Long Term Care Insurance Essay

Given the increasing longevity of Americans and the costs of providing long-term care, anticipation of the costs should be a major element of every family’s financial planning. Current information suggests however, that very few families or individuals give this consideration. What factors might impede this advance planning? What measures might be effective in raising awareness among Americans about this important matter? Support your answer with at least one outside reference. People tend to be irrational in their decisions with regard to long-term medical care. The factors that impede rational decision-making among health care consumers have not changed over the last decade. The major problem is that consumers lack relevant information about the availability and effectiveness of health care services in long-term perspective (RWJF, 1998). Another problem is that rational decision-making about long-term care inhibits the sense of autonomy among consumers; in other words, â€Å"consumer unwillingness to plan for future long-term care needs undercuts their autonomy and precipitates a rush toward dependence and financial difficulties† (RWJF, 1998). Ultimately, consumers have a hidden hope that their relatives and not medical facilities will help them resolve their decision-making issues in future. Here, an information campaign could help develop consumer awareness about the benefits of advance planning, as well as the availability, and the quality of health care services. Very often, physicians themselves fail to assess long-term consumer needs; as a result, better training and full information about the types of long-term health care arrangement may help improve the situation. The number of those involved into advance planning programs will serve a reliable indicator for the program effectiveness in the long run. 2. More than three-fourths of the elderly needing assistance is cared for by family members, many of whom also work outside the home. What implications does this have for employers? What types of employer policies might be appropriate regarding those engaged in providing long-term care for a family member? Support your answer with at least one outside reference. Statistical research suggests that â€Å"over three quarters – 78 percent – of adults receiving long-term care at home rely exclusively on assistance from family members, friends, and volunteers, referred to as informal care† (Thompson, 2004). Despite the benefits which caregiving offers to a disabled person, it has far-reaching negative implications for the mental, physical, and social state of the caregiver. Beyond the mere fact that caregivers are more vulnerable to mental and physical health complications, they face serious employment challenges. â€Å"Some caregivers reduce their hours and others withdraw completely from the labor force† (Thompson, 2004). Employers find it difficult to work with employees, who are depressed or are ill as a result of excessive caregiving. Here, Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI) may save employers and employees from financial and physical losses. LTCI is usually a small expenditure for a firm (all LTCI premiums are tax deductible). Simultaneously, â€Å"it assures quality when needed, and equally important, helps the employee protect assets for retirement† (Florek, 2005). Taking into account that workplace accommodations made by caregivers usually cost up to $30 billion annually in lost productivity (Florek, 2005), LTCI may become an excellent solution, providing employers and employees with a chance for a better quality of care without substantial losses for business. 3. Concerns regarding the potential costs of caring for those with mental illness have caused the majority of insurers and HMOs to rely on â€Å"carve-outs† written into their policies. In your own words, describe what the term â€Å"carve-out† means in regards to the behavioral health industry. What are the advantages and disadvantages to this practice? Support your answer with at least one outside reference. â€Å"Carve-out† is a relatively new alternative model of health care provision in behavioral health industry. In simple terms, a â€Å"carve-out† is a system of administrative measures used by health care facilities to shift their responsibility for consumers’ mental health onto a different network of mental health providers. In carve-outs, â€Å"a specialty organization or vendor assumes the responsibility for identifying a network of mental health providers, establishing a mechanism for accessing those providers† (Entrepreneur, 1998). The impact of carve-outs on the quality of health care is rather controversial. Not all states were able to perceive the benefits of significant cost reduction that usually follows the development and implementation of carve-out initiatives at the state level (Brisson et al, 1997). Although Massachusetts was the one to experience dramatic decrease in medical expenditures, that was not the case for Tennessee (Brisson et al, 1997). Moreover, Merrick, Garnick & Horgan (2001) suggest that carve out benefits do not protect enrollees from the â€Å"risk of catastrophic expenditures†. In terms of quality care, the results of scarce research suggest that the implementation of carve-out mechanisms is not associated with a better (or worse) quality of care (Busch, Frank & Lehman, 2004). As a result, the advantages of carve-out programs do not seem to go beyond the dry financial statistics in regards to the reduction of expenditures in mental health industry. References Brisson, A. E. , Frank, R. G. , Notman, E. S. & Gazmararian, J. A. (1997). Impact of a managed behavioral health care carve-out: A case study of one HMO. National Bureau of Economic Research. Retrieved January 26, 2009 from http://www. nber. org/papers/w6242. pdf Busch, A. B. , Frank, R. G. & Lehman, A. F. (2004). The effect of a managed behavioral health carve-out on quality of care for Medicaid patients diagnosed as having schizophrenia. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 61: 442-448. Entrepreneur. (1998). Managing behavioral health. Entrepreneur. com. Retrieved January 26, 2009 from https://www. entrepreneur. com/tradejournals/article/54586928_1. html Florek, P. (2005). Long-term care insurance: protecting the employer, employee, and family. RedOrbit. Retrieved January 26, 2009 from http://www. redorbit. com/news/technology/267111/longterm_care_insurance_protecting_the_employer_employee_and_family/index. html Merrick, E. L. , Garnick, D. W. & Horgan, C. (2001). Benefits in behavioral health carve-out plans for Fortune 500 firms. Psychiatr Serv, 52: 943-948. RWJF. (1998). Advance planning helps consumers make better decisions about long-term care. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Retrieved January 26, 2009 from http://www. rwjf. org/reports/grr/022308s. htm Thompson, L. (2004). Long-term care: support for family caregivers. Georgetown University. Retrieved January 26, 2009 from http://ltc. georgetown. edu/pdfs/caregivers. pdf

Business Enviroment

HND Business Management Unit 1:Business Environment Outcome 1:Understand the organizational purposes of business. Outcome 2:Understand the nature of national environment in which the business operates Outcome 3:Understand the behaviour of organizations in their marketenvironment Outcome 4:Assess the significance of global factors that shape nationalbusiness environment ScenarioUnderstanding the relationship between businesses and the environment within which the business operate is very important in shaping the behaviour of the business. In your role as an assistant to the Business Development Manager, you will need to develop strategies that allow your organization to meet its purposes in ways that comply with the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks. This would involve intensive research on the organizational purposes and the nature of the environment in which the business operate.TASK One: Group presentation – 25 March 2013 (PT): Exam – 25 March 2013 (NR) (P1, P2 , P3) P1Identify the purposes of different types of organization. P2Describe the extent to which an organization meets the objectives of different stakeholders P3Explain the responsibilities of an organization and strategies employed to meet them Guidelines to achieve * P1: You must describe different types of organizations in order to identify the purposes of the organization (e. . public sector, municipality, charity, private sector, PLC, and briefly explain aims, purpose and objectives of each etc). Discussion of vision, mission, goals an objectives of various organizations will be needed * P2: Discuss different types of stakeholders involved with an organization Stakeholders could include staff, unions, suppliers, customers, banks, shareholders, national and local media, community, authorities, government etc.Describe the extent to which an organization meets the objectives of its stakeholders; Stakeholders mapping, analysis and suggested strategies * P3: Summarize areas of resp onsibilities to customers, owners, shareholders, employees, suppliers, to physical environment and possibly to local, national and international community, etc Explain strategies (long term approaches) employed to meet them by a specific organization. TASK Two: Report – 22 April 2013 (P4, P5, P6, M1)P4Explain how economic systems attempt to allocate resources effectively P5Assess the impact of fiscal and monetary policy on business organisations and their activities P6Evaluate the impact of competition policy and other regulatory mechanisms on the activities of a selected organization. M1Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions Guidelines to achieve: * P4 : Briefly describe main economic systems like socialism, state economy, etc. and explain how each economic system attempts to allocate resources (people, raw material, money etc) effectively; * P5 : Explain the governmental policies (e. . monetary, fiscal, social,) explain how the taxation level, interest rate, value of the pound and euro will positively or negatively affect business organization, * P6 : Choose any national or international organization and discuss how it is constrained by competition policies e. g. regarding monopolies and by regulations (good examples might be UK supermarket chains or airport operators) * M1 : Analyse the economic system and governmental policies of the UAE and evaluate how does the UAE attempts to allocate resources effectively.TASK Three: Report – 22 April 2013 (P7, P8, P9, M2, D1) P7Explain how market structures determine the pricing and output decisions of businesses P8Illustrate the way in which market forces shape organizational responses using a range of examples P9Judge how the business and cultural environments shape the behaviour of a selected organization M2Select and apply appropriate methods to different market types D1Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions Guidelines to achieve: P7: Describe different market structures (perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, etc. ) and describe how they affect pricing, distribution, product and service offering (good example is where there is a substantial competition, many suppliers and range of products and services for customers to choose from, another example is where there are few providers, little competition but high demand) * P8 : Discuss the market forces like, demand and supply, pricing decisions, customer expectations, market conditions, competition etc. nd explain how the organizations need to respond to or react to those market factors ( for examples: supermarkets offering many more old brands, or low cost products ) * P9 : Select any national or international business organization and describe how it changes its behavior with changes in the external environment for example in conditions of recession, demographic change, etc. you can also consider if the organization changes over and see how it would respo nd to cultural differences * M2 : Analyse the market structures prevailing in the UAE in the Aviation Industry. D1 : Realistic improvements should be proposed for effective government policies and allocation of resources against defined characteristics for the success of the UAE economy based on the analysis done in the Merit work. TASK Four: Report – 22 April 2013 (P10, P11, P12, M3, D2) P10Discuss the significance of International Trade to UK business organisations P11Analyse the impact of global factors on UK business organizations P12Evaluate the impact of policies of the European Union on UK business organizations M3Present and communicate appropriate findings D2Demonstrate convergent/lateral/creative thinkingGuidelines to achieve: * P10 : Describe the importance of International Trade and reasons of going international. You need to look at import as a mean to satisfy business raw material needs and customers needs but more importantly you must look at export and conside r how much the UK earn from this and how critical it is for the UK economy * P11 : Research and discuss the negative and positive impact of global factors (PESTEL) on UK business organizations . you could look on the negative effect on the euro problems, consider factors such as shortage of raw materials, metal, food, etc. r growing demand from developing countries for products and services * P12 : Discuss the developments of European Union and European Monetary Union; Describe at least two EU policies (working conditions, welfare, and freedom of labour movement) and look on the positive and / or negative effects these might have on UK businesses * M3 : Analyze the implications of European Union policies on a selected UK based business organization (using any two EU policies) * D2 : Assess the current situation of EU and EMU and express your critical thinking on the decision of the UK to not be a part of the EMU policy.TASK| CRITERIA| ASSESSMENT| DUE DATE| 1| P1, P2, P3| Group prese ntation (PT)Exam| 24/26 March 201325 March 2013| 2, 3 and 4| P4 – P12, M1, M2, M3, D1, D2| Individual report| 22 April 2013| Note: * Follow the report style (Arial font, size 12, with 1. spacing, black color) with appropriate title page, page numbers, Titles & sub-titles, Introduction, Conclusion, Bibliography; * Turnitin Certificate is mandatory otherwise the assignments will not be graded. * Sources of information and references are not included in your word count * Word length: Approx. 3500 words (outcomes 2-4) If you need any further assistance with this assignment please contact your tutor

