which she agrees to. I inform Mrs F that I will return shortly, as I need to put on PPE. I walk to the bathroom and thoroughly wash and dry my hands. This is important as it reduces the risk of cross infection. Cross infection is the transferring of harmful bacteria from one person, object or place to another. Transferring of bacteria can be done by human contact, bodily fluids or food. I then apply gloves and an apron, and go back to Mrs Fs room. As I walk through her room, I assess the environment to see if there are any obstacles which may prevent Mrs F from standing up correctly, and walking to the bathroom without any risks or hazards. As I walk through her room, I move her over-the-bed table to one side of the room, as this could pose a hazard for Mrs F. After assessing the rest of the room, I feel it is now safe to move Mrs F. As Mrs F is still laying in bed at this point, I have two movements to do. One is to get her from laying down, to sitting up, and the other to standing up. I ask Mrs F is she could roll towards me, but not too far as she would fall out the bed. I then ask Mrs F to swing her legs over the side of the bed, then to push up with her hands, allowing her to be in a sitting up position. Mrs F does so, and I give her some time to regain her balance. I then ask Mrs F if she is ready to stand up, to which she is. I put on Mrs Fs slippers as this reduces the risk of her feet slipping on the floor. I then ask Mrs F to place both hands by either side of her on the bed. I then place my own hand on the bottom of her back, providing support and balance for when she stands. I ask Mrs F to push down with her hands, in order to stand up. As Mrs F is pushing down with her hands, I gently push Mrs F to give her extra support, and keep my hand there to provide balance in case she falls back onto the bed. Mrs F then puts her hands on the zimmer frame, and I ask her if she has got her balance, to which she has. I then move my hand from the bottom of Mrs Fs back. I walk with Mrs F to her wardrobe and ask her what she would like to wear today. After Mrs F has chosen her clothes, I then take her into the bathroom. I help Mrs F to sit on the toilet, and stand outside the bathroom whilst she uses the facilities. Once Mrs F has finished, I then re-enter the bathroom, I remove the incontinence pad and put it to one-side and start running the water into the sink. I ask Mrs F if she would prefer to use soap or shower gel. Mrs F chooses soap. After filling the sink, I put soap and water on the flannel and hand it to Mrs F to wash her face. Mrs F then dries her face. I then assist Mrs F with removing her nightdress, and place a towel round her to maintain Mrs Fs dignity. Due to Mrs F being at high risk of pressure area breakdown, I ask her if she minds me checking areas for any signs on redness or breakdown. Mrs F agrees. I check Mrs Fs shoulders and elbows; there are no red marks or breakdown areas. I then hand Mrs F the flannel once again, and ask her to wash her front. After this, Mrs F asks me to assist her with washing her back, which I do. I ask Mrs F if she would like talcum powder on, which she does. I place some talcum powder in Mrs Fs hands, and she applies it where she would like it. I then ask Mrs F if she would like any on her back, which she would. I then assist Mrs F will putting on her vest. However, as Mrs F puts on her vest, she knocks out her hearing aid. I assist Mrs F with putting it back in, but it doesnt work. I change the settings and volume, but Mrs F is still unable to hear me. I change the batteries, which still doesnt resolve the problem. I know have to interpret actions in order to finish assisting Mrs F with washing and dressing. Once Mrs Fs vest is on, I move my hands in an upwards motion, to signify standing up. As Mrs F has a raised toilet seat with arms, I point to the arms of the seat signifying Mrs F to place her hands on the arms of the seat, and once again, I will place my hand at the bottom of her back, to help her stand. As I need to permission of Mrs F to check her hips and buttocks for pressure area breakdown, I write down on a piece of paper can I check if you have any red marks? However, Mrs F finds it difficult to read what is on the paper. As Mrs F doesnt know where her glasses are, I move the paper backwards and forwards in the hope of Mrs F being able to focus. Although Mrs F cant read it properly, she deciphers that the paper says can I look. Mrs F then states that I can check whatever I need to. After checking these areas, again, there are no signs of redness or pressure breakdown. I hand Mrs F the flannel, for her to wash herself underneath. I then handed Mrs F the towel for her to dry herself. Once Mrs F was dry, I sit her back down onto the toilet to assist her to finish getting dressed. I assist Mrs F with putting on her underwear and incontinence pad. I also put on her trousers. As Mrs F has stated that I can check what I need to, I check Mrs Fs heels and there is no sign of redness or pressure breakdown. I then put on Mrs Fs slippers. Before standing Mrs F up, I help her put on the top she has chosen. Once Mrs F is ready, I once again go through with Mrs F how we are going to stand her up. I count to three, and I help her stand up. Once stood up, Mrs F pulls up her underwear and trousers. Once her underwear and trousers are pulled up, I hand Mrs F her comb in order for her to brush her hair. I place my hand at the bottom of her back to help her keep her balance whilst she brushes her hair. Once Mrs Fs hair is brushed. I lead her out of the bathroom, and ask her if she is ready for breakfast, to which she is. I sit Mrs F down in her room whilst I dispose of my apron and gloves, the incontinence pad and any dirty washing from the room. I leave the room, and go to the bathroom, where I dispose of the incontinence pad into a yellow clinical bin. I then take the dirty clothes to the laundry and place them in the correctly coloured bin, which are red for towels and flannels, white for underwear and light garments and blue for dark garments. I then go back to the bathroom, and remove my gloves and apron, disposing of them in the yellow clinical bin. I then go over to the sink and thoroughly wash and dry my hands. After doing this, I go back to Mrs Fs room and signify to Mrs F the motions of eating and drinking, symbolising breakfast. Mrs F understands this motion and says she would love a cup of tea and something to eat. I repeat the routine for the benefit of Mrs F in respect placing her hands on the arms of the chair, to help her stand up I place my hand on the bottom of her back, to assist her standing. Once standing, I guide Mrs F out of her room, and sit her down at the breakfast table.

