Thursday, October 31, 2019

A+ Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

A+ - Assignment Example Perceived obsolescence is a concept which means that something has seemingly gone out of style but it has not yet. In other words, basically recycling should be planned obsolescence, because as we become a garbageless society the recycling system will be perceived obsolescence and recognized as such within society, without a doubt. These are real concepts. Recycling only comparmentalizes garbage. We have increasing amounts of recyclable garbage to compartmentalize and reuse, threfore we must realize that when we â€Å"throw away,† there is no away, per se. The garbage is either being added to the amount of recyclable garbage in circulation or is added to the landfills. 4. Since we â€Å"cannot run a linear system on a finite planet indefinitely,† what is the solution if we are to become a sustainable society? Another way to say this is you can’t have unlimited economic growth with limited resources. If we become a sustainable society, we will be far less wasteful as a society. Once our resources become scarce, we are going to have difficulty finding new revenue sources. The problem is, we can no longer depend on foreign oil to help our livelihood. The economy will not recover if we consistently fail to use our resources wisely. So, in effect, we must galvanize as a nation in order to use them with caution and very sparingly. In order to accomplish this we must reign in our spending and not make waste and increase revenue. We need to ensure that the economic system is sustainable environmentally, if that makes sense. Our policies should reflect ecological realities. The biological systems on which we depend should be supported by policies. If they are not, we will have future problems for sure. The political action groups (PACs) that lobby Congress must â€Å"go green† and become environmentally conscious and savvy and â€Å"in the know† about what we are doing to our environment.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Economic Impacts of the National Transportation Safety Board on the Term Paper

Economic Impacts of the National Transportation Safety Board on the Airline Industry - Term Paper Example There were 21 recommendations in between 2006 and 2008 to this center to addresses the management to conduct more accident investigations and studies related to the safety of air-travels (Dillingham, 1). The NTSB training center follows cutting-edge management practices, conducts investigations after accidents and studies for safety measures. NTSB also studies the usages of the Information Technology can help the aircrafts avoid these fatalities and losses. The organization (NTSB) has staff strength of over 400. The budget of the organization is approximately $100 million (at present). It is in charge of each and every civil aircrafts accident in the United States. It has a training center, which was opened in 2003. The training center provides training for the investigators of the organization, as well as other professionals attached to safety of transportation (Dillingham, 1). This study will reflect upon the impact of NTSB on the Airplane Industry Findings of NTSB on an Airplane C rash: US Air flight 427 operated by USAir crashed near Aliquippa (Pennsylvania) on the 8th of September 1994. It was an aircraft of the type Boeing 737-300. NTSB collected data for the air-crash. The total team of NTSB examined the spot and took a couple of years to arrive at the conclusion. It was found that no evidence of any explosion or collision with bird occurred (Walters and Robert, 5-9). Moreover, no trace of in-flight fire was found. Due to bad weather a lot of information went missing. However, the parts of the aircraft and the engine were working with efficiency till before the hazard (as per the research conducted by the NTSB investigators). The investigators conducted computer generated simulations due to lack of apt evidences. NTSB and NASA aerodynamics experts created a wake turbulence model and concluded that under atmospheric conditions that evening caused the havoc. The wake vortices probably had descended to approximately 300 and 500 feet every minute Additionally , NTSB also found that this turbulence had led to the crash of three other air carriers over the years ranging from 1964 to 1972 (Walters and Robert, 5-9). Role of NTSB in Shaping Aviation Industry and Economy (last 20 years): NTSB has already introduced a bill which will reauthorize the Aviation Administration in the United States. It has implemented fully the three management recommendations given in the earlier meetings by the congress (as of April 2008) (Dillingham, 5). The recommendations in the bill are listed below: (1) To facilitate proper channel of communication between staff and management, (2) To align the structure of the organization and to implement the strategic plans, and (3) To rectify the Anti-deficiency Act Violation pertaining to the purchase of accidental death and the dismemberment insurance towards the employees who meet with such accidents while on official duties. In addition, NTSB has progressed on the seven proposed recommendations (management) since the year 2008. NTSB has initiated sending report to the Congress the status of the recommendations and the actions taken thereafter. Moreover, NTSB has started taking steps to implement all three IT-related recommendations of the Congress (Dillingham, 5). NTSB has learned by researching over many years that the various organizations input unique perspective as well as knowledge during the investigative process. The pilots who fly the airplanes know the

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Reflection on Task Management in Nursing