Agriculture Through the Years Essay -- Agricultural Law;, Agricultural

Imagine a warm summer day, the wind lightly blowing across bare skin with the warmth of the brilliant sun causing you to get minor goose bumps. In the background you smell of manure and dirt. You go inside and grab a cool and refreshing glass of homemade lemonade and go back outside and sip on it; savoring the sour taste of fresh lemon but at the same time the sweet relief of the sugar. As you stand outside you can’t help but notice all the agriculture that is going on around you from the diesel powered CASE IH 2500 Combine to the dairy farm just down the corner. Agriculture is all around you. In a society growing as rapidly as we are today it astonishes me how many people don’t know how all the food that we eat is produced. If you think about it, all the food we eat starts out with a simple seed, that seed is then planted and who are the people that harvest and tend to those plants, Farmers. Agriculture just doesn’t stop at farming, there is so much more. The stereotype for agriculture is always plants and that’s not it. Agriculture is so broad and so old, many things make it up. Agribusiness; an industry engaged in the producing operations of a farm, the manufacture and distribution of farm equipment and supplies, and the processing, storage, and distribution of farm commodities; this broad major separates into many other different majors such as Agricultural Law; Agricultural Economics and many more. These certain majors would not exist if it wasn’t for the first person long before there was written history who picked up a seed and decided to plant it in the ground and watched what happened. Besides studies there are also many different organizations that involve agriculture such as FFA (Future Farmers of America) and 4-H. BUniversity and Hornbrook is a research assistant. I feel very comfortable using this article. It gives me the base knowledge I need for my paper. I will be using this article in my paper; it is very useful and includes a lot of general knowledge that will be my foundation for my paper. Orinthology, . "Agriculture Advances." The Science News-Letter . 7 Jan 1961: 5. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. The newspaper article talks about new diseases that were introduced to different creatures in the 1960’s. It also talks about a new style of drying grains by solar power. Also it mentions involvement with the USDA. The article is very informative. It was very interesting to read and I liked it very well. Even though this article was very informative, I will not be using this. It doesn’t include what I want it to.

Antigone, by Sophocles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Antigone, by Sophocles - Essay Example Being relatives they hate each other so much that it makes them kill each other. So, the tragedy starts with the fact of having two dead bodies and the law to bury one of the brothers with honors and the second one to be left in the field to be torn to pieces by wild animals. This is the outset of the tragedy. Antigone is the blood sister of the killed brothers and she faces the moral dilemma. Weather to break the law or to stay a law-abiding citizen and leave her brother to have eternal sufferings. There are three main problems raised in the tragedy of Antigone: 1. whether a person in Ancient Greece could be left without burial; 2. whether the written laws are higher than the laws of nature and Gods; 3. whether Creon is a good ruler for the country. At the very beginning of the tragedy Antigone buries her brother, though in a very symbolic way. Being a subtle and weak woman she cannot provide the proper burial ritual that is why she just strews him with soil. It has the meaning of t he dead being in soil. The thing is that Ancient Greek deeply believed in life after death and it can be said for sure they set their hopes to it even more that to the terrain life. The way a person is buried was of great importance and determined the way a soul would exists in afterlife. The soul of a person that is not buried under the proper ritual is doomed to unbearable sufferings and eternal embarrassment. Knowing it Creon gives his decision to leave the dead body of Polyneices in the field to be torn by wild animals. According to Greek believes it was the most disgraceful and horrible thing for the soul. A soul is sure to be taken to the most awful place of the underground Kingdom. By doing this Creon wants to show that he really cares about his nation because he punishes the enemy in the toughest way. After knowing who broke the law Creon sets the death penalty to Antigone. Creon is so conceited and egoistical that he does not even listen to Antigone’s pleads. He does not take into account the devotion of Antigone or her sister’s love; he can see only an offender of the country laws. The power muffles all his human features and the ability to understand people. His first priority is the nation’s honor and prosperity. Sophocles pays attention to the ethical problem of the priority of the written lows over the unwritten ones. The unwritten law claims that any worrier who is brave enough to fight is to be buried in a proper way. Creon in his strive for power, accepts only the laws of the state he rules. He has the option whether to punish Antigone for her breaking the law or to understand her desire to help her brother in afterlife. Sophocles in his tragedy shows that people of Theban are for their princess, they consider Creon to be a monster who chooses the cruelest punishment for a young girl – to be buried alive in a chamber. â€Å"The German poet Friedrich Holderlin, whose translation of the play had strong impact on Heid egger's reading, brings out a more subtle reading of the play: he focusses on Antigone's legal and political status within the palace, her privilege to be the hearth (according to the legal instrument of the epiklerate) and thus protected by Zeus† (Judith 2000). In other words he focuses on the problem of the priority option: who a person is, first of all, a citizen or an individual with his love, hatred etc. Many scientists still dispute on the problem of

Reflection on Graduation From Medical College Essay

Reflection on Graduation From Medical College - Essay Example If not for the burning urge to help others that resides within me, I am sure I would have given up on my course. The challenges that I faced during my learning years were enormous. One of the challenges that I managed to overcome is my fear of human organs (for their delicate nature) and handling people who are in great pain. In spite of the challenges, today I stand tall, confident that I have mastered many of my earlier fears and conquered the challenges that I thought spelled my doom. The success that I have achieved so far has not only increased my yearning for more knowledge but also my sense of responsibility. Wherever I am, I feel that I need to help someone who is in need. This sense of responsibility sits heavy on my shoulder and I keep wondering whether I will be able to help everyone in need all at the same time. I enjoyed my time in college; lectures, time with friends, and practical sessions. To me, college was like a home away from home. I must admit that without the help and support of my family, friends, colleagues, and professors, I would not be the success story that I am today. I am most grateful to every one of the giants upon whose shoulders I rode to success.

Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising - Article Example Definition. According to Ventola (669-684), direct to Consumer Advertising (DTCA) is a type of marketing that is extensively and exclusively observed in the pharmaceutical industry. Although this form of marketing promotion is observed in other industries, the term is exclusively derived from the marketing promotion in the pharmaceutical industry. In this regard, the marketing activities are primarily focused towards the patients’ end unlike targeting the healthcare professionals. The promotional activities or tools that are generally used in this form of marketing include the use of print media, television, radio, social media, and many more. In the present day context, marketing activities are identified as playing an effective role in the promotion of a product and/or service. Subsequently, different promotional tools are used by companies with the aim of making an effective reach to a large number of customers in a global context. Thesis Statement. The prime objective of the study is to undergo a comprehensive review of DTCA in the pharmaceutical industry in the US. In this regard, the paper focuses on understanding the concepts of DTCA and the history of different types of advertisements surrounding DTCA. The report also emphasizes the rules and regulations governing the promotional activity in the US. Moreover, it also intends to reveal the advantages as well as the disadvantages of adapting DTCA in the US pharmaceutical market. Some of the remedies that would lead to the growth of the pharmaceutical industry in the US through adapting DTCA are also discussed. Further, the report also highlights the effect of DTCA on health insurance and the pharmaceutical industry that has to lead to the shift of promotional activities towards social media for attracting customers.