Eurasian Hedgehog :: essays research papers

CONTEXT AND CONTENT. Order Insectivora, family Erinacediae, genus Erinaceus, phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, subclass Theria, intraclass Eutheria. DIAGNOSIS. Erinaceus europaeus can be distinguished from other hedgehogs by spines and its size. The spines average about 1 inch in length (Grolier 1972). The quills are set in transverse bands, which vary in color. It has approximately 5000 spines (Feldhamer et al. 1999). Erinaceus europaeus is about 7 to 10 inches (17.5-25.4 cm). GENERAL CHARACTERS. E. europaeus males are 10  ¨Ãƒ ¹ inches long. The female averages  ¨Ãƒ º inches smaller. They average 10-12 inches including the tail. The length of the tail is 1 inch. The tail consists of 12 vertebrae (Beddard 1902). Also, the tail is thin, cylindrical, and naked or scantily haired. The weight of both males and females can get up to 2  ¨Ãƒ ¸ lbs. (Burton and Burton 1969) or 400-1100 grams (Grzimek 1968). HRL is 13.5-30 cm and TL is 1-5 cm (Grzimek 1968). The height of the shoulders is 5-6 inches.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The quills covering the back and the top of the head are  ¨Ãƒ º-1 inch in length. Each spine is set at an angle to the skin. They are set in transverse bands, which vary in color from base to tip depending on the various zones of the body. Some of the spines have a yellowish-gray color. The spines do not have grooves. The rest of the body is covered with coarse hair. This area is light brown (Grolier 1972).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All of the four feet have five clawed toes. There are 5 pads on the sole. E. europaeus walk on the sole of their feet.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are 14 or 15 ribs in E. europaeus the also do not have a caecum. DISTRIBUTION. Erinaceus europaeus occurs throughout Europe and Northern Asia. In Asia, it goes as far north as the limits of the deciduous forests. They live in burrows, which are often dug in a bank or stump. FORM AND FUNCTION. On the back and top of the head, E. europaeus has sharp spines. On the bottom of the body, legs, and tail is a coarse fur coat.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  They have rounded bodies and are squat. The muzzle is sharp and comes to a point. The eyes are roundish and broader than they are long. The ears are small and round, which barely project beyond the hair and spines. Both the eyes and the ears are well developed. The sight seems to be poor, but smell and hearing are acute.

A Study of the Badu Mangrove Community Essay

Abstract A investigation took place at a large mangrove community called the ‘Badu Mangroves’. The interactions of organisms and the Badu Mangrove ecosystem were observed. While experiments were carried out to determine the abiotic ( e.g. temperature, humidity, soil pH ) and biotic ( e.g. number of seedlings distributed throughout a certain area, adaptations of animals ) features in the Badu Mangrove community. Aim The aim of this report was to explore the abiotic and biotic features concerning the growth and placement of grey mangroves (Avicennia Marina ) in the Badu Mangrove community at Sydney Olympic Park. The surface area of the Badu Mangroves is approximately 38 hectares, its location is Latitude: 33Ëš51’48.7†³S Longitude: 151Ëš04’32.07†³E Factors that influence the mangroves’ lifestyle were also investigated. Method Abiotic factors The air and water temperature of the Mangrove site was measured by using a thermometer. A thermometer was obtained and it was held in the air for a few minutes until the reading became stable. The temperature was then recorded. When measuring humidity, a psychrometer was used, along with a information chart. The psychrometer contained a wet bulb which measured the wet temperature while the normal thermometer on the psychrometer measured the air temperature. The dry temperature was subtracted from the wet temperature. The result of this subtraction was then interpreted by using a table and this determined the humidity. The light was measured in a spot where there were vegetation which had leaves and long trunks. This was done to observe how much light could penetrate through the vegetation. A light meter was obtained and it was turned face down in a spot were there was moderate light to ensure a fair result. The light meter then showed the light intensity in units of flux. The results were recorded. Wind velocity was recorded by using a wind meter. The meter was placed high up in the air to prevent and sources that could generate or block wind movement. The reading produced on the meter was recorded. A sample of water was taken from a creek. A thermometer was then obtained and placed immediately into the water to prevent any heat loss or transfer of heat from the water. The thermometer was left there until a reading was steady and the temperature was recorded. Turbidity was measured by using a turbidity tube. This tube measures the cloudiness of the water. The sample of creek water was obtained and it was placed into the tube until the lines at the bottom of the tube was no longer visible. The reading of the water level was then recorded, it was interpreted by using a table which determines the turbidity of the water, the units were recorded in NTU ( Nephelometric Turbidity Unit ) The amount of dissolved oxygen in the water was measured by using an Aqua dissolved energy meter. The wire which connected the measuring tube was placed into the