Reflection on Task Management in Nursing Description: what happened. Whilst working on a medical ward with a senior staff nurse as a mentor, I identified certain competencies which needed achieving around management of care, and negotiated these with the mentor. Accordingly, the mentor suggested that I take charge of the patient workload we had been allocated for that shift, and both prioritise the care and nursing tasks, and also attend the ward round with the medical teams, providing the nurse liaison and taking the instructions from the consultants in relation to ongoing patient care and case management. Accordingly, I agreed on the prioritisation of patient tasks and allocated the workload to the members of staff in our team, and when the ward rounds began, my mentor and I attended. However, when the doctors communicated with us, they automatically addressed her, and although she turned to me to provide key information, they continued to chiefly communicate with her, and she did not correct this. Subsequently, she took charge of the ward rounds and I remained as an observer. At the end of the ward rounds, it should have been my role to take the instructions given and to implement them in changing care plans and in directing or implementing clinical tasks. However, my mentor continued to take charge of this for the rest of the time, giving me little opportunity to experience this aspect of the role for myself. Feelings There is a great sense of responsibility associated with management tasks, which extends beyond being responsible for individual patients to being responsible for a group of patients, and for the actions of some staff allocated to their care. I felt very strongly motivated towards achieving management competencies, but also very nervous and concerned that I would do this effectively without compromising patient care. I felt that I was achieving well under supervision until the ward rounds, where the mentor ‘took over’ and did not discuss why she had done this. I then felt as if I was unable to fulfil my competencies, and that I must have failed in some way because she did not allow me to continue in the role. Evaluation It was very positive to take charge of some management tasks and to complete these effectively. In particular, other staff responded well to me taking on this responsibility (in liaison with my mentor), and this positive feedback gave me more confidence to continue in this role. However, the way that my mentor just stepped in and took charge during the ward rounds undermined my confidence and was very challenging to deal with. I felt that I should have been more assertive at this point, but did not feel I had the confidence to do this. Analysis The acquisition of the complex skills associated with the staff nurse role have always been problematic (Gerrish, 2000). However, the literature seems to suggest that nurses are learning to perform this role in a rather haphazard manner,in the light of what they perceive to be inadequate preparation and lack of support (Gerrish, 2000). Bradshaw (1998) suggests that this is partly because nursing competency is only vaguely and broadly defined, which means that preparation and assessment of competency is both haphazard and unstructured. This also suggests there may be a potential safety hazard for both patient and nurse (Bradshaw, 1998). This would certainly seem to be the case here, where the inability to fully engage with management roles does not support the student in becoming competent. Baillie (1999) in an action research study of the topic found that preparation of students for their management role as staff nurses benefits from being closely linked to practical experience, with clear learning outcomes and supportive clinical staff. In this instance, staff were generally supportive, and clear learning outcomes set, but the mentor failed to follow through to meet these outcomes completely. This may have been because the mentor felt that there was a risk to patient care and safety, but this was not communicated to the student and there may have been other ways in which this could have been managed. However, there may be other reasons for this occurrence. Cahill (1996) in a small study found there to be a type of ward culture that not only separates those with knowledge from those who need to learn, but also reinforces the position of the student through both covert and overt mechanisms of control. If such a finding were applicable in this case, then it would suggest that the mentor may have been (consciously or subconsciously) reasserting her own authority and position of power and greater knowledge. The position of student nurses may also be such that they adhere to these cultural practices in order to ensure they receive a favourable report at the end of the placement (Cahill, 1996). Lofmark and Wikblad (2001), in a study of facilitating and obstructing factors for development of learning in clinical practice, found that responsibility and independence, opportunities to practise different tasks, and receiving feedback were facilitating factors for learning. In this case, it w ould appear that responsibility was offered, but not fully, and it is problematic to see how a student can achieve true independence whilst being supervised. In Lofmark and Wikblad’s (2001) study, other perceived promoting factors included perceptions of control of the situation and understanding of the total picture. Here it would have been useful perhaps if the staff nurse had explained to the student why she retained control and why she did not follow through on her promise to allow the student to take charge. Such behaviour was found in the Lofmark and Wikblad study to be one of the obstructing factors to learning, where the nurses as supervisors did not rely on the students. Other obstructing factors were supervision that lacked continuity and lack of opportunities to practise Lofmark and Wikblad, 2001). Perception of their own insufficiency and low self-reliance were drawbacks for some students (Lofmark and Wikblad, 2001), which is also true in this reflection, but these perceptions seem to be linked to the ways in which mentors and other staff perceive and interact with students. It also appears that the NMC Code of Conduct (2004) works both to support students here but also restricts their opportunities to engage in practice, due to the need to primarily protect and support the wellbeing of the patients. Conclusion The learning that has taken place here is vitally important for continued functioning and the acquisition of confidence as a staff nurse in future. Not only do ward cultures play a large part in student experiences, but relationships are the fundamental component of how nurses function in their environment. Some aspects of the nurse-mentor relationship, while perceived as challenging, may be necessary or inevitable, and it has not become clear to me through this reflection how this can be changed, other than to raise these issues honestly with mentors during initial and mid-point interviews to acknowledge them and how they will affect the learning experience. Action Plan Explore dimensions of the nurse-mentor relationship further Raise issues of independence, power and control during initial placement interviews. Seek out ways to develop management competencies through a variety of mechanisms and experiences. Identify communication issues and potential means of addressing them. Engage in more management activities, daily, until other staff members gain trust in my ability to fulfil these roles. Attend all ward rounds to gain confidence in this area. Engage in future cycles of reflection. References Baillie, M. (1999) Preparing adult branch students for their management role as staff nurses: an action research project. Journal of Nursing Management 7 (4), 225–234. Bradshaw, A. (1998) Defining competency in nursing: an analytical review. Journal of Clinical Nursing 7 (2), 103–111. Cahill, H.A. (1996) A qualitative analysis of student nurses experiences of mentorship Journal of Advanced Nursing 24 (4), 791–799. Gerrish, K. (2000) Still fumbling along? A comparative study of the newly qualified nurses perception of the transition from student to qualified nurse Journal of Advanced Nursing 32 (2), 473–480. LÃ ¶fmark,A. Wikblad, K. (2001) Facilitating and obstructing factors for development of learning in clinical practice: a student perspective Journal of Advanced Nursing 34 (1), 43–50. Nursing and Midwifery Council. (2004). The NMC Code of Professional Conduct: Standards for Conduct, Performance and Ethics . London. Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Nathaniel Hawthornes My Kinsman, Major Molineux as an Allegory Essay

Nathaniel Hawthorne's My Kinsman, Major Molineux as an Allegory â€Å"May not one man have several voices, Robin, as well as two complexions?† (1261), asks the friendly gentleman in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story â€Å"My Kinsman, Major Molineux.† Just as one man may have multiple facets, so too may a story, if we correctly interpret samples of Hawthorne’s work. It seems as though modern readers practically assume that his work ought to be read allegorically, and indeed, The Scarlet Letter, and many other famous works of Hawthorne, are brilliant allegories if they are interpreted as such. And yet, Nathaniel Hawthorne, more than a religious zealot or political advocate, was an avid student of colonial history. We read in the Norton Anthology’s brief biography of Hawthorne that, â€Å"[Hawthorne] was steeping himself in colonial history more than the political issues of his time† (1248). Becoming more familiar with the history of his young nation, he even published â€Å"a child’s history of colo nial and revolutionary New England† (1249). This being as it is, it would do Hawthorne’s short stories a great injustice to dismiss their merit as historical commentaries. Obviously, Hawthorne’s works are multifaceted, and one must determine how to best read and interpret them. Can the reader of Hawthorne’s short story â€Å"My Kinsman, Major Molineux† interpret this work as an allegory, and if he does, what does the story lose in terms of its historical merit? In many ways, â€Å"My Kinsman, Major Molineux† lends itself to an allegorical reading. One interpretation may be that the work is more of a bildungsroman than a true allegory. Understanding â€Å"My Kinsman, Major Molineux† as such, the reader sees Robin as a simple country youth, endeavoring first to throw... ...eristics of an allegory, it is now apparent that the work contains more dimensions. The reader need not categorize this story, either as an allegory or as an historical commentary. Indeed, there being evidence to support both interpretations, to do so would be a mistake. Allegorically, the story warns the reader that once one enters Hell, he is destined to participate in it forever. Historically, it paints an uniquely sympathetic portrait of British loyalists and their persecution at the hands of colonial patriots. In both respects, Hawthorne’s work has merit. Thus, in answer to the question previously posed, the reader is justified in interpreting â€Å"My Kinsman, Major Molineux† as an allegorical work. However, he is not justified in dismissing its historical virtues. Hawthorne’s story can and should be read carefully, with the reader appreciating its many dimensions.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Deltona Lines Inc