Beowulf Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Beowulf - Essay Example The epic portrays that Beowulf's tact in his successive parleys with the Danes he met as he made his way to Heorot seemed to be evidence for his own awareness of this potential tension. The Danes must determine whether the Geat is nothing but a wandering showoff and braggart, coming fordolgilpe and forwlenco, out of foolish boastfulness and pride. If he is, it would be truly humiliating for them to betray their own desperate need for help by treating such a heroic charlatan with respect. Thus, even if Beowulf's very well-chosen words had placated some of the Danes, it is likely that not all were ready to embrace the visitor. Unferth's sharp challenge of Beowulf may thus dramatically fill a psychological need for the Danes as a whole. At the least, taking Unferth as the spokesman for many Danes obviates any necessity to explain why they show no disapproval of his challenge to Beowulf. In this scene his only speech, the challenge to Beowulf, is no brag. There Unferth makes the charge t hat it is Beowulf who is an empty braggart with a low heroic credit rating, whereas Breca, Beowulf's competitor in the swimming-race, is not (Berger and Leicester 39). The character of Beowulf is shaped by the heroic world he is a part. ... Necessary is precisely what Beowulf's death is (Guerber 267). The epic says: They felled the enemy -- courage drove out his life -- and they both then had succeeded in destroying him, those noble kinsmen. That is how a fighting-man should be, a retainer in time of need! (2706-09a) Beowulf's hero is expressed in the quality of such past actions, because that is after all probably the point of bringing them in. Following Guerber (1966) if readers make this latter judgment, they must blame him for scorning any help and for risking all on the chance of one more survival in a lucky lifetime series. If readers are to take this pattern of behavior in a Christian context at all, it is more likely that the poem is suggesting that he was allowed, by some higher power, even by the God himself, to survive those earlier tight places in order to win his last victory. The character of Beowulf and his heroic nature is portrays through contrasts and oppositions. The contrast is between passive behavior and what readers see in old Beowulf's behavior when the dragon attacks. Beowulf first has a moment of guilt that he might have done something wrong, broken some law, after which he is completely ready to meet a personal attack with all the strength at his command. Hrothgar merely grumbles that God could easily have stopped Grendel long before. The hero is here suggesting teamwork or shared labor between himself and deity. By maiming Grendel Beowulf has put a mark on him, just as God once marked the ancestor Cain. Both dark figures must now face the bright Lord. But the key to this close relationship is that it is active collaboration (Guerber 267). On the sword-guards of

Birth Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Birth Control - Essay Example While concerned about the problems of overpopulation in the world, including the United States, these experts viewed policy change as an incremental process that came from careful research and the persuasion of political leaders (Kass-Annese and Danzer, 2003). At the other end of the spectrum stand activists who view overpopulation as a national and global emergency that needs to be addressed immediately and with radical, coercive measures if voluntary programs cannot help. Birth control methods are divided into physical methods and behavioral methods. The main physical methods are briers and hormonal methods, ormeloxifene and intrauterine method, emergency contraception and induced abortion, sterilization. To behavioral methods belong: futility awareness, statistical methods and 'interrupted sex', abstinence and lactational period (Birth Control 2007). Many advocates of birth control state that the population problem remains serious, and the issue should be addressed through private efforts and a gradual change in public policy. Overpopulation stands above any specific attachment to a particular economic system. As a result, family planning becomes an ideology in itself. Subsequently, proponents of family planning, while believing that the issue should remain nonpartisan, prove surprisingly flexible in their political allegiances. Catholic opposition to artificial birth control an

Critical review of an exhibition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critical review of an exhibition - Essay Example The exhibition, called Boiseries, are actually installations that are real-life interpretations of French rooms that were en vogue in 18th century France. Particularly, the artist tried to recreate two rooms: the first, a room from the Hotel de Crillon; and the other, from the Hotel de Cabris. As in any installation exhibit, the visitor here would have to enter into the experience, than merely assuming an spectator's perspective. The Hotel de Crillon room interpretation is found in the Lila Acheson Wallace Wing's south mezzanine gallery. This is an enclosed affair wherein one has to make use of several mirrors in order to see what is inside. The experience is quite surreal and evokes a kind of voyeuristic taint as the effect of the presentation places the visitor in a real and fantastic setting at the same time. It is like there is a high degree of intimacy involved brought about by the proximity to the installation, but the mirrors provided enough distance for detachment. It is diff icult to describe the room in its entirety but it is like a piece of precious porcelain, which can be pretty to look at but one needs to be really careful because it breaks easy. The stark white interior of the room adorned with the liquid hue of glasses offered several scenes of artistic composition that are effectively framed by the mirrors.

Mentoring New Nurses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mentoring New Nurses - Essay Example The provision of mentoring programs may determine whether there will be a high turnover rate of new nurses or whether new talent will be maintained within the organization (Harrington, 2011). If senior nurses mistreat the new nurses, then they are likely to be demoralized and begin searching for new opportunities. For this reason, hospitals should have systems of ensuring that new nurses receive guidance and counseling from their senior counterparts. Research has indicated that every nurse has a need for a trusted mentor. Being new in the profession poses numerous challenges and the new nurses benefit immensely from having an individual who can hold their hand as they start their journey towards building their career. Many nurses undertake a four years training with the expectation that they will fulfill their dream of contributing positively to healthcare provision. Healthcare institutions need to keep that dream alive by providing new nurses with efficient mentorship. The selection of mentors for new nurses should bring on board individuals who are patient and those that pose other good qualities such as being trustworthy, good listeners, and being able to nurture talent. Mentors who lack these qualities may not be in a position to influence new nurses positively. For this reason, the type of guide selected determines the efficiency of mentorship.ConclusionMentorship programs developed for new nurses should seek to establish supportive and encouraging relationships.

Cranes Incidences Essay Example for Free

Cranes Incidences Essay Industrial safety is an important component in determining success in industrial operations. It is important that industry players develop their systems in a manner that is appreciative of safety to be in line with legal requirements for industrial operations and also ensure high levels of motivation among their employees. Motivation within any workforce is important in ensuring that operational goals are driven at and is considered a factor that can define organizational propensity to failure. Reputation of an industry entity is placed at risk if it employs approaches to operations that are risky to its workers and even customers. It is thus apparent that industrial entities have a lot to lose should they choose to operate in a manner that does not show appreciation for the role played by safety within their industries in ensuring ethical, legal and successful operations. Despite this knowledge being firmly ingrained within industries, cases of crane accidents have continued to maim and even kill industrial workers. A review of recent cases to determine the causes of the accident and make recommendation on avenues that can be used in addressing this challenge is therefore aimed at ensuring improvement in working conditions for crane workers. Review of Industrial Crane Accidents A shocking revelation in review of existing rules and crane accidents that have occurred in the recent past is that OSHA has not updated its rules for workers who operate cranes for the last 38 years (CraneAccidents. com, 2008). The labor department estimates of the fatalities shows that there are at least 82 cases of crane accidents per year (CraneAccidents. com, 2008). According to the labor department, a majority of the accidents are caused by operator errors and prevailing weather conditions especially wind (CraneAccidents. com, 2008). The differences between the figures reported by the government department OSHA and international unions of operating engineers creates an unclear picture of the extent of the problem. In one of the incidents, a rental crane failed while offloading which led to the death of two workers. The rental crane which is operated by Ocean energy let go of the load that smashed two workers to immediate death (MMS, 2009). Though the accident is still under investigation, preliminary results show that that crane was poorly maintained and the cause are mainly due to mechanical failure (MMS, 2009). Another accident that also involved a rental crane occurred during offloading (MMS, 2009). The accident which led to the death of one worker while leaving two workers with serious injuries was mainly due to poor disassembly of a rental crane (MMS, 2009). The crane incidences which are filled with inhumanity and pain are categorized as either minor or major cases (MMS, 2009. The definition of minor and major is dependent on the number of casualties though their potential for damage and loss of human life is immeasurable. In an incident that happened in Kentucky, a man who was standing next to a HTC-835 crane was dismembered and died one hour later in a hospital when the counterweight came around and struck him in the back (CraneAccidents. com, 2009). The unconscious body as found pinned between a counterweight and a bed of a truck (CraneAccidents. com, 2009). One of the factors that have been cited as having played a role in the incident is the fact that there was no warning tape around the crane (CraneAccidents. com, 2009). Discussion of Causes In the first case poor maintenance of the crane that led to failure is to blame for the incident. Though the potential that cranes have in causing incidents is known, rental companies and even organization can still choose to use cranes that have not been properly serviced. Ignorance is not the case rather irresponsibility by management and worker that leads to use of cranes that could pose danger to human life and even damage property is to blame. Irresponsibility of workers who were casualties in the incident is further brought out if their being under an offloading crane is considered. While working in an environment where crane activity is high one must have heard of incidences where cranes led to loss of lives. Taking heed of danger and appreciation of the potential that cranes have in causing damage would have pushed them into being within what can be referred to as a safe distance. Poor management of the disassembly exercise has been cited as the cause of the second incident. This lives room for a multitude of possibilities which include lack of proper training, poor supervision, lack of preparation and poor or lack of measures that can be used in ensuring that assembly and disassembly processes are carried out in the best way possible (CraneAccidents. com, 2009). Another important factor that should be noted in the second case is the involvement of a rental cranes and issues relating to management and mechanical failure. The third case is different from the others in that the victim and operators were unaware of the risks they were in. Labeling of potential risk has for a long term been used in industries to ensure that people aware of risks they are in. Cranes cause motion or objects that can smash human flesh to oblivion. Lack of a labels or a warning tapes around the cranes or any other moving object in an industrial setting is reflective of lack of appreciation of the potential that cranes have in causing damage to human life and property and lack of strong assessment measures for instance by OSHA to ensure that industrial entities operates within the developed safety framework. Analysis The causes of the accident can be looked at from at least five different dimensions. Irresponsibility, poor assessment systems, poor policy making, lack of appreciation of the potential that cranes have in damaging properties and lives and lastly lack of an effective systems that can develop social awareness on problem thus its address. Irresponsible actions for instance being under a moving crane and using cranes that have not been labeled as potential risks have led to loss of lives. Poor assessment systems are reflected in using cranes that have badly been maintained and making errors in disassembly. While technology and legal implications are changing rapidly to keep in touch with the needs of the society, the last development in OSHA with regards to crane operatives is nearly four decades ago. The relevance of the current policies to modern practice may be missing thus the lack of awareness on legal avenues that can be used in redress. Selecting rental cranes that are in bad shape and using cranes without labeling them all point to lack of appreciation of the potential that cranes have in damaging property and destroying lives. Poor policy making may also contribute to using cranes that are not in good shape and lack of counter measures to ensure cranes used are in good working condition. The expertise, skills and experience of crane operators are important in ensuring effective management of the operations; this must be ensured by all organizations to ensure human error is minimized. Legal measures and guideline like OSHA are also lacking in that the organization could use approaches that are lacking in safety and even lack labeling despite its potential risk yet remain operational. This is further brought out by the difficulties that victims face in seeking illegal interventions (CraneAccidents. com, 2009). Summary OSHA is not enough in reducing prevalence of the crane accidents. Though effective legal intervention measures can reduce and even force industrial entities to put in place effective safety measures, development of an appreciation of safety is vital to ensuring that measures are put in place. The current OSHA policies have to be reviewed to ensure they are up to date with the legal and technological factors that affect crane operations. Developing awareness on rights of crane users and highlighting the accidents will also play an important role in ensuring that industrial entities are wary of incidences. By developing awareness and helping victims seek legal redress, OSHA will ensure that organizations are aware of the negative image that can be developed by crane incidences. Responsibility is a personal issue that must be spread to all in industries. Safety training for workers would ensure that they seek their right to work in safe environments and develop awareness on risks presented by the environment they are in. It is only after appreciation of risk has been developed that effective programs can be developed.