water until there was an even reading, the results were recorded. The units of dissolved oxygen were measured in ppM ( parts per million ) . The salinity of the water was measured by using a WP-83 conductivity salinity meter. The wire which connected the measuring tube was placed into the water until there was an even reading, the results were recorded. The units of the salinity was measured in ppK ( parts per thousand). The pH of the soil was measured through the use of a universal indicator. A  small sample of soil was taken and it was placed in a small petri dish, barium sulfate was then added to the soil and then the universal indicator was then added. The colour observed was then interpreted by using a colour pH chart, where the colour observed is matched with the colours on the pH. The pH was then recorded. A soil thermometer was obtained to measure the soil temperature. The apparatus had a metal needle which was placed 5cms into the ground. The apparatus was allowed to stay there for a few minutes until a stable reading was seen on the thermometer. The temperature was then recorded. Soil moisture was measured by using a moisture meter. The meter had a metal needle which was placed 5cms into the ground. The meter was allowed to stay there for a few minutes until a stable reading was seen on the meter. The scaled used were on a scale of 1-10. 1 being the driest and 10 being the wettest. Biotic Factors At the boardwalk. Ten quadrats were randomly placed along the side of the boardwalk. The number of mangroves seedlings and crabholes were counted and recorded. Along the boardwalk, some mangroves and pneumatophores were observed. The underneath of a mangrove leaf was licked. The taste was recorded. Then a pneumatophore was obtained, it as plugged into a pipette. The pipette was then placed into a plastic cup filled with water. The air in the pipette was squeezed and the observations were recorded. A ruler was used to measure the height of pneumatophores at intervals of one metre, when the distance reached ten metres measuring was stopped. The pneumatophores were measured first from the creek and it was then measure on outwards till the distance reached ten metres. This was done to prove if  pneumatophores are longer near creeks and they start to get short as they grow further from the creek. Transect At the FSC Bund there were ten metre intervals which were marked out by poles. At each of these intervals, the height of the mangroves were estimated and sketched out as a transect. This was done until eighty-metres of mangrove forests were covered. Observations of flora and fauna were also noted down. Results Abiotic factors (Air, water and soil factors) Factor Mangrove Forest (10:00am) Dry Forest (1:00pm) Air temperature 26.5ËšC 34ËšC Humidity 64.5% 42% Light Intensity 3300 lux 2710 lux Wind Velocity 0.0m/s 0.5m/s Water Temperature 23.4ËšC n/a Turbidity 40 NTU n/a Dissolved oxygen 33.8 ppm n/a pH (Water) 7 n/a Salinity 23.7 ppk n/a pH (Soil) 6 5.5 Soil Temperature 20ËšC 22ËšC Soil Moisture Wet – 10 Dry – 1 Biotic Factors (Abundance) Quadrats of Mangrove Seedlings and Crab Holes (11:00am) Quadrat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Distance from Creek (m) 25 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Number of seedlings 52 72 38 58 29 36 19 38 1 0 Number of crab holes 0 0 0 0 4 7 13 13 3 25 Biotic Factors (Adaptation) Mangrove Leaf: When the mangrove was licked, it tasted salty. Pneumatophores: When the pipette was squeezed little, tiny air bubbles started to come out from the little lenticals on the surface of the pneumatophore.. Do pneumatophores grow longer as they reach the creek? Distance from Creek (m) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pneumatophore 1 (cm) 31 24 21 21 13 10 13 7 10 7 5 Pneumatophore 2 (cm) 28 16 12 19 10 8 11 7 7 5 7 Transect Discussion Abiotic Factors The places which contained more light had more flora growing there, because the light allows photosynthesis, while the spots where light couldn’t penetrate to the forest floor due to the overhead leaves blocking the sunlight out there were little vegetation growing. This shows that vegetation grow more efficiently in spots that allow photosynthesis to occur. Spots that were more humid made no difference to the placement of mangroves. The spots that have more leaves and less sunlight seems to effect the humidity levels. The mangroves and its leaves acts as a cover to stop all the water vapour from evaporating, while in spots that had less leaves and cover they were less humid. Wind speed could be affected the mangroves act as a barrier and they block all the wind from travelling efficiently throughout the forest, while in places were there were less trees there was a big difference in wind speed. Soil Temperature and Soil Moisture is affected by how close the site is to a water source. In the mangrove forest, the soil temperature is lower because the sunlight is blocked from heating up the soil, and the forest is very close to a creek which could cool down the soil. While in the Dry Forest the soil temperature is higher because it has a direct contact with the sunlight and is no where near a water source. This call also affect the distribution of flora because some vegetations need to have water to grow. This could be affected by the temperature the day before, so this could alter the results into the wrong direction. To improve this we have to find a day  which as a moderate temperature so we can try our best to find the