Then Del-Bess would be the entity to purchase the assets from Jay Transportation and lease them to Boson Freight Company. The remaining 60 million necessary to fund the purchase would be provided by bank financing. There are four main issues within this case. The first is, is this a temporary control issue for Dalton. Temporary control means that a primary company forms a Joint venture with a secondary company that would be a temporary investment to help the primary company to acquire the sought company. Business structure was formed by two or more parties for a specific purpose.Joint ventures usually are limited to one or two projects or purposes. The case Is referring to equity-based Joint ventures which benefits foreign and/or local private interests, groups of interests, or members of the general public. Benefit of this would be that partners would save money and reduce their risks through capital and resource sharing. One key difference in partnership and Joint venture is that t he Joint venture is based on a single business transaction. An example Is that Boson Freight Company wanted to Join with Dalton In purchasing Jay Transportation Inc.The second Issue is why Dalton would want to avoid consolidation. Dalton would want to avoid consolidation because It doesn't own any common stock or its investment might be temporary. Due to preferred stock may also be callable, meaning that the company has the option to purchase the shares from shareholders at anytime for any reason (usually for a premium). A third issue is how Dalton should account for their investment for financial report purposes (equity or cost). Del-sees subsidiary should be reported under the equity method by Dalton because of 80 percent controlling Interest.Under equity method, we record the investments at cost and adjust for earnings, losses, and dividends. Dalton would have consolidated financial statements due to 80 percent voting preferred stock. The last issue for Dalton is does the fair va lue method present a viable option for reporting and why or why not. Yes. Dalton Flanagan reporting would report Investment at cost, then by using the working paper entries to adjust cost to fair alee this would allows the two companies to consolidate the subsidiary (Dell-Bess) with the parent (Dalton) and identify the controlling interest share.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Preparing to Conduct Business Research Essay