History Of Mass Media From Traditional Age

History Of Mass Media From Traditional Age Mass media has coexisted with Homo sapiens since the brink of time as its history stretches back beyond the dawns of recorded history to the individual who then wanted to reach out to a larger group of audience through any form of communication, regardless a painting on the wall of a cave, or just by telling a story to a group of people. History of mass media can be traced back to the early days of dramas that were performed in various cultures. The word media was first mentioned in the 1920s, but back then, it referred to something that had its origin much further in the past and the term Mass Media originated with the print media that was also its first example. The first newspaper was printed in China 868 A.D, but due to the high cost of paper and illiteracy amongst people, it didnt prosper. It was Johannes Gutenberg, who for the first time printed a book in a printing press in 1453. However, the invention of printing press in the late 15th century gave rise to the first forms of mass communication, enabling publication of books and newspapers on a larger scale than previously possible. According to Wikipedia, mass media refers collectively to all media technologies, including the Internet, television, newspapers and radio, which are used for mass communications, and to organizations which control these technologies. Over the years, during the period post-Second World War, radio, television and video were introduced. The audio-visual facilities became immensely popular as they provided information and entertainment. Of late, it is the Internet which has become the latest and most dominant of all the mass media. Here, information is been generated through various websites and search engines. One can play games, listen to radio while working and chat with friends and relatives, irrespective of location. It also gives information on various topics such as literature, politics, science, sports, fashion, movies, education, career, jobs etc. similar to other types of mass media. Indubitably, one of the biggest influences in our modern lives today, is the force of mass media. Without this medium of communication, our way of live and our civilization would be much more backward than where we are today. We humans are still immature as we definitely have a lot of growing up to do as a race, and mass media is a tool that is supposed to aid us in achieving the aim of fulfillment. Mass media comprises of two parts; print media and the broadcast or also known as electronic media. The print media refers primarily to newspapers and magazines. Radio, television and the Internet constitute the broadcast media. Mass media is simply a section of the media that spreads to a large audience simultaneously, through various types of media. The simplest way to understand what mass media is about is to take a look at newspapers. The first high-circulation newspapers arose in the eastern United States in the early 1800s, and were made possible by the invention of high-speed rotary steam printing presses and railroads which allowed large-scale distribution over wide geographical areas. However, mass production of newspapers had a downfall. The increased rate of circulation led to deteriorate in feedback and interactivity from the readers, which made newspapers a one-way medium. Newspapers first appeared in Europe in the mid-17th century. They evolved gradually from a similar type of publication called broadsheet a single sheet of paper that responded to unusual events. Although newspapers of today and those in the past are quite similar in almost every aspect, newspapers and their content have changed over time. Newspapers in different communities often contain dissimilar contents. The future for newspaper industries seems to fade over time as people look to the Internet for news and young people turn away from papers, paid-for circulations are falling year after year. Papers are also losing their share of advertising spending. Classified advertising is quickly moving online. Inevitably, the newspaper industries which was once experienced explosive growth now faces cyclical trough as new technology such as the existence of e-book has rendered obsolete newspapers in their traditional format. Revenue has plummeted since fierce competition from internet media has squeezed older print publishers. The number of people reading newspapers and magazine has decreased over the years, and polls indicate that the public has more confidence in the accuracy of stories aired on television than in the papers. On the other hand, those who get their news from the print media are better informed. On the bright side, reading newspapers has a lower impact on global warming than reading online. This is so because the impact from powering a computer itself outweighs the impact from creating newsprint. According to Torraspapels Paper, Reading a newspaper generates lower impact on global warming than reading the news online for 30 minutes. Most newspapers today focus on local coverage. There are only a few that cover national issues in depth, and whose editorials can influence national policy. How important the print media is to the individual is subject to debate, however. Magazines, on the other hand, were known to exist since the 1700s in which it resembled books. Based on historical research, the first magazine ever produced was called The Gentlemans Magazine, released in January, 1731 by well-known writer of his prime, Edward Cave. The main idea of Edward was to compile a monthly issue of news and commentary on topics the public were interested in. The difference between magazines and newspapers is that magazine has a relaxed style of writing, while giving and sharing opinions in a magazine is encouraged. However, newspapers during that era were more fixed and straight-to-the-point, following strictly to collected data and statistics. Magazines from the past have a similar purpose to newspapers, criticizing organizations. For instance, Daniel Defoes first English magazine, The Review was published to criticize the Catholic Churches of England. The magazine was also released during the 1700s but published magazines then only lasted for a few months as publishers are geographically limited and the cost of magazine printing is very expensive. More than five decades after magazines were introduced, mass circulation was made possible. Magazines which was once only affordable by the buying elite, now available for the working class as well, and the subject matter had shifted mostly to entertainment sake as well. Magazines are now very affordable to the public. This was made possible by the lesser cost in printing and a bulk of the cost is also reduced due to the many advertisers that the magazines have. This is why that it is in magazines that advertising went full-blast. They can secure one whole page for their products in colored form unlike that in newspaper. Admittedly, this can cost more than the dailies but the potential buyer would be enticed more about the product as the ad would be more attractive in color. Nevertheless, from there, the concept of magazines expanded to various interests, ranging from sports to entertainment, general knowledge and more during todays popular culture. Magazines have a more casual style of reading as literary freedom is practiced. With this, venturing into each interests or fields is easier and more fun as magazine writers have freedom to express their ideas on the subject, as collected data comes second in magazine writing. Today, magazines can be found in almost every newsstand, divided into categories; some of them include IT, fashion and family. Successful magazines include Readers Digest, National Geographic and Peoples Magazine which are also placed in the Top 10 most subscribed magazines in the world. Readers can now also choose from the subscription options that publishing companies offer their customers. They can choose to be subscribed on a daily, weekly, monthly, semi-annually or annually on their magazine of choice. It is also great for short reading for its articles would not really be so mind-boggling but not that shallow either. This is why a lot of readers prefer magazine as well because they are not intimidated by the number of pages within, and they can stop at one article anytime they like and read the other articles any time they want. Book reading gives a much more different experience in which if you stopped at a section, you have to read the rest immediately if you dont want to risk losing yourself or being confused with the story. Magazines really had gone a long way since then as it already evolved itself in just less than three centuries and it was able to stand on its own with its own share of loyal followers. It is already an industry on its own and the evolution doesnt stop there. Magazines would still evolve and change but rest assured that its followers would be with them all the way. Commercial radio first began to broadcast in 1920, and got into politics very quickly carrying the results of that years presidential election. The 32nd President of the United States, President Franklin Roosevelt effectively used radio to communicate directly with the American people through his fireside chats during the worst days of the Depression. Radios are the earliest form of televisions, developed over 80 years ago when wireless communication was never a thought even in the most brilliant scientists minds. It was until the late nineteenth century that James Clerk Maxwell developed the first radio-wave theorem in 1864. Mathematically, he proved that if an electrical interruption is of short distance from the point at which it occurred, there would be effect or passage of electrical current due to a type of wave that moves at the speed of light, in which the electromagnetic energy would travel. Heinrich Hertz experimented with Maxwells thesis in 1888 and demonstrated that waves travelled in straight lines and could be reflected by a metal sheet. Augusto Righi, an Italian physicist, continued and refined Hertzs work, establishing the equality between electrical and optical vibrations. Another scientist, Temistocle Calzecchi-Onesti, constructed, in 1888, a tube due to his belief that electrical discharges of atmospheric perturbations influence iron