closest possible results. pH of the Soil and Water can effect how the distribution of vegetation occurs. Some plants need a specific pH to live and thrive, if it is to acidic or alkalic the plant will die off. So the pH of Soil and Water is a very important thing concerning the growth of vegetation. Some errors of this experiment is that the soil seemed to be alkalic but with the past tests the soil was neutral so this must have been an error. To improve this it is a good idea to use a good quality indicator that allows us to have an accurate result everytime. Biotic Factors The results of the Mangrove Seedlings shows that in quadrat ten there is no mangrove seedlings while in quadrat two there are seventy-two mangrove seedlings. The tenth quadrat is the closest to the river while the second quadrat is 72 metres away from the quadrat. This relation shows the mangrove seedlings only thrive when they are far away fro the river. This means that mangrove seedlings grow away from the river because the tide is too strong and they don’t have time to root themselves down and be stable. The nutrients found on the soil could be washed away by the current and leaving the seedlings close to the creek without a source of food and they will soon die off, while when they grow farther away from the creek there is no current to wash away the nutrients. In quadrats one to four there are zero Crab Holes while in quadrat ten there are twenty-five crab holes, and once again quadrat ten is the closest to the river. This suggests that the crabs like to be closer to the creek because their food source is there, they eat decaying matter called detritus which is decaying mangrove leaves, they are deposited on the mud flats as the tide pushes it out. Also a possibility is that the crab like the water and it helps them cool down. Quadrat nine is underwater so we are forced to make an estimate the could alter the results. The transect drawn shows that the mangrove grew higher and bigger when the were close to a source of water. Then they started to grow shorter. This information shows that mangroves will live better and grow bigger and taller near the water. This could be used to explain that mangroves need water to thrive, and as the mangroves distant themselves from a water source they will not be able to grow. The water source observed seemed to be the end of the a river, so when the tide comes in they bring in lots of nutrients and many seedlings that have been washed away before. At this point the mangroves closest to the water can use this to their advantage because the can take up all the nutrients and not share it with the other trees, and the nutrients cannot be transported to the other trees because there is no water current. Also the washed away seedlings have a second chance to root themselves down and grow. The Mangrove Leaf which had a salty taste under its leaf is an adaption used by the mangroves. The mangroves live in a salty environment so they have to find ways to exert this unneeded salt. The salt can be removed from the mangrove by the tree sweating out the unneeded salt through under it leaves. Pneumatophores are little sticks that stick out of the ground, these are the roots of the tree. The pneumatophores sucks in oxygen through its tiny lenticals and transfers it throughout the plant. This was proven through the pipette experiment, as tiny air bubbles show that air can be transferred. This is useful because when there is a flood and oxygen is not allowed to the roots of the mangrove the pneumatophores can come in handy as they stick out of the water and take in all the oxygen. Pneumatophores can also act as a filter, they can filter out unneeded salts. Do pneumatophores grow longer as they reach the creek? As the pneumatophores travel further away from the creek there size decreases in height. This happens because the pneumatophores has to be higher than the depth of the water because it needs to suck in the oxygen available and if its under the  water it is useless. As the height of the water decreases as it moves out from the creek the height of the pneumatophores also decreases. There are some examples of commensalism in the Badu Mangrove community. A dew drop spider and a golden orbweavers are an example of commensalism. A dew drop spider lives in the golden orbweavers nest without the orbweaver realising it, because the dew drop spider is very tiny and looks like a normal dew drop hence the name. The dewdrop is the commensal because it uses the host’s ( golden orbweaver) nest and eats the food collected by the orbweaver and doesn’t harm the orbweaver in any way. An example of mutualism in the Badu Mangrove community is lichen which consists of algae and fungi. The algae produces photosynthesis while the fungi provides a place to live. An example of allelopathy is the casuarina (she-oak). It produces chemicals in the soil which are poisonous to other plants and this prevents anything from growing near it, also it has stem and leaves which give off these aromas that detract plants from growing near it. This allows the casuarina to nutrients to itself. Conclusion It can be concluded that the biotic and abiotic features of an ecosystem can effect distribution and population of organisms such as mangroves because they determine where they live and where they cannot live. The biotic and abiotic features of an ecosystem is very important to the many species that depend on it, if it is removed it can cause a chain of detrimental effects.