Preparing to Conduct Business Research Part Three In the business world today, management must know how to conduct business research for their organization to stay competitive. Organizations that stay competitive are those who have the knowledge to conduct business research and/or surround themselves with management that has the knowledge to do so. Knowing the right question to ask and how to get the answer is significant to reaching the organization’s goal. Problem and Purpose The key to staying competitive is communication. One must clearly be able to identify the problem and the purpose of each program one is ready to implement either to improve or reach the businesses’ destination. For example, at Valley, the problem is that majority of the production standards are incorrect and not up to date, which causes the production to be inefficient. For instance, if the standard says twelve hitches an hour and the operator can only make ten hitches an hour, the efficiency is out the door. On the other hand, if a program was implemented and discovered that the standard is ten hitches an hour, the efficiency is good. The purpose of implementing the program is to find the root-cause, improve the process, and update the new data into the system. Without a clear thought and view of the situation, one will likely end up wasting valuable time and money. In short, if a business wants to be successful, a business must know the bottleneck and the resolution of implementing the program. The Significance of finding a Solution to the issue, problem, and opportunity. The significance of finding a solution to the issue, problem, or opportunity is to improve the production line and stay in business. For example, at Valley, without the implementation of the program to improve and correct the standard pieces an hour, it does not matter how hard the employees work, management will see the employees as not performing to the  organization’s expectation. Thus, the employees will be reprimanded. By implementing the program, Steve and his team discovered new process of expediting production line and correcting the standard on pieces an hour, which it improves the efficiency. It is vital that data collected are input into the system for the system to have accurate reading on the performance of the employees. Without the solution to the problem, the results will not be in management’s favor. Thus, the inefficiency will show upper-management that the organization is not profitable. Research Questions, Hypothesis, and Variables In every experiment or study, there are questions, hypotheses, and variables one must take into consideration. For instance, questions, such as why are implementing this program, is this program appropriate for this experiment or study or how are we going to improve our goals. As mentioned early on preparing to conduct business research part one, Steve and his team made several hypotheses such as, if the team put an experienced employee to run the robot will the robot produce more products or if the team expedites the welding speed will that improve production, and still have the same weld penetration on the parts. Hypotheses such as these will eventually lead to the goal. Variables as mentioned early in the first essay, when an experienced employee ran the robot, we produced more products compared to an entry-level employee or the speed of the employee; the employee has to keep up with the robot in order to produce more parts. Variables such as these also need to be considered as well. Research Design Knowing the proper research design for his or her business is another element to consider when one wants to implement a program to either solve the issues, problems, or just to improve the opportunity. There are several research designs that can help solve the issue, problem or improve the opportunity. Before such a program can be implemented, one must know the business financial state and which program is appropriate to meet the goals. As noted on the second preparing to conduct business research essay, at Valley, Steve and his team used the exploratory study for two reasons. First reason was by using the exploratory study Steve and his team will discover other ways to improve or improvise the process of producing a part. The second reason is the most important reason it save time and money. Steve and his team could have chosen Causal Study, but it would have been inefficient, as the causal method would only solve one problem at a time. Instrument Developed or Selected There is an old saying, â€Å"There is more than one way to skin a cat;† in other words, there is more than one instrument that can be used to accomplish a goal. One can either use an instrument that has already by developed or develop a new one. It is always good to challenge the status quo to develop new concepts and think outside the box. A creative management is one who will likely be more successful than one who is not. As noted by Golicic and Davis, (2011) â€Å"Using multiple methods to study a phenomenon is proposed to produce results that are more robust and compelling than single method studies.† The data instrument Steve and his team used at Valley was communication. Steve and his team first interview the operators; they asked the number of years the operators have been operating the machines, their skillset, their ability to multi-task, their machine troubleshooting knowledge, and how parts were documented: hourly or by shift. After collecting the data, Steve and his team started conducting time studies for each operation. By collecting data and conducting time studies, Steve and his team not only resolved a problem, but they also improved the existing manufacturing process. Sampling Method Every management has his or her way of doing sampling. It depends on what a management wants to accomplish. At Valley, Steve and his team conducted the sampling by doing time studies on cycle time for each operation and on each employee. Since it is an ongoing process, every time a new work order appears, Steve and his team would have to conduct the sampling. Steve and his team sampling method were not that difficult because they can control the environment and the atmosphere. Steve and his team starting with the entry-level employee and work their way to the senior-level employee. Different management has different style of doing sampling. Overall data analysis approach There are many ways a management can approach a data analysis. One can process by monitoring or surveying. At Valley, Steve and his team approached by monitoring and surveying. At first, Steve and his team monitor each employee’s performance such as how the employee would run the machine or robot and compare it to other employees. By monitoring the employees’ performance, Steve and his team managed to find the most effective way of operating the machine or robot. After monitoring, Steve and his team survey the employees by conducting interviews and communication. In doing so, in some area where the standard varies, Steve and his team can come to an agreement of a median standard for that particular work order and process. Result Reporting A management can use any research design or approaches on data analysis to discover or reach the goal. The important factor in using the program is the results. In the end, the upper-management would want a final report on the results. Questions and concerns have to be answered if results are not in upper-management’s expectations. By reporting the results, upper-management will be able to make their decision whether to proceed with the program or if it is just a waste of time. In other words, did upper-management get their money’s worth? Another factor in reporting the results is that upper-management now will have a better understanding of the organization’s culture, tradition, and goals. Ethical considerations Ethics in the workplace is very important. Ethics has many meanings; to some people, ethics can mean doing something that is appropriate and legal. On the other hand, to others, ethics can mean whatever it takes to get the job done. In our experiences, poor management wants the results to be in their favor; they would even resort to research data manipulation to reflect their agenda positively. In the end, management gets the results that they wanted, but lose a few hard working dedicated employees who value ethics. On the other hand, a good management cares for their employees’ safety and well being. They have employees who do what is right and legal. In an article from the Trade Journal, the author stated, â€Å"A recent International  Study by Walker Information and the Hudson Institute found that 55 percent of workers who describe their workplace environment as ethical are more likely to be loyal and stay with the same organization† (Sherren, 2005). For companies who care about, respect, and recognize their employees’ hard work, are rewarded with employees who are very loyal to the organization and work even hard to see that the organization succeeds. There are companies in Asia who value and maintain an ethical workplace culture that have employees work their entire careers under the same organization and have family members working alongside them. This is an example of a great company-employee relationship that emphasizes trust and ethics that transcends numbers, and profit margins, and have thus become symbiotic in nature; turning a traditional work environment into a more familial culture. Conclusion There are many kinds of management in the business world; some emphasize one business culture over the other. Whatever the case may be; there is one ruling goal in business, and that is to make the most profits by any means necessary. Businesses that are successful are the ones that have knowledge of conducting business research methods and know what questions to ask, who to ask and where to get the answers. It is also important that business who conduct business research to consider the long-term ramifications and possible unintended consequences that their decision will have on their employees, stockholders, clients and the society as a whole. When conducting a business research, it is important to consider the problem and the research purpose, the significance of the research and the different opportunities it would bring. A researcher should also take into account the research method, the hypotheses, the variables, and the ethical considerations that their data analysis will bring the company, not because it is legal, but because it is simply the right thing to do. References Cooper, D.R., & Schindler, P.S. (2011). Business Research Methods (11th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. Golicic, S. L., & Davis,, D. F. (2011, June). Benefits and challenges of conducting multiple methods research in marketing. Academy of Marketing Science. Journal39.3, Vol. 39, Issue 3(), p. 467-479. Sherren, J. (2005, June). Ethics in the workplace. Trade Journals, Vol. 8, Issue 4 2p.p.4-5. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/docview/230359334?accountid=458