filings. In 1894, Oliver Lodge named Temistocles famous tube the coherer and increased the reception gain of the hertzian waves. Alexander Popoff then created a vertical metal pole by using Lodges coherer and collecting atmospheric disturbances in a rudimentary antenna. The invention of these instruments helped Guglielmo Marconis discovery who verified that electromagnetic waves travel between two points separated by an obstacle which led to the creation of the first radio transmitter. This experiment was repeated with larger spark gaps starting with 5 feet; expanded up to 100km and radiotelegraphy was born. The first radio station began operation in the 1920s. The broadcasting radio station was KDKA in Pittsburgh. This service became very popular and soon the concept spread around the globe. Early uses of radios were maritime, for sending telegraphic messages using Morse code between ships and land. Radios were used to pass on orders and to communicate between armies and navies on both sides in World War I. Germany used radio communications for diplomatic messages once it discovered British had tapped its submarine cables. Besides broadcasting purposes, point-to-point broadcasting, including telephone messages and relays of radio programs became common in the 1920s and the 1930s. In the pre-war years, radios were the development of detection and locating aircrafts and ships by radars. As time progressed, so did the development of radio. Today, the concepts used in radios are also used in many modern devices that are now essential to our modern lives. Inventions of radios ultimately lead to telephony (Mobile phones), videos (Television sends the picture as AM and the sound as AM or FM, with the sound carrier a fixed frequency), satellite navigation systems (Satellites with precision clocks, the satellite then transmits its position, and the time of the transmission, the receiver listens to four satellites, and can figure its position as being on a line that is tangent to a spherical shell around each satellite, determined by the time-of-flight of the radio signals from the satellite. A computer in the receiver does the math), radars (Detects objects at a distance by bouncing radio waves off them. The delay caused by the echo measures the distance and the direction of the beam determines the direction of the reflection), radio remote control (Radio remote controls use radio waves to transmit control data to a remote object as in some early forms of guided missile, some early TV remotes and a range of model boats, cars and airplanes while large industrial remote-controlled equipment such as cranes and switching locomotives now usually use digital radio techniques to ensure safety and reliability), heating (Radio-frequency energy generated for heating of objects is generally not intended to radiate outside of the generating equipment, to prevent interference with other radio signals. Microwave ovens use intense radio waves to heat food. Diathermy equipment is used in surgery for sealing of blood vessels. Induction furnaces are used for melting metal for casting, and induction hobs for cooking), and even radio services. Radio became the dominant form of media during and after World War II, as it could provide war information much faster than newspapers, and people desired current news of the war situation and of their relatives fighting overseas. However newspapers still supplied daily information and advertising. Radios importance as a news and information source declined however with the introduction of television in the late 1940s. Television dominated the media industry in 1950s. Radio and print media was to compete with television that seemed to give the best of both media: pictures and sound. With the advent of television in the 1950s, print media and radio were forced to rethink their approaches towards news and entertainment. The new media changed the nature of running for the United States presidential office, the first campaign ads for a presidential candidate appeared on television in 1952 and the first presidential debate was aired in 1960 between Senator John Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon. The television however was not invented by a single inventor, instead by many who contributed to the evolution of television. It was Joseph Henrys and Michael Faradays work with electromagnetism in 1831 that jumpstarted the evolution of electronic communication. In 1862, the very first still image was transferred over wires by Abbe Giovanna Caselli, the first person to accomplish such feat in the history of mankind using his brilliant invention, the Pantelegraph. Scientists May and Smith then experimented with selenium and light, which eventually revealed the possibility of transforming images into electronic signals in 1873. Boston civil servant George Carey thought about complete television systems and in 1877 he put forward drawings for what he called a selenium camera that would allow people to see by electricity. By 1880, great inventors, Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison theorize about telephone devices that were capable of transmitting images as well as sounds. Alexander invented the photophone, a device that used light to transmit sounds but he wanted to advance his device for image sending. Four years later, Paul Gottlieb Nipkow, first to engineer a rotating-disc technology that was able to transmit pictures over wire, making Paul Nipkow the father of mechanical televisions. He was the first human ever to discover televisions scanning principle, in which light intensities of small portions of an image are analyzed and transmitted, making Paul Nipkow the forerunner of televisions. At the Worlds Fair in Paris, the first International Congress of Electricity was held. That is where Russian Constantin Perskyi made the first known use of the word television. At the dawn of the 20th century, the momentum of ideas and discussions shifted to physical development of television systems. Inventors around the globe attempted to build mechanical television systems based on Paul Nipkows rotating disks and electronic television systems based on cathode ray tubules developed independently in the 1907 by English inventor Alan Archibald Campbell Swinton and Russian scientist, Boris Rosing. Electronic television systems lagged behind mechanical systems for several years as mechanical television was cheaper to build and delicate parts was not used. Besides, it was difficult to get financial backing to develop electronic television when mechanical television worked so much better at that time and with a cheaper working system, the public didnt see the need to change. However, Vladmir Kosmo Zworykin and Philo Taylor Farnsworth made some critical breakthrough, and electronic televisions began to catch up. Electronic television systems eventually replaced mechanical systems. Peter Goldmark, working for Columbia Broadcast System, demonstrated color television to the Federal Communication Commision in 1946. His system produced color pictures from a red-blue-green wheel spin in front of a cathode ray tube. Cable television, formerly known as Community Antenna Television or CATV, was born in the mountains of Pennsylvania in the late 1940s. The first successful color television system began commercial broadcasting on December 17, 1953 based on a system designed by Radio Corporation of America. On June of 1956, practical television remote controller first entered the homes of Americans. The Germans however used remote control motorboats during World War I. In the late 1940s, the first non-military uses for remote controls appeared. The very first prototype for a plasma display monitor was invented in July 1964 at the University of Illinois by professors Donald Bitzer and Gene Slottow, and then graduate student Robert Willson. However, it was not until after the advent of digital and other technologies that successful plasma televisions became possible. There was an explosive growth of the media in the 1980s, especially television. Satellite television reported events across the world live. With competition from 24-hour cable television news, many newspapers disappeared. Cable news and subscription cable television also rose in popularity, competing with network television. According to a Media Research in May 1994, 98 percent of all American houses has at least one TV set. 63 percent received at least basic cable. It is estimated that the average American spends 20-25% of his or her time with the television on. According to a Newsweek article on June 7 1999, the United States is the largest exporter of television programs and American movies are in prime time television all over the world. However, the Europeans are now making more of their own shows and sitcoms that have more local flavour. As in the 80s, parents continue to question the appropriateness and value of media programming for children of different ages. As the 20th century was coming to an end, a new media was born the Internet. It links people together through their computer terminals with modems connected to telephone lines and with the Internet electronic publishing and chat rooms sprang up, allowing individuals to express their opinions freely to a large global audience, giving printed media a challenge to survive. With minimal technical information, any individual will be capable of commenting personal views on air without the huge expense as of in traditional publishing. The Internet also gave advertising a whole new platform to promote their products and delivering their message. The future of mass media is yet to be unknown as there are possibilities of new medium yet to be invented and because of the widespread distribution of cellphones and the Internet, it is easy to forget that both technologies are at their immature stage. However, it is unlikely that we, as of living in this society are able to focus on the lens of history with clarity upon what these technologies have or might have effect upon us in the future. Mass communication is truly the mass power to shape the future of human culture as communication is culture and since humans are searching for new forms of communication, indubitably, we are indirectly looking at new forms of utilizing power, new forms of controlling individuals and new forms of shaping the human culture to come.