Chris Peterson at DSS Consulting Essay

Presentation of the Facts Surrounding the Case The case examines a dispute between Meg Cooke, DSS’s COO and Chris Peterson, newly appointed Southwest Region’s team leader. Cooke appointed Peterson a leadership role for one of the newly structured cross-functional teams designated to create a new integrated budget and planning system. The cross functional teams were tasked with building relationships with existing school districts in their regions and provide them a full range of DSS services and to develop new consulting offerings in response to the district’s needs. (Case 2010) Theses goals were created to facilitate a transition to servicing larger districts rather than the smaller districts, which DSS based it past structure around. Peterson was responsible for creating a successful and efficient team within DSS’s reorganization. The team was responsible for designing and creating an integrated budget and planning system with in a time frame of six months. Cooke was updated of the status and objecti ves of the project periodically. The meeting were short and not effective for either party. After the six month deadline was reached Peterson met with Cooke to provide an update on the status of the project her group had been working on. Cooke decided that Peterson’s project would be discontinued, her team would be reorganized and would not be involved in futures product development. Peterson was convinced that her team and project were excellent. Further examination of the case reveals that there may be significant problems related to the company’s transition and Cooke role as COO. Cooke has several deficiencies in the area of leadership, management style, communication, and teamwork and change management. Regarding Peterson, her exemplary team management and teamwork resulted in group-think, causing her team to lose the ability to make unbiased decisions and effectively evaluate possible risks and alternatives. Identification of the Key Issue(s) Many issued are related to the substantial strategic and organizational changes taking place at DSS. Peterson and Cooke have varied perspectives relating to leadership, management style, communication, teamwork, organizational culture, and change management. Cooke’s leadership is characterized by low regard for creating systems for getting the job done  and for creating a satisfying and motivating work environment. The outcome of such leadership style is disorganization, dissatisfaction and disharmony. Collected evidence suggest that Cooke provided very little leadership to Peterson. Peterson and other associates felt anxious for the uncertainty on how the new organizational strategy would unfold. Cooke was only interested in the outcome of what Peterson and her team were working on at the end of the six month period. Cooke did not pose any questions and did not ask for any status updates throughout the projects duration. When Peterson asked for support for her group and the task they were working on, Cooke did not provide any direct action. Other DSS associates felt that Cooke was playing favorites. Cooke did not involve her employs to feel involved and understand the organizations new purpose and determine the production needs. When employees are committed to and have an interest in the organization success, production and moral typically coincide with positive outcomes. This leads to the organization successfully meeting the designated goals. The ability to have employees buy in to desired goals are promoted by an organizational environment based on trust and respect, which leads to high satisfaction and motivation and, as a consequence, high production. ( MindTools). Cooke gave Peterson the ability to choose her own team members, projects, and location of operations. Cooke did so in a passive manner. In the following follow-up meeting Cooke never expressed any objections to Peterson actions and plans, but when she did present a problem concerning the assistance she required form management and other supporting operations, Cooke dismissed her claims by stating that she would provide the needed help at a later time. Peterson’s behavior and management style influenced her team’s performance, while Cooke’s absence of communication and guidance lead to wasted time and resources on a system that did not meet DSS goals. Listing Alternative Courses of Action That Could Be Taken Better communication needs to be created between mid and upper management. Proper communication will lead to a better understanding of the goals desired. Feedback is provided by upward communication, which makes employees feel involved and can help managers to get employees to understand their concerns (Thrilwall, 2012). Cooke and Peterson communicated scarcely and poorly. No regular meeting were scheduled. When the two did communicate  there was no clear and actionable dialogue. Communication is only successful when both the sender and receiver understand the same information as a result of communication ( MindTools, n.d.) Both Cooke and Peterson should establish regular structured communication. This can be accomplished by setting periodic meetings, written updates via e-mail or memos. These meeting will provide downward communication that will allow information to be dispensed to the team working on the projects in question. These meeting will make Peterson and her team feel mor e involved in the direction of the project and it will also keep Cooke abreast of the attitudes and values of her employees. Cooke can defuse any potential problems before they have a negative impact on the group and the project. Cooke’s could adjust her management style. Her methods when dealing with Peterson and her team lead to confusion. Her managerial control and direction were minimal, due the delegation of direction to Peterson, which allowed her to act with maximum freedom. Peterson was allowed to develop a specific product for a small district regardless of the new DSS strategy to refocus its resources on acquiring larger school districts. Cooke needs to focus on redirecting Peterson and her team to achieving the newly desired mission the organization has set in place. That includes providing a direction and strategy which will integrate the individual and the organization ( Thirlwall, 2012). Peterson displayed her ability to effectively act independently. If Cooke would have provided more control pertaining to the direction Peterson and her group were heading the negative outcome could hav e been avoided. Evaluation of Alternative Courses of Action Better communication needs to be created between mid and upper management. Establishing better communication can provide several benefits for DSS. The first, which would be a necessity for any future DSS strategy to be successful would be team building. Team building can transition an organizations culture from cooperation to collaboration. By establishing team environment employees will feel they are a part of something. The feeling of being involved in something increases the effort employees will place in projects and designated task. Better communication also creates a culture of transparency. When companies encourage employees to communicate honestly without fear of repercussions, transparency will transform from an  ideal to a reality. An environment of honesty promotes respect amongst employees. An increase in communication and honesty can cause increased revenue and innovation. Cooke could adjust her management style. Cooke must be willing to make the needed adjustments to improve her management style. She first needs to understand herself. She has to recognize her flaws, not just in the situation with Peterson but her role in DSS organization. She also has to recognize her strengths. Her ability to identify her strengths and weakness will allow her to build a stronger relationship with her employees. The bonds that she can build with her employees and peers will be reflective of her interpersonal communication skills. This reflection will provide insight into areas in the organization and within herself that require improvement. Cooke will need to continually re-evaluate her management style. Being able to realize what works and what doesn’t is key to being an effective manager ( WordPress, 2009) Recommendation of the Best Course of Action The best course of action is for DSS to create a standard outline for communication prior to and during the lifespan of a project. These guidelines should include timing and require length of meetings, scheduled times for updates via e-mail or in person meetings. Also they should provide the specification for any information that needs to be provided to all person involved in the project in question. The information should be pertinent to the status of the project and personal. Also the supply of information should allow as a segue to any questions or concerns by either party. An open dialogue should be the basis of all communication throughout the projects duration. References MindTools, n.d. Blake Mouton Managerial Grid. Retrieved July 20, 2014 from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_73.htm [Accessed 16 June 2012 MindTools, n.d. Introduction to Communication Skills. Retrieved July 20, 2014 from http://mindtools.com/CommSkll/CommunicationIntro.htm [Accessed 18 June 2012] Organizational Behavior and HRM. Unpublished ed. Emirates Aviation College.Thirlwall, A., 2012. Ineffective leadership in Business, Retrieved from July 22, 2014 btrostle.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/adjusting-your-management-style/

Stigma, Discrimination And The Concept Of Social Exclusion The WritePass Journal

Stigma, Discrimination And The Concept Of Social Exclusion Abstract Stigma, Discrimination And The Concept Of Social Exclusion ). As noted by Goffman (1963), stigmatized individuals may accept the negative labels placed on them resulting in self-stigma which manifests in many ways including shame, self-hatred and self-isolation. Similarly, HIV/AIDs related stigma is reported to have severe implications on the stigmatized person. The onset of HIV and AIDS during the early 1980s triggered responses of stigma, fear, denial and discrimination which have, up-to date, been targeted at individuals perceived to be infected (UNESCO 2002). Such individuals become rejected not only by the community but also by their beloved ones. These individuals are also reported as having been denied access to health and education services on several instances. Research also shows that such individuals receive unfair treatment in the workplace. The root causes of stigma related to HIV/AIDS are fear and moral judgement (UNESCO 2002). HIV/AIDS pandemic is associated with fear of causal transmission of virus, fear of living with the virus, fear of loss of productivity, and imminent death (UNESCO 2002). Moral judgment is also considered as the root cause of the stigma. People infected with the disease are often seen as self-blaming, since the transmission of the pandemic is linked to stigmatized behaviour. HIV/AIDS-related stigma remains a barrier to effectively managing this epidemic. The fear of shame and discrimination prevents such infected individuals from seeking the much needed help and support, thereby making prevention and management extremely difficult. The feelings of shame, guilt and the fear of discrimination impedes an individuals willingness and ability to adopt preventive behaviours. This results in delayed help-seeking behaviours. Stigma still appears to be a major issue facing many employers and employees. There is increasing evidence of people being turned down for a job simply because they are infected with stigmatized illnesses. Others have also reported as having stopped looking for employment because they expect to be discriminated against. For example, a study led by Graham Thornicroft found over a third (34%) of the participants as having been shunned by people due to their mental illnesses (Thornicroft et.al, 2007). The study also found nearly a quarter (25%) of the participants as having stopped applying for work because they anticipated discrimination, and another 37% who were afraid of initiating close personal relationship due to fears of being discriminated against (Thornicroft et al., 2007). However, it was found that for those who anticipated discrimination, their experiences did not necessarily confirm this. Nearly half (47%) of those who had stopped looking for work and 45% of those that were afraid of initiating personal relationships because they anticipated discrimination did not in the actual sense experience this (Thornicroft et al., 2007). The study also found that 71% of the participants wished to conceal their illness, raising concerns about delayed help seeking behaviours due to fears of discrimination once their condition is disclosed (Thornicroft et al., 2007). Similarly, a recent survey on 500 leading employers in the UK conducted by SHAW Trust, showed that one in three employers thought that persons with mental illness were less reliable than the rest of the workforce (Thomas 2012). The survey also found that negative attitudes held by employees towards the mentally ill were a major barrier to employing individuals with mental illness. This indicates that stigma is still a major concern in the employment. Implications on policy and practice: There is a current policy spotlight on providing stigmatized individuals with greater employment support. This is largely due to emerging evidence of discrimination of stigmatized individuals in employment. It should be noted that some societies may increase the level of stigmatization through their laws, rules and policies. Legislations such as limitations on international travel and migration and those that