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

The Moon Essays - Lunar Science, Moon, Lunar Phase, Lunar Prospector

The Moon Essays - Lunar Science, Moon, Lunar Phase, Lunar Prospector The Moon The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth: orbit: 384,400 km from Earth diameter: 3476 km mass: 7.35e22 kg Called Luna by the Romans, Selene and Artemis by the Greeks, and many other names in other mythologies. The Moon, of course, has been known since prehistoric times. It is the second brightest object in the sky after the Sun. As the Moon orbits around the Earth once per month, the angle between the Earth, the Moon and the Sun changes; we see this as the cycle of the Moon's phases. The time between successive new moons is 29.5 days (709 hours), slightly different from the Moon's orbital period (measured against the stars) since the Earth moves a significant distance in its orbit around the Sun in that time. Due to its size and composition, the Moon is sometimes classified as a terrestrial planet along with Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The Moon was first visited by the Soviet spacecraft Luna 2 in 1959. It is the only extraterrestrial body to have been visited by humans. The first landing was on July 20, 1969 (do you remember where you were?); the last was in December 1972. The Moon is also the only body from which samples have been returned to Earth. In the summer of 1994, the Moon was very extensively mapped by the little spacecraft Clementine and again in 1999 by Lunar Prospector. The gravitational forces between the Earth and the Moon cause some interesting effects. The most obvious is the tides. The Moon's gravitational attraction is stronger on the side of the Earth nearest to the Moon and weaker on the opposite side. Since the Earth, and particularly the oceans, is not perfectly rigid it is stretched out along the line toward the Moon. From our perspective on the Earth's surface we see two small bulges, one in the direction of the Moon and one directly opposite. The effect is much stronger in the ocean water than in the solid crust so the water bulges are higher. And because the Earth rotates much faster than the Moon moves in its orbit, the bulges move around the Earth about once a day giving two high tides per day. But the Earth is not completely fluid, either. The Earth's rotation carries the Earth's bulges get slightly ahead of the point directly beneath the Moon. This means that the force between the Earth and the Moon is not exactly along the line between their centers producing a torque on the Earth and an accelerating force on the Moon. This causes a net transfer of rotational energy from the Earth to the Moon, slowing down the Earth's rotation by about 1.5 milliseconds/century and raising the Moon into a higher orbit by about 3.8 centimeters per year. (The opposite effect happens to satellites with unusual orbits such as Phobos and Triton). The asymmetric nature of this gravitational interaction is also responsible for the fact that the Moon rotates synchronously, i.e. it is locked in phase with its orbit so that the same side is always facing toward the Earth. Just as the Earth's rotation is now being slowed by the Moon's influence so in the distant past the Moon's rotation was slowed by the action of the Earth, but in that case the effect was much stronger. When the Moon's rotation rate was slowed to match its orbital period (such that the bulge always faced toward the Earth) there was no longer an off-center torque on the Moon and a stable situation was achieved. The same thing has happened to most of the other satellites in the solar system. Eventually, the Earth's rotation will be slowed to match the Moon's period, too, as is the case with Pluto and Charon. Actually, the Moon appears to wobble a bit (due to its slightly non-circular orbit) so that a few degrees of the far side can be seen from time to time, but the majority of the far side (left) was completely unknown until the Soviet spacecraft Luna 3 photographed it in 1959. (Note: there is no dark side of the Moon; all parts of the Moon get sunlight half the time. Some uses of the term dark

Monday, October 21, 2019

Complete Guide on the Successful Production of International Trade Term Paper

Complete Guide on the Successful Production of International Trade Term Paper Introduction: the Basics of International Trade Term Paper International Trade term paper is substantial research that is supposed to not only summarize a student’s insight into the subject but also to deepen and expand the knowledge of it. To add more, International Trade is the most developed and widespread form of international economic relations. International Trade is a process of buying and selling that is carried out between buyers, sellers, and intermediaries in different countries. It occupies the central place among modern foreign policy interests and problems of the world countries. Therefore, studying its essence, dynamics of development, and the current structure is essential for determining a state’s foreign policy as well as its development programs. In fact, the dynamics of global trade development is characterized by rapid growth of trade volumes in the last decade. To a large extent, this is caused by the increase in the economic and scientific potential of most countries. The study of this topic has been prac ticed almost constantly, and it will surely advance in the future. In turn, a term paper is complex project that evaluates student’s knowledge and skills acquired during the term. Be ready to do a profound investigation since a term paper is quite a lengthy work. What is more important, this research should be focused on an actual and relative topic that was studied during the term. The next step is the hardest part of the prewriting process since it requires you to choose a theme for your International Trade term paper. Choosing a Topic for International Trade Term Paper In some cases, the topic of the term paper is already determined by the instructor. However, sometimes you have to select it on your own. It means the pre-writing process might take more time. Besides, choosing a topic can be challenging since it requires some brainstorming. The first step in selecting a topic lies in defining the subject of the research. The variety of issues related to the field of International Trade is almost unlimited. You can choose whatever you are interested in. For instance, you may pick one of the following options: The History of the World Trade Organization, Its Present Condition, and Future Challenges; The Influence of International Trade on Environment; International Trade Barriers Between the Most Developed Countries; Do Quality Standards Suffer from the Advancement of International Trade? Immigration and Its Impact on International Trade; The Effect of International Trade on Poverty in the Least Developed Countries. Keep in mind that a term paper is a lengthy piece of work that needs a lot of sources. In most cases, these sources should be scholarly or peer-reviewed. Sometimes, after picking the most appealing topic, you realize you have a lack of research to make an argument. That is why it is vitally important to be sure that it has already been studied. You may also focus on some recent events and make a prediction based on facts and in-depth research. For instance, taking into consideration current trade relationships between the United States and the European Union, you may base your term paper on the analysis of their previous trade agreements and conflicts. Moreover, you may provide the prognosis on how these relationships will advance in the nearest future. For example, by studying some relevant sources and reviewing news, you can predict that those relationships will develop into either Free Trade or Fair Trade. It is also necessary to keep track of the modern dynamic world to make your research topic relevant to modern realities. Formulating a Hooking Introduction and Debatable Thesis Statement: How Our Writers Do It The introduction is the first segment of your International Trade term paper. Here, you should present the purpose of your research. The very first sentence, however, is not necessarily directly connected to your topic. Instead, its primary mission is to attract a reader’s attention to the field of International Trade. In the following sentences, you should provide your readers with specific background information that will step by step lead them towards the purpose of your project. The thesis statement is the final and the most important part of the introduction. In almost any type of academic writing, thesis statement plays a significant role. A reader is not always interested in finishing the paper. Usually, his/her interest is limited and might run out if an intro is unimpressive. That is why the thesis statement should demonstrate that the following pages are worth reading as well. In fact, your thesis statement should contain the primary ideas of the following paragraphs depicted in a precise and concise way. Ensure your thesis statement is free of vague language. Usually, the thesis statement comprises one sentence. However, in the case of term papers, it is better to divide the thesis into several sentences to cover all the necessary information. Here is the example of a thesis statement: â€Å"The International Trade relationship between the United States and the European Union are moving towards the advancement of fair trade since recently the suggestion of eliminating the trade barriers and subsidies and cancellation of the trade threats was introduced from both sides.† As you can see here, the main subject of the essay is the trade relationship between the United States and the European Union. Your position regarding this issue is that those relationships are developing into fair trade. The arguments and evidence are real facts about the elimination of trade barriers and cancellation of threats. If you use this thesis, you have to discuss all of these components (subject, position, and evidence) in your paper. Still, this is just an example of the thesis statement that might demonstrate how everything works. With this in mind, you can build your own perfect thesis statement. Main Body as the Heart of the International Trade Term Paper The body paragraphs are the main and most extensive part of your work. Here, you meet the expectations of the reader, who was hooked by the introductory paragraph and provide enough evidence to prove your arguments. It is essential to support your claims by referring to credible sources that advocate the same idea. As a matter of fact, those sources should be cited according to the rules of the required formatting style. It’s up to you do decide how lengthy the body section of the paper will be. Usually, it depends on the number of ideas that you present. Be sure that your paragraphs are of the same size and do not exceed one page since long sections are harder to read. Actually, you can separate your paragraphs using headings of different levels. This will significantly facilitate the comprehension of the section’s idea. Moreover, the usage of cohesive devices will not only link the meanings of the sentences, but it will also make your term paper properly structured. There is a great variety of conjunctions that can help you to improve your text. However, ensure to use them in an appropriate context. With regards to the content of your international trade research, you should know that term papers are usually divided into two parts: theoretical and practical. The practical part should be larger than the theoretical one. In this manner, the first section of your paper should demonstrate your knowledge of the theoretical aspects, particularly the history of International Trade development and the definition of the key terms that you are investigating (for instance, the Fair Trade and Free Trade). In turn, the practical section demonstrates your ability to perceive and analyze information. This part of the main body should present your opinion on the subject of your research. For instance, it may contain certain predictions about the advancement of the Trade Relationship between the United States and the European Union and the analysis of the development’s direction. Your practical part should also be based on studying relevant materials taken from credible researchers. Conclusion The concluding part of your term paper should have a specific phrase at the beginning. Then you should paraphrase your thesis statement and summarize everything that was stated above in the main body. This is the final result of the research, and here you should show the achievements of your investigation. Besides, the conclusion shouldn’t include any new information. Sometimes you might feel like you haven’t expressed everything that you wanted to and haven’t made your point. In this case, instead of giving a new and fragmented data, finish your concluding paragraph with a suggestion of the further research. Referencing Your term paper in the field of International Trade should have a separate reference page. Here, you put down all the sources that were used during your research. There are several formatting styles, but the most common are MLA (Modern Language Association) and APA (American Psychological Association). Each of the formatting styles has its unique rules and requirements that you can get acquainted with on OWL Purdue. In fact, you do not have to learn all these rules by heart. You’re welcome to revise them online at any time. Do not forget that all the citations that were used in the main body should be cited according to the chosen formatting style as well. Even if you haven’t directly copied and pasted the text, but only took an idea of it, it should also be marked as someone’s work. If not, your piece might contain plagiarized content which is critically unacceptable in academic writing. Post-Writing Tips that Might Be Helpful When the work seems to be done, its quality might be low due to natural human inattentiveness. That is why it is necessary to reread the whole term paper when it is finished. The best time to do it is when your mind is fresh and ready to see the text as if for the first time. Therefore, it is better to proofread your term paper at least one day after you have completed it. The misspellings, unnecessary repetition of words and incorrect punctuation are the most common mistakes that you will definitely find in your text. Sometimes it is easier to read the text aloud to hear how your sentences are built. The proofreading will not only increase your chances to get a higher mark, but it will also show you the weaknesses of your writing. Thus, you might learn from your own mistakes. In fact, it is always better to ask someone else to read it. This person’s fresh and objective mind will allow finding mistakes in the text or contradictions in context. However, this person should possess advanced writing skills and have at least basic knowledge in the field of International Trade. The chances are that you do additional research during the writing process and find new facts that don’t correspond to those known at the beginning. In this case, it is necessary to revise the introduction and particularly the thesis statement. If you feel like it does not fully reflect the potential of your work, you may change it a little bit. It is also essential to double-check the correct usage of the formatting style in the in-text citations and the reference page. It is a very delicate kind of work where each comma, capitalized letter, or quotation mark might result in a deduction of points. For that reason, it is better to consult OWL Purdue and never entirely rely on your knowledge and memory. References Lapan, H. (2008). Possible Paper Topics. Retrieved from http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/classes/econ455/lapan/Fall2008/PapertopicsFall2008.htm McGovern, E. (2018). International trade regulation (Vol. 2). Globefield Press. Tips on Writing a Thesis Statement. Retrieved from https://gustavus.edu/writingcenter/handoutdocs/thesis_statements.php Topics: International Trade. (2017). Retrieved from http://guides.library.cornell.edu/c.php?g=31956p=207547 Sherlock, J., Reuvid, J. (2010). The handbook of international trade: a guide to the principles and practice of export. London: Kogan Page.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