Value of Reflective Practice for Skills Development

Value of Reflective Practice for Skills Development Reflective practice has been defined as Involving self, a process that is undertaken in response to a positive or negative event that may be initiate consciously or subconsciously, that requires to provide an answer (Chapman, Dempsey et al. 2009). It has also been defined as Paying critical attention to the practical values and theories which inform every day actions, by examining practice reflectively and reflexively, this leads to developmental insight (Clouston, Westcott 2005). Reflective practice is a process to which a person dissects their internal reactions to certain situations, and how they dealt with the cause and effect. It is only through this reflection that an individual can comprehensively understand and learn from their previous decision making mechanisms. Reflective practice gives the opportunity for a health professional to look back at their clinical skills used in given situations, and assess how these skills could be amended to better their professional practice. It is a method of learning from experiences, using experiences to analyze why problems occurred, and then to find a solution to these problems (Taylor 2010). Reflection has been defined by Dewey (1933) as active persistent and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it and the further conclusion to which it tends cited by (Mann, Gordon et al. 2009). Boud (1978) reinforces Deweys assessment of reflection, however, he aligns himself with an overtly emotional assessment of personal experience. Boud defines reflection as a generic term for those intellectual and affective activities in which individuals engage to explore their experiences in order to lead to a new understanding and appreciation cited by (Mann, Gordon et al. 2009). There is a gap between academia and good professional practice. Although a student may have a very good understanding of theory, this does not necessarily teach them about good professional practice (Baird 2008). Knowledge is something that is to be challenged and reinforced. Gaining knowledge through clinical experience and reflection is key to being a reflective practitioner (Clouston, Westcott 2005). This can be obtained at university level within Radiography through clinical placement, positioning classes and a personal development system (PDS) (Baird 2008). These classes give the student an opportunity to challenge, discuss, but more importantly reflect on the theory which they have learned. It is through problem solving that a student can reach below the purely scientific understanding of processes and procedures, and can delve into the deeper, and one could argue, the more complexities of clinical practice. Through these teaching methods a student can learn that the theory of practice is not always going to work in given situations, and through reflection they can amend their knowledge to give the result of better clinical skills and professional practice (Baird 2008). It would be nieve to assume that every patient, every ailment, should reprieve a standard set method of treatment. The PDS is an online resource which provides a student with a key initial starting block to which they can build a more successful, productive, and ultimately professional methodology to explore key skill and developmental needs (Rowland 2006). A study of students found that reflective exercises proved successful, and that they thought it could be a valuable part of their professional careers within the health service. Students realised that reflective practice can help to deal with any similar issues arising (Cronin, Connolly 2007). Another study found that student nurses gained confidence in decision making through journal writing also stating that they believed more, that writing could be used to learn (Epp 2008). Both studies show that reflective practice is a beneficial tool that can be used to enhance professional practice. However the first study is seemingly over crediting the usefulness of reflective practice on a one size fits all basis. Students must not become fully dependant on the benefits which reflective practice may bring, and must leave room for ingenuity, and adapt these procedures to specific circumstances. The second study reinforces the benefits which reflective practice can bring to a students confide nce in their own professional expertise. The introduction of key performance indicators (KPI) into healthcare departments increased awareness among staff and gave an obligation to staff to fulfil certain tasks (Abujudeh, Kaewlai et al. 2010). Through KPIs in individual can highlight areas of strengths and weaknesses, however more importantly can develop a systematic and detailed plan to improve their continual personal development. There are methods incorporated into KPIS to encourage reflective practice, Continual Professional Development (CPD) and life long learning (LLL) (Chapman, Dempsey et al. 2009). Within radiography these two strategies are used to develop reflective practice. LLL was implemented with the intention for individuals to continually re-educate themselves on advances within their field of work. CPD is a resource which is discussed in detail with, the relevant line manager. If CPD is used properly reflective thinking is encouraged in the practitioner (Chapman, Dempsey et al. 2009). This reinforces the rel ationship which exists between CPD and the development of reflective practice. The society of radiographers has invested in an exclusive CPD tool which gives advice to members on how to reflect and learn. The CPD plan outlines that reflective practice can be carried out in a number of ways. Firstly by writing a reflective journal about personal experiences in the workplace or secondly in an educational environment through health professionals attending courses, to learn better ways of becoming a good reflective practitioner (Kelly 2005). It is only through implementation of all of these methods that a continual and productive mode of reflective practice can be achieved through the CPD plan. Writing a reflective journal helps a health professional keep a record of their practice, remind themselves of good and bad practice, why it happened and how they overcame or will overcome the problem (Clouston, Westcott 2005). A study found when a group of radiation therapists gathered to write journals together that their motivation, confidence, professional knowledge, critical thinking and professional practice all increased ensuring the CPD of staff (Milinkovic, Field et al. 2008). It is vital for reflective practice to be a success, all individuals within an organisation must be wholly committed to the belief that reflective practice is a worthwhile and productive tool. Things which hinder reflective practice occur in workplaces where there is no emphasis put on it by line management.. The pressures placed on professionals in the clinical environment mean that the health professional may feel that time spent on reflective practice may seem wasted (Mann, Gordon et al. 2009). It is a well known fact that as the health professional spends more time in the profession, it is found that less of their time is spent reflecting. It has been said that barriers to reflective practice include lack of time and space, negative preconceptions, organisational culture, fear, the risk of routine and not fully understanding reflection (Clouston, Westcott 2005). A study found that the use of a facilitator within a healthcare team to guide people and help promote reflective practi ce was very beneficial to the team. The time spent on reflection was said to have enhanced critical thinking, professionalism, making decisions and being able to challenge things they were not in full agreement with (Mann, Gordon et al. 2009). The use of a reflective practice facilitator provides a systematic and constant reminder to practitioners of the importance and benefits which this tool can give in work life. The facilitator provides an outlet for relevant and knowledgeable advice in what a practitioner may perceive as being a difficult circumstance. This study suggests that reflective practice has a positive impact on clinical skills and professional practice. Another study found that within the format of a meeting environment consisting of health professionals, reflective practice was influenced by five factors. The first factor which influenced reflective practice was that too much structure in a meeting lowered the ability to reflect. Secondly the level of interest a prof essional has in reflection, the more interested being better reflectors. Meetings in which people have certain roles and consist of tasks do not provide ideal for reflection. A pressurised environment where a professional is obliged to complete tasks, was shown to prevent reflective capabilities also (Heel, Sparrow et al. 2006). It would be nieve and absurd to remove structure from this mode of reflection, as the KPI targets reinforce good reflection methods. . Reflective practice has been proven to be an important tool in developing clinical skills and professional development. All studies had a similar agreement that reflective practice is good but the method of reflecting varied. Reflective practice has to be carried out from student to professional level. Reflection was said to increase confidence, decision making, motivation and professionalism (Clouston, Westcott 2005). There were no studies found that measured the effectiveness of reflective practice, perhaps this is an area where more research is needed. Another area that no research was located on was bad experiences of reflective practice. Further study into these areas could give more insight into how beneficial reflection is.

Technology and Morality in Shelleys Frankenstein - The Advancement of

Frankenstein and the Advancement of Science      Ã‚  Ã‚   Science is nothing more than facts and principles that have been accepted on the basis of the knowledge gained by a systematic study. The scientific process is the common, basic pathway to this discovery of knowledge. The good or evil implications resulting from knowledge is not the primary concern of the scientist, though these implications can have a powerful impact. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein shows how the discovery of knowledge can have earth-shattering repercussions when a scientist does not consider the consequences of his actions.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Victor Frankenstein often esteemed himself a scientist of nature in contrast to those of his time who were alchemists. As such, he followed the very same path which elementary school kids follow today; observation, hypothesis, experimentation, and conclusion. The first step he took in creating his monster was observation. Victor Frankenstein observed the power of nature through the destructive force of lightning. He knew the potential of such energies and developed a hypothesis based on his studies of Agrippa and Magnus. His hypothesis stated that, through the power of nature, he could reanimate organic tissue; a process which his mentors claimed to have already achieved. Victor Frankenstein's experimentation required a form, which took him to the charnel houses to claim tissue from the deceased. The creature was complete with the animating science developed by Victor Frankenstein. His hypothesis proved true in the respect that it could give life. Through out the process he underwent to create the creature at no time in the process was there a point to reflect as to whether or not he should create such a monster. There was ... ...iterary Supplement 9 Apr. 1993: 12-14.    Boyd, Stephen. York Notes on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Longman York Press, 1992.    Garber, Frederick. The Autonomy of the Self from Richardson to Huysmans. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1982.    Nelkin, Dorothy.   "Genetics, God, and Sacred DNA."   Society May/June 1996: 22-25.    Patterson, Arthur Paul. A Frankenstein Study. http://www.watershed.winnipeg.mb.ca/Frankenstein.html    Shelley, Mary.   Frankenstein.   Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980.    Smith, Christopher. Frankenstein as Prometheus. http://www.umich.edu/~umfandsf/class/sf/books/frank/papers/FrankCS.html    Spark, Muriel. Mary Shelly. New York: Dutton, 1987.    Williams, Bill. On Shelley's Use of Nature Imagery. http://www.umich.edu/~umfandsf/class/sf/books/frank/papers/FrankWJW.html   

Analysis of the Work Environment at W.L. Gore & Associates Essay

One of the pioneering firms in the use of team-based approaches to job design is W. L. Gore & Associates. Gore & Associates has made Fortune magazine’s â€Å"100 Best Companies to Work For† list for eleven consecutive years. Gore & Associates is one of only three firms that have made every list published by Fortune. The purpose of this critical thinking exercise is to garner valuable insight specific to the unique organizational work environment at Gore & Associates. Likewise, this document will address and respond to a series of questions in reference to the corporate culture at W.L Gore. Upon completion of said assessment of Gore & Associates, personal reflection will be given as to whether this is an organization someone would find a compelling targeted career opportunity. W. L. Gore & Associates - Corporate Summary W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. is a privately-held company headquartered in Newark, Delaware. Founded in 1958, W. L. Gore & Associates has built a worldwide reputation for ethics and integrity in its dealings with customers, suppliers, and internal associates, and for taking a strategic view when it comes to assessing business opportunities. Gore & Associates employs approximately 9,000 individuals, referred to as associates, in 30 different countries. Gore maintains manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom and China (www.gore.com/aboutus, 2011). Gore’s fluoropolymer products provide innovative solutions throughout industry, in next-generation electronics, for medical products, and with high-performance fabrics. While they are probably best known for their line of protective outerwear, known as GORE-TEX ®, the entire suite of products under the Gore brand are distinguished in th... ... with a non specific answer. The truth of the matter is that Gore, as a whole, is certainly an organization that represents morality, fairness, good business and competition. How could someone not want to be part of that? Works Cited Gore & Associates. (2011). Gore: About us. Retrieved from: www.gore.com/aboutus/ Gore & Associates. (2011). Gore: Environmental responsibility statement. Retrieved from: http://www.gore.com/en_xx/aboutus/environmental/env-responsibility.html Gore & Associates. (2011). Gore: Our culture. Retrieved from: http://www.gore.com/en_xx/aboutus/culture/index.html Kinicki, A., & Kreitner, R. (2009). Organizational Behavior: Key Concepts, Skills & Best Practices (fourth addition). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin Publishing Xerox. (2011). Creating a great workplace. Retrieved from: www.xeroxcareers.com/working-xerox/diversity/

Dylan Thomas :: essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dylan Thomas combines his vibrant imagery with his adolescent experiences in South Whales and London to produce the realistic tale â€Å"The Followers†. His interest in writing short stories like â€Å"The Followers† stems from the beginning part of his life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Thomas spent his days growing up in Swansea, South Whales with his father, a grammar school English teacher. His father encouraged his early interest in reading and writing. Some of his early poetry was published in local literary writing journals. Thomas grew up in the late 1920’s and the 1930’s. â€Å"In the 1930’s, when the trend toward social and political commentary dominated the arts, Thomas began pursuing more personal themes that originated in his own experiences† (Gunton and Harris 358). Thomas would then incorporate these experiences into his poetry. For example, the poem â€Å"The Ballad of the Long-Legged Bait† is about a fisherman he probably saw around growing up in Swansea. In 1934 Thomas began moving between London and several villages where he started drinking a lot and â€Å"epitomized the raucous image of an artist† After WW II, Thomas began writing more short stories rather than poetry (Gunton and Harri s 358).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Much earlier stories focus on a theme of either birth or death. Because of this, Thomas’s early period has been called his â€Å"womb-tomb† era (Gunton and Harris 358). As Thomas’s writing style evolved, he would begin to experiment with new techniques. He started using vibrant images and using sound as â€Å"verbal music†, creating his own poetic style (Gunton and Harris 358). However, many times Thomas will try to convey emotions that are too complex for any lyrical treatment. Other times the opposite can be true and he gives too intricate an elaboration to simple feelings (Olsen 366). These elements of Thomas’ style are evident in his poems and stories, such as â€Å"The Followers†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The roster of characters in â€Å"The Followers† are the unnamed narrator, his good pal Leslie, and a girl whom they call â€Å"Hermoitte Weatherby†. The narrator and Leslie meet in a pub on a rainy, London night. They leave after a while, due to lack of funds and decide to have a spot of fun by following a girl they don’t know (Hermoitte) to her home. They spend the evening watching â€Å"Hermoitte† and her mom doing a lot of nothing they are discovered by them and a third unknown voice inside. They flee their window perch in a hurry and call it a night.

Hope for the Flowers Essay

’’Hope for the flowers’’ is a book that I found at a friend’s place. This book was part of a course on entrepreneurship that he underwent at business school. Hardbound with bright coloured cover and inside pages, the book looks like one created for kindergarten kids. Something that prompted me to give him a quizzical look. His reply was very simple – ’’Just read it’’. I was still sceptical, but considering the fact that the course itself was taken by a pretty successful entrepreneur I gave it the benefit of doubt – after all it was hardly 15 minutes worth of reading and – aren’t we all just kids in adult make up It is the story of two caterpillars – the not so good looking, strong, ambitious, go getting, very male Stripe and the more beautiful, intuitive, perceptive, lovely Yellow. How do I know that she is lovely? – its the illustrations silly. Like all caterpillars do, Stripe bursts out of his tiny egg to come out into a bright and sunny world. He is hungry and wastes no time to begin eating the leaf that he was born on. And then another and another and another until he feels ’’that there must be more to life than just eating and getting bigger’’. Stripe then goes on a ’’fascinating discovery of life’’ that leads him to what he believes is the way to the TOP.It is not an easy path, one must ’’push, shove and trample to go up’’ and it is in this path upwards that he meet Yellow. Yellow is already on the way up. She has convinced herself that it is the only way up, until she meets stripe. And destiny which brings them together also takes them apart. Yellow strikes out on her own, because she is sure there must be some other better way to reach the top. She does not know what that path is and goes on simple faith, building a dark cocoon around herself in the impossible hope that she could be a butterfly. As her guide says ’’It’s what you are meant to become. It flies with beautiful wings and joins the earth to heaven. It drinks only nectar from the flowers and carries the seeds of love from one flower to another. Without butterflies, the world would have fewer flowers.’’ As I read the story the one thing that struck me was the manner in which the author almost perfectly recreated corporate life in the metaphor of a caterpillar’s life. As it turned out I was wrong. This book was NOT written with corporate in mind. It was the outcome of someone ’’sharing comfort with a friend who had just experienced death of someone close’’. Yet it had lent itself so beautifully to the purpose it was assigned (as course material in a business school) and to the imagination of its reader (myself). What is it that makes it so? What is it that makes stripe and yellow ’’fly around the world carrying hope for the flowers and millions of people’’ for more than 25 years now? Is it the universal message that it tries to get across? Is it the simple narrative that is so very accessible? Is it the wonderfully illustrated copy? Is it that rare sometime when everything falls in its right place? I don’t know. What I do know is that you owe it to yourself to take 15 minutes of your time and read it. after all – it is in your destiny that you spread your wings and fly, not crawl, trample, push, kick and climb.

Diabetes (type 2): Prevention Program

Stage of Susceptibility:At this stage, the individual is predisposed to having diabetes mellitus due to some factors called the risk factors. These factors are: Family history of diabetics, i.e if any of the parent or of the lineage has diabetics before. B). overweight this is when the body mass index is more than or equal 25. C).habitual physical activity i.e. when an individual does not participate in any physical activity. D. Some forms are also predominant in some races. E). a person who has been previously identified as having impaired fasting glucose. F). Hypertension and history of gestational diabetes and individuals who has polycystic ovarian syndrome.Stage of Pre-symptomatic Disease:Diabetics mellitus does not have prolonged stage of prolong stage of pre-symptomatic. Since there are two major problems in type 2 DM, there is insulin resistance and there is pancreatic beta cell dysfunction. The beta cell dysfunction might be cause be many factor including autoimmune antibodie s directed on some antigen which will have reduce the number and effectiveness of the beta cell.Stage of Clinical Disease:When the diabetics is full blown common symptoms include polyuria (passing of excess urine both in the day and at night), polydipsia (drinking of excess water to compensate for the fluid been loss by the urinary system), obesity, easy fatigability. some patient will have in addition to theses nausea and vomiting, this is the stage that usually present in the hospitalStage of Disability:Diabetics’ type 2 mellitus if not treated early may cause some complication. These complications are divided into acute and chronic. The acute complication s are the effect which can result from excess glucose that is build up in the blood, this is called Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) in which the excess glucose is converted to acetyl-coA and in the process form ketone bodies. The chronic complications are neuropathy, kidney damage, retinopathy, stroke, and leg ulcersPrimary P revention:The aim of primary treatment is to reduce the predisposing and risk factor of type 2 diabetes mellitus, this can be done through proper nutrition i.e. eating high fiber, low fat diet, low salt and alcohol intake, and having regular exercise. We ensure that some underline diseases are taking care of every time for instance hypertension.Secondary Prevention:Here the aim of the secondary prevention is to alleviate the symptoms, to normalize the glucose level in the body, and to prevent its complications. This is done by aggressively controlling the hypertension if the patient is hypertensive, giving diabetic diet, by the use of antihypertensive. Insulin can sometimes be given in type 2 but not in all cases, but since we know that there is insulin resistance we will give the patient drugs that will improve the resistance this include Sulphonyuras class of drugs.Tertiary Prevention:This is the treatment given when the disease has presented with complications. This is done by ri gidly monitoring the blood glucose within a close range so as to reduce the already develop complications. Some times operations are carried out on patient with retinopathy so as to correct the sight. In a patient with chronic leg ulcer, the best therapy is to amputate the gangrenous legs so that it will not deteriorate.

Immorality of Excessive Gambling Essay

Excessive gambling is immoral because it causes people to exhaust their resources on an activity with uncertain results which can result to bigger problems in the end. Those who gamble should practice moderation in their ways so that they will be able to avoid the possibilities of gambling dependency on one’s future and of drying-up one’s financial resources just to satisfy an earthly pleasure. Instead of going to casinos and playing card games on a regular basis, people should only do so as a pastime so that they can a lot most of their time to more rewarding activities that are certain to compensate for their efforts. If a person gambles too much, the tendency of the individual is to use most—if not all—of his financial resources just to satisfy his desire to gamble (Kusyszyn, 1984). An excessive gambler does not mind if the odds of winning are small compared to the odds of losing. Moreover, an excessive gambler no longer minds if the money he has gambled has already reached to amounts that are already way beyond the ordinary. The excessive gambler, therefore, is so devoted to spending a luxurious amount in the hopes of winning his bet which, if he did win, he will then again use to gamble. While the case of an excessive gambler is not always beyond repair, the damages that his deeds can inflict not only to himself but also to his family can certainly alter the course of their lives for the worse, if not the worst. For one, financial debt can never be far behind because an excessive gambler will find ways just to fuel his addiction—including loans either from lending institutions or other people. This will certainly affect the financial security of himself and of his family. Another thing is that excessive gambling can lead to loss of time for work and for the family. If the excessive gambler losses time for his work, there is a great chance that he will be losing his job which can cut-off his or his family’s source of income. The loss of time for the family is also negative consequence because it causes family members to lose emotional bond. If the gambler is a father, there is the risk that his children will no longer see him as a fatherly figure or, probably worse, they may reach the point where they will no longer miss his presence in the household while he is out in the casinos gambling. More importantly, excessive gambling is immoral because it takes away the opportunity for families to develop and grow in many ways. Instead of spending the money on gambling, the money could have been better spent on household furniture, on paying monthly bills, family vacation and other things that could have brought the family closer together. The latter options are certainly the better options to take instead of gambling too much. The omission of these good options in exchange for the worse option is certainly not a moral thing to do when the person could have just chosen the option that was primarily beneficial to everybody in the household and its future. From a utilitarian perspective, disregarding the option that maximizes benefits to the most number of individuals concerned is not the moral thing to do (Freeman, 1994). Thus, excessive gambling is immoral from a utilitarian standpoint. Aristotle’s philosophy of moderation suggests that human beings should avoid the extremes because the excess and the deficiency of anything are vices whereas the moderation of it is considered to be a virtue (Yu, 1998). The same principle can be applied to contemporary gambling. For example, an individual’s deficiency of playing slot machines in casinos or anywhere else where there ways to gamble is considered as a vice. On the other hand, spending too much time, attention and resources on playing poker in a Las Vegas casino is also considered to be a vice. The best option that should be taken is a moderate gambling practice because, according to Aristotle, the moderate way is the virtuous way which can lead to the good life. Instead of going regularly to casinos or spending more time in the race track than in the household, the excessive gambler should practice moderating his addiction. He can instead cut the time and money he is spending on his vices and devote more of them to his family. He can also choose to work harder in the office or spend more time with his children so that he will have less time for gambling. The bright side to that is that he becomes less of a person addicted to gambling while being more of a normal person at the same time. The point is not to siphon all of your time, resources and attention to gambling as it deprives you of some of life’s better activities. It does not mean, however, that the person should altogether abandon gambling. The thing is that gambling can still be a part of a person’s life, only that this time around gambling is no longer an addiction but rather a leisurely activity spent for pastime. In fact, moderate gambling can be a source of emotional bond for family members especially for the adult parents. For instance, a couple can decide to go on vacation in Las Vegas and spend a bit of time and money in a casino where they can play together for fun. If they lose, not much is lost because the primary goal was to establish more emotional bond together. If they win, however, their financial winnings can be considered as mere ‘bonuses’ to their primary intent. This perhaps best explains why gambling can also be a good deed so long as it is within moderate limits. It is easy to see and understand why excessive gambling is immoral. For the most part, it is a menace that tears down family bond and deprives people of spending their lives on better activities. Although excessive gambling is immoral, the moderation of gambling can still be considered as a good thing for it can also bring families closer together. References Freeman, S. (1994). Utilitarianism, Deontology, and the Priority of Right Utilitarianism, Deontology, and the Priority of Right. Philosophy and Public Affairs, 23(4), 313-349. Kusyszyn, I. (1984). The Psychology of Gambling. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 474, 133-145. Yu, J. (1998). Virtue: Confucius and Aristotle. Philosophy East and West, 48(2), 323-347.

Semester Reflection

As the semester started, I had set my mind that I was destined to achieve a lot. During the start of the semester, I had several difficulties writing English assignments especially in terms of grammar. During the first week of the semester, I sat down, organized my thoughts and comprehended that throughout the semester, I had to achieve all that I had planned for. As a student of English, I had planned that throughout the semester, I had to improve my skills as a scholar, writer and critical thinker. Now that the semester has ended, I can reflect all the semester activities to depict how my writing skills and critical thinking skills have drastically improved. This paper presents a reflection paper of how this semester’s assignments have shaped me as a writer, critical thinker and scholar. Since the start of this semester, I have encountered many aspects of English that I can now understand. There are several ways through which I have shaped my writing skills over the course of the semester but one major activity of the semester that has helped me a lot especially in my writing and critical thinking skills is the semester writing assignments. During this semester, I got the opportunity to write several assignments. The two major writing assignments that helped me a lot in comprehending about the several aspects of writing were writing on â€Å"Obama’s acceptance speech† and â€Å"Downloading from torrent. † During these semester writings, it was quite interesting to learn the use of English writing skills under different circumstances. First, writing a paper on â€Å"Obama’s acceptance speech† instilled me with knowledge on how to analyze a speech and present the ideas and themes of the speaker. This assignment was also critical in shaping my critical thinking skills since I was able to critically analyze Obama’s speech in relation to its purpose and context. Writing this speech also enabled me acquire the skills of writing papers from first person context. I acquired the skills to use strong introductory phrases that hold the capability of capturing the reader. Flateby (p 190) argues that critical and creative writers must use descriptive words. I am now able to utilize descriptive words in my writings that are capable of creating a scenic imagination to the reader. I am also able to write a reported speech. These are writing skills that I gained after writing the paper on Obama’s acceptance speech. I believe that these are very critical skills that will help me throughout my entire course and even after my studies. Throughout the semester, I have gained skills necessary for understanding and utilizing logic while writing. I am now aware that for any writing to be scholarly, it must possess an introductory section, a body and a conclusion section. Further, I am now able to understand as well as utilize most of the basic techniques useful in pre-writing, revision and editing. Through writing the â€Å"downloading from torrents† paper, I acquired skills in word processing, sentence elements, and punctuation. Further, I developed some special skills in writing a website analysis which is a critical aspect in contemporary learning as argued by Flateby (p 182). As the semester folds, I believe that I have gained the prerequisite skills in writing and critical thinking. However, I need to improve much on some of the common problems in writing that seems to disturb me especially grammar. In regard to the development of my critical thinking aspects which cannot be depicted from my writings, I have gained several critical thinking skills from my writing assignments throughout the semester. Through writing assignments such as â€Å"downloading from torrents† and â€Å"Obama’s acceptance speech† I gained the skills necessary in summarizing a given reading using my original thoughts. When I was writing â€Å"Obama’s acceptance speech†, it was a required that one had to read and understand the speech then analyze it using own thoughts and perceptions. This helped in shaping my critical thinking aspects. As denoted by Flateby (p 190), critical thinkers must have the ability to form opinions. This is a skill that I have also gained through the semester’s writing assignments. This was acquired through writing the â€Å"downloading from torrents† assignment that required the students to form personal opinions about the website. I can now form opinions with ease as well as express it with precision and clarity through writing. Further, I am also able to deduce the premise of most writers after reading a number of scholarly writings. In deed, this semester’s assignments have shaped my writing and critical thinking skills. I am now able to understand the meaning of several written works, conduct a rhetoric examination, write opinion papers, and analyze speeches, write critical analysis papers as well as effectively reference my assignments. Though I found it challenging throughout the semester, I am now able to use several examples while writing my assignments. The semester’s activities have really paid me out. As the semester started, I had a mediocre performance but I can now ascertain that as the semester ends, I am now among the best students in the whole class. To improve my grammar in the coming semester, I aim at visiting the university English writing center where I will get help on grammar. I am also planning to enroll in a part time grammar class. Though the semester’s assignments helped me in improving my performance, I still owe it the efforts of my instructor and my fellow students who tirelessly helped me in my path to becoming a great writer, a better critical thinker and a scholar.

Behaviors leading to insomnia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Behaviors leading to insomnia - Essay Example Other symptoms that manifest because of this condition are waking up too early and suffering from fatigue upon waking up (Morin et. al., 2011). Insomnia often manifests itself as either primary insomnia or secondary insomnia. Primary insomnia refers to sleeplessness that is not caused by any underlying condition while secondary insomnia is caused by an underlying medical condition (Buysse, 2013). The various medical conditions that can cause insomnia include asthma, arthritis, cancer, pain or medication being ingested by a person (Jarin, Chen, Ivers & Morin, 2013). This condition also manifests in self, depending on its duration, as either acute or chronic. Acute insomnia lasts a shorter time, a few weeks, while chronic insomnia lasts longer. There are varied effects that arise because of insomnia. Most of the effects of insomnia affect the quality of life and performance of daily tasks (Sasa et. al., 2010). In rare cases, insomnia results in death and this type of insomnia is referred to as fatal familial insomnia. First, insomnia decreases the quality of life in the form of lack of alertness and poor memory during the day (Sasa et. al., 2010). People who suffer from insomnia are more irritable, make more mistakes and develop poor relationships with their colleagues and spouses (Calhoun et. al., 2014). Insomnia further affects the concentration and performance of the brain. Those who suffer from this condition often suffer from mental health conditions such as nervousness, irritability and fatigue (Watts, Coyle & East, 2011). The lack of sleep affects the concentration span and focus. The brain requires several hours of sleep for it to achieve optimum concentration to perform tasks. Insomnia compromises the brain’s ability to process information. The effects of insomnia are numerous and influence the lives of people significantly (Morin et.