include compulsory screening and testing tend to increase stigmatization and create a false sense of security concerns among individuals who may not necessarily be dangerous (EU report 2010). There is, however, a range of standards and policy initiatives which have been formulated to help address problems of stigmatization. The National Service Framework for Mental Health, for example, has incorporated standard services which must be adhered to including guidance on social inclusion, tackling stigma, and ensuring health promotion among those with mental illness (DFID 2007). There is also the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 which prohibits discrimination of disabled individuals in terms of employment, union membership and access to housing, health and education services (DFID 2007). The definition of disability is extended by the DDA 2005 to include people diagnosed with HIV. This implies that people with traits or attributes considered stigmatized are protected against discrimination in recruitment, training, promotion and from unfair dismissal. Such individuals are also protected against harassment and discrimination by colleagues in the workplace. However, despite these policy initiatives, it is apparent that stigma and discrimination is still an issue. For example, in the UK and the US, elaw and licensing practices are making it increasingly difficult for stigmatized individuals to be employed (Gonzalez 2012). Under the American with Disabilities Act, disabled persons can be denied a license especially where such a person poses a threat to others that cannot be reasonably eliminated (Gonzalez 2012). Also, a study by the HIV Law project on professional licensing practices in the US reported over 20 states with requirements that prohibit granting or renewal of license for persons with communicable or infectious diseases including HIV (Gonzalez 2012). Adding to this discriminatory licensing criterion, the study found that science based data was largely ignored, thereby promoting stigma and denying stigmatized individuals employment opportunities. A similar trend was evident in the UK especially when reforms were made to the job and benefit system with the aim of encouraging stigmatized individuals to re-enter the workforce (Gonzalez 2012). According to Laura Dunkeyson, a policy officer at the National AIDS trust, job applicants were often asked about their health status prior to the extension of an offer, which resulted in the exclusion of a number of persons from the workforce (Gonzalez 2012). Moreover, it was reported that, on application of a job by non-disabled and disabled individuals, the non-disabled persons were twice as likely to be invited for the interview as the disabled. Clearly, stigma still exists. However, popular views about mental illness and HIV/AIDS appear to be improving in term of less social rejection. According to a newly released research by Aviva (2012), over 28% of employees in the UK believe that the stigma associated with mental health problems has dropped. This is attributed to the increased awareness and public understanding of mental health issues. This shows that interventions that aim at improve public knowledge can effectively reduce the level of stigmatization. With improvement in public knowledge, people are more likely to recognize features of illnesses and become more supportive for those with such illnesses. Interventions to reduce stigma Efforts to reduce stigma have often been inhibited by the lack of public awareness and knowledge on issues contributing to the stigmatization of persons. Efforts to address stigma have also been inhibited by the lack of incentives/benefits for taking action (DFID 2007). Adding to this, stigma has been perceived as culturally specific and complicated to address (DFID 2007). The following are some important steps that might be taken to address the issue of stigmatization in employment: Stigmatized individuals could be provided with employment initiatives such as individual placement and support interventions (IPS) which is more effective than the traditional rehabilitation schemes (Pinfold 2003). Promote awareness of anti-discrimination legislation in the public (Grove 2012). Promote social inclusion through strengthening efforts to overcoming administrative, legal and societal barriers that prevent stigmatized individuals from enjoying equal and full participation (EU report 2010). Education also plays a major role in addressing stigma and discrimination in the society. It plays a key role of lessening the stigma and can affect change where the law has failed such as changing societal attitudes (Knifton 2010). Supporting meaningful participation of stigmatized individuals in national planning and policy making as well as in other processes (DFID 2012). The government also has a key role to play alongside law reform and national human rights commissions. They may condemn stigma and discrimination both in employment and in the community Ensure promotion and protection of human rights in institutional settings Challenge/address discrimination at workplaces Ensure policy dialogue and policy reform where necessary Increase interaction with stigmatized individuals to help build their confidence and increase their self-esteem Ensure strengthening and building capacity of individuals with stigmatized illnesses through skill building, training and counseling, network building, and income generation (DFID 2012). Ensure interactive and participatory education. This is highly effective as it fosters greater understanding of stigma and allows people to reflect on their attitudes and actions, thereby catalyzing individual change around stigma (DFID 2012). Advocate for policies that promote and facilitate effective rights based approach to addressing stigma related issues. There is also the need to stop mandatory testing except for limited purposes such as blood donations, court orders and epidemiological research. In addition, there is need for the government to emphasize on the rights of privacy of test results, given the recent changes in law in UK which allows insurance companies the right to know test results. Conclusion Stigmatization remains a major issue facing both the employers and employees. People can be stigmatized based on their race, beliefs, obesity, AIDs and even based on their mental health. Stigma has a dramatic, though under recognized effect on the life opportunities of stigmatized individuals including employment opportunities, access to education, health and housing. Efforts to reducing stigma have often been inhibited by the lack of public awareness and knowledge, lack of incentives/benefits for taking action, and the widely held view that stigma is complex to address. However, a few of initiatives appear to be reducing the level of stigmatization. According to a newly released research, popular views about mental illness and HIV/AIDS appear to be improving in term of less social rejection. This has been attributed to the increased awareness and public understanding of mental health issues While there is a voluminous literature exploring the publics perception of stigma, there is need for further research to explore these peoples experiences, the impact on their lives, and ways to addressing these issues. This could help shape interventions and policies for improved legislation. Reference Berzins K.M., Petch A. Atkinson J.M., 2003. â€Å"Prevalence and experience of harassment of people with mental health problems living in the community†. 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Obesity, stigma and public health planning. Health Promotion International Parle, S., 2012. â€Å"How does discrimination affect people with mental illness?† Nursing Times; 108: 28, 12-14 Phelan, J. and Link, B., 2006. Stigma and its public health implications. Mailman School of Public Health, New York. Phelan J.C., Link B.G., Stueve A., Pescosolido B., 2000. â€Å"Public conceptions of mental illness in 1950 and 1996: What is mental illness and is it to be feared.† Journal of Health and Social Behavior 41:188-207. Pinfold, V., 2003. Reducing stigma and discrimination: what works? Showcasing examples of best practices of anti-discrimination projects in mental health. Read, J. Baker, S., 1996. Not just Sticks and Stones: A survey of stigma, taboos and discrimination experienced by people with mental health problems. London: Mind. Stafford, M.C., Scott, R.R., 1986. â€Å"Stigma deviance and social control: Some conceptual issues.† in The Dilemma of Difference, edited by S. C. Ainlay, G. 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The Optimal Kitchen Countertop Height

The Optimal Kitchen Countertop Height Like other common installation standards, it is not building codes that set the height of kitchen countertops, but rather a set of common and established design standards set by the industry over a long period. These design standards are established by studies determining the most comfortable and practical dimensions for average residents for all the various elements of home construction. Most of the industry follows these standards, meaning that stock cabinets, countertops, windows, doors, and other elements will follow the dimensions set forth by these standards.   Kitchen Countertop Standards For countertops, the established standard is for the top of the countertop to fall about 36 inches above the floor. So widely accepted is this standard is that base cabinet manufacturers  build all their cabinets to a height of 34 1/2 inches, assuming the countertop thickness will be 1 1/2 inches.   This has been shown to be the best ergonomic height for a kitchen countertop. It may not be the best for a specific task, but it is the best overall compromise for the majority of tasks done in the kitchen for a user of average height. For most people, a kitchen countertop height of 3 feet provides a comfortable workstation. Be aware, though, that these design standards are aimed at making things comfortable for average people, who are 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 8 inches in height. If you are much shorter or much taller, the design standards might not be ideal for you.  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ Varying Countertop Height   As with any feature of your home, countertop height can be varied to meet your situation. A family of 6-footers may find 36 inches so low that they have to stoop uncomfortably while preparing food, while a family with members less than 5 feet in height might also find the standard countertop height to be uncomfortable. It can be difficult and expensive to make these alterations, though, since stock base cabinets will need to be altered, or custom cabinets will need to be built from scratch, in order to change the countertop heights. Moreover, you should be careful about dramatic variations to construction standards, as the potential future buyers of your home may not appreciate them.  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ Countertops for Those With Disabilities Users with physical disabilities, such as those confined to wheelchairs, may find both stock base cabinets and countertop height standards to be impractical. In kitchens designed for accessibility, at least some portion of the base cabinets is left open so that users can roll wheelchairs beneath the countertop while preparing food. The countertops themselves are often lowered to a height of 28 to 34 inches or even lower. If only a section of countertop is customized for wheelchair users, make sure the open space is at least 36 inches wide.   While these custom changes may, of course, have an impact on the future sale of the house, they are a small price to pay to make a home convenient and comfortable for disabled residents. In todays marketplace, you may even find that an accessible kitchen is actually a desirable selling point to future buyers.

Followership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Followership - Essay Example The author points out that leaders and followers have a symbiotic relationship. According to the author, â€Å"Today’s followers are tomorrow’s leaders† (Frisina 2005) Leaders ought to practice democratic leadership that strengthens the relationship with the followers. The author distinguishes the value of communication to the four types of generations (veterans, baby boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y). According to the author, employees in Generation Y thrive on extrinsic motivation. For example, a young nurse would most likely be tensed and have minimal experience in attending to her duties. If the supervisor provides instant gratification and rewards the nurse, she would be extrinsically motivated to work. This is unlike the veteran and baby boomers that have the experience and have achieved job satisfaction. This category of employees thrives on intrinsic motivation and job security. Different generations have different characteristics. For example, a veteran may find it easier to work in the office for the entire working hours. On the other hand, an employee from generation Y would prefer doing field work for the entire working hours. It is important to delegate jobs depending on the general characteristics of the respective generation. The most important aspect of communication is the mode of delivering information. All the four generations prefer different modes of communication. Veterans would be more comfortable with face-to-face interactions while employees from both Generations X and Y would prefer communication backed by technology. For example, a healthcare facility would open up a page on social media to reach out to the younger generation. On the other hand, veterans would prefer to visit the facility physically for