african history essays research papers

We all can relate to changing schools or even starting school for the first time. One who has never experienced this can only imagine being of a different culture, speaking a different language, looking differently and being the â€Å"new kid.† Lucero best describes this when she states, â€Å"Made conscious of the â€Å"otherness† of Indians, my world began to divide into a world of Us and Them.† Ortiz tells about her struggle in school to not speak a language he was accustoming to. â€Å"Children in school were punished and looked upon with disdain if they did not speak and learn English quickly and smoothly.† (30) He also uses the words â€Å"corporal punishment† and â€Å"ostracism† to describe the feeling, and possibly real, threats he lived with if he did not abide by the rules being forced on them. (30) This would be more than enough for any one to rebel, but he did not. One thing that stood out in his description of what he was enduri ng was the love he had for language. He states, â€Å"I loved language, the sound, meaning, and magic of language.† (30)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lucero connected with me she was telling about her adventure of seeing snow for the first time, and the different structures of the houses for what she was use to in her community. If one had not seen a paved road in their life, it would be a strange site. (30) The thought of what these people endured should enrage most of us. Think about our children being called â€Å"stupid Indian/savages.† There would be some one fighting in the street or some one suing some one else. Who could these people fight, an entire nation? Who would they sue, the government? It has been made clear that most of these people’s rights had been taken away. They were forced to conform or be ridiculed. Ortiz says it best with â€Å"†¦ the intent of U.

Friday, October 18, 2019

E-Commerce and E-Business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

E-Commerce and E-Business - Research Paper Example Dell's website key characteristics were recognised which includes its context of use, impact of the homepage, general usability, page layout and navigation, and most importantly the information contents. The effective use of innovate web technologies and with a strong well-known brand name, the website works consistently with the general purpose of the online portal. The necessity of these elements is of high importance but marketing can also of a priority. Web usability is an important which Dell's website successfully applied along with the web navigation, information, and design. Also, considering online business, this report provides important notes about some legal and ethical issues. There are numerous threats to the security of Internet e-commerce. Dell has a strong brand and already established its position with effective business strategies, efficient use of technology and business model which gave them a competitive advantage from online stores. Our company, Delta IT Consultancy2, is an internet consultancy firm which includes servicing clients from e-business consultancy to providing e-solutions. As the client seeks recommendation about what counteract plans regarding their plan of redevelopment and enhancement of their online business presence and e-business strategy, our company is tasked to take charge of what they should implement with the growing dominance of Dell in the marketplace. The client is a 'bricks-and-clicks' company which is a business model by which a company integrates both offline (bricks) and online (clicks) presences (Wikipedia, 2007). With the ever increasing competition in the online marketplace especially online computer sale stores, the numbers of sales are significantly affected. The aim of this report is to analyse and evaluate Dell's website infrastructure and its e-commerce or e-business strategy. The report comprises two sections accordingly. Section 1 will be the appraisal details of Dell's website, which is the main dominating company in the marketplace and provides the key pressure to the client's success. Utilising Dell's website as the mock-up standards, it is recommended to the client of how Dell's online presence bring fort their business online with regards to the client's aim of redeveloping and enhancement of their online presence. Section 2 evaluates the business models and the use of technology by Dell's website in facilitating them to edge with the lead. After the critical appraisal of Dell's website, our client will be placed on its competitive advantage and total improvement of business activity online. 1 Analysis 1.1 Context of Use Website: Dell UK - http://www.dell.co.uk Users: Any web user is welcome to access Dell's website from any computer with internet and any type of web browser. Users can range from individual and corporate to enterprise and large business scale particularly buyers and retailers for purchasing products and services, and even access relevant company information or website contents for specific purpose. Prior to checkout of their purchasing products and services, users need to register or login to record order details. Stakeholders: All users that visit the website are

Operating Systems Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Operating Systems - Research Paper Example Programs are set of instruction stored on a disc. Programs are passive entities while process is active (Dhamdhare, 2006, p. 84). A single program may have different executions. Each execution is termed as a separate process (Tanenbaum, 2009, p. 84). E.g. MS Word is a program. When we open several files in Word, each file would form a separate process. In this case, the text section would be common, but each process would have its own program counter, data, stack and heap. When a process executes, it changes its state. A state depicts the current activity of the process (Halder & Aravind, 2010, p. 96; Silberschatz et. al, 2005). There are five states a process can be in: In a multiprogramming environment, in order to maximize CPU utilization, the CPU is never allowed to stay idle (Sharma et al., 2010, p. 123). It is made to run some process or the other at all times. Time sharing means that the switching of processes from CPU at such a speed that the user can interact with any of them at any time without having to wait. Operating system has a process scheduler that selects a process to run by CPU from the available processes. In a single processor system, only process will be running at a time. In case of several processes, they will have to wait till the CPU is free from running the current and only can it be rescheduled. In the last two cases, the status of processes is eventually changed from waiting to ready and so are brought back to the ready queue. These events keeping happening till the process ends. In that case, the process is removed from all of the queues. It’s PCB and the allocated resources are also de-allocated. A process passes through various queues during the course of its lifetime (Dhotre, 2008, p. 2-8; Silberschatz et. al, 2005). The operating system provides schedulers for managing the selection of processes and appropriate queues. The two basic schedulers are: Long-term

If every physical event has a sufficient physical cause, how can a Essay

If every physical event has a sufficient physical cause, how can a functionalist account for mental causation - Essay Example The most important point to note about the functionalism is that it indicates that mental states which constitute beliefs, being in pain and desires are composed entirely by their functional roles. Being a theoretical; level existing between implementation and physical output, functionalism is different from Cartesian dualism which supports the physical substance and mental independency. The aim of this paper is to discuss how functionalist account for mental causation given that every physical event has a sufficient physical cause. One of the major worries that are experienced in functionalism is the problem of mental causation. This refers to facing a problem of accounting for the idea that intentional mental state and intentional thoughts are triggers of intentional actions1. Mental causation covers the mind’s interaction with the rest of the world and how it influences the behavior of individuals. One of the major sub-division of the problem of mental causation is problem of mental causal exclusion. Others are anomalism and externalism problems. A good example of the causal exclusion problem is indicated when pain is experienced and it is generally linked to a certain state, and the higher properties of that state occurs, then argument that it is pain can casually irrelevant. In dealing with the problem of mental causation, various responses have emerged. According to Antony and Levine 1997, the problem occurred due to highly restrictive causation whereby a cause has to produce its effect. Other phil osophers indicate that causation covers the relationships that exist between various events that must be invoked in order to produce a certain behavior. Recently, causal exclusion problem has been noted to relate with theories of mental states. Theorists such as Anthony and Levine indicated that even though mental states can be defined based on their

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Personal statement for graduate school Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

For graduate school - Personal Statement Example Data Technology is consistently developing at an un-recordable rate, and that makes PC machines the most significant devices in our lives, they are our present and future. As I would like to think, nothing on the planet can measure the exponential development and fervor in the computing business. Murphy (1995) once highlighted that PC Machines and their technology influence every single one of us. Therefore, the interest for individuals with significant ICT information is substantially developing. Murphy (1995) stated that the beginning of innovative data administration innovation would altogether enhance the operational productivity in many nations. For work experience, I have been working in the IT office for Abu Dhabi Police for more than 3 years managing technology advancement on a daily basis, and overseeing Windows 2003 environment and Exchange. In addition, I was included in numerous operations, delicate assessment and my deliberations prompted an exceptionally dynamic IT foundation in Abu Dhabi police (Murphy, 1995). Lastly, I had the accompanying Achievement amid this term with the association: I consider myself generally well equipped for your highly respected system. Separated from the sound scholastic establishment I have laid in my field, I am most glad for my viable capability to perform particular projects. Notwithstanding my fine- received performance in the task outlines in such courses as Database management, program upgrade Tools and Computer Networking and appliance, I additionally took an interest in managing the storage system and checking the development of information and the storage system at Abu Dhabi police. For this significant assistance, I got warm acclaims from the organization and my working mates. My individual attributes incorporate initiative and creativity and systematic and critical thinking abilities, work powerfully in groups, great time administration, meeting deadlines, dependability

Porter's Five Forces Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Porter's Five Forces Model - Essay Example It is needed to discuss to what extent that Porter's model of national competitive advantage adequately accounts for variations in national business systems and comparative economic performance. Porter's theoretical postulates on national competitive advantage have been critically examined by many authors. Egan (1995) suggests that Porter's focus on a specific country's success in international trade in one particular industry is of importance due to the fact that there is the untiring accent of the often superior model that the customer comes first. This paper examines Porter's emphasis on the four determinants (the Diamond) of the national competitive advantage (Porter, 1990). Porter's arguments on factor conditions go to the other extreme as well. He proposes that lack of resources would not act as a barrier to development, Eg. Switzerland, Singapore like countries. His demanding conditions are equally loaded with such positivity as a complicated domestic market and its implications in guaranteeing a competitive edge in international markets to the country concerned. Eg. wine industry of France. His related and supporting industries argument parenthetically emphasizes the technology-related benefits (Rao, & Holt, 2005). The spill-over effects of main industries lead to the creation of supporting industries and next the cyclical effect goes on and on to bring about a very positive outcome in competitive advantage, Eg. Italy's leather shoe industry. Finally his firm strategy, structure and rivalry related posture focuses on capital markets, individuals' career choices, management structures and strategic competitive environment in domestic markets. AnalysisOutline of Porter's Diamond of national competitiveness Competitive advantage in international trade is defined as "the nation's capacity to entice firms (both local and foreign) to use the country as a platform from which to conduct business" (Paulson, & Wilber, 2002). The sectoral strength /weakness analysis of a nation's economy to determine competitive advantage in international trade by Porter is a revolutionary idea which gathered some more drive during the post 1998 period. Whereas many economists have doubted the efficacy of Porter's conceptual framework of the "diamond of national competitiveness" basically owing to its many shortcomings in structural consistency, others agree that its theoretical underpinnings have stronger relevance to modern international trade context. Factor conditions, as Porter defined them, not only refer to mere physical resources such as land, labor and capital but also to some key or specialized factors which are being continuously created as against being inherited (Murmann, 2003). For example the firm continuously innovates and produces a specialized set of resources such as capital, skilled labor and infrastructure. After all such specialized resources cannot be copied by rivals - the resource-based view of the firm and leadership.Porter also discusses non-key or non-specialized resources such as unskilled labor. According to him they fail to create a permanent competitive advantage because they are not endowed with those difficult-to-duplicate characteristics that are inherent in specialized

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Risk Tolerance & need to diversify Research Paper

Risk Tolerance & need to diversify - Research Paper Example Large Company stocks, also referred to as blue-chip stocks or large-cap stocks, refer to the stocks of large publicly traded companies (Leach and Melicher, 2011, p.249). Long term corporate bonds in most cases refer to debentures which offer a higher yield compared to other investments but investors of such bonds are prone to interest risk and credit risk. Long term government bond refers to those bonds which mature in more than 10years. US Treasury bill is a transferable debt contract issued by the US Government that ensures trust and fulfillment of claim of receivable return at the end of the period. Such investment is made for a period of one year or less than one year, and is exempt from local and state taxes (Boston Institute of Finance, 2005, p.105). If my decision is to invest in the current portfolio of mix of stock, bonds and treasury bills in equal proportions, despite of the divisions between fixed earnings and volatility of earnings of the securities, the entire portfolio would give an average (avg.) expected return of 14.78%, with risk of 8.88% associated with it, as per time horizon and risk tolerance. Impact on future Investment Decisions The decision of future investment and formation of portfolio with diversification depends on the characteristics of the investor, the characteristics of the securities in the portfolio and its risk return trade-off which will determine the proportion of investment to be made in each security, observation of the historical performance of the securities, and the time horizon of investment. An investor can be broadly classified into risk averse investors, risk prone investor, and risk neutral investor, based on their degree of risk preference. Risk averse investors prefer security to earnings than risk accompanied by high returns. Such investors prefer to invest more in bonds and treasury bills which will carry a guarantee of return at the end of period with low risk; as such investors try to avoid risks. Some inve stors who prefer to bear risk and avail the high return associated with it belong to a class of risk prone investors. Such investors prefer to invest in risky securities with high returns, such as equity, so as to avail the benefit arising out of it. There is another class of investors known as risk neutral investors, as they do not make any differentiation between debt and equity and opt to invest equal proportion in each (Haslem, 2009, p.158). If I am a risk averse investor, I shall prefer maximum investment in treasury bills and bonds, as this will assure a fixed percentage of returns at the end of the period with low risk associated with it. Thus, 80% of the investment is to be made in treasury bills and bonds, and 20% in company stocks. The proportion of investment in long-term corporate bonds differs from long term government bonds and US Treasury bills, as because long term corporate bonds is a bit risky than the others. If I am a risk neutral investor, I shall prefer equal p roportion of investment in both stocks and bonds (i.e. bonds and treasury bills), with an expectation that if return from stock is higher I shall benefit from my investment, and, if investment in stock fails to provide return, then benefit earned from the fixed income bearing securities would help to offset some portion of the loss. If I am a risk prone invest

Porter's Five Forces Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Porter's Five Forces Model - Essay Example It is needed to discuss to what extent that Porter's model of national competitive advantage adequately accounts for variations in national business systems and comparative economic performance. Porter's theoretical postulates on national competitive advantage have been critically examined by many authors. Egan (1995) suggests that Porter's focus on a specific country's success in international trade in one particular industry is of importance due to the fact that there is the untiring accent of the often superior model that the customer comes first. This paper examines Porter's emphasis on the four determinants (the Diamond) of the national competitive advantage (Porter, 1990). Porter's arguments on factor conditions go to the other extreme as well. He proposes that lack of resources would not act as a barrier to development, Eg. Switzerland, Singapore like countries. His demanding conditions are equally loaded with such positivity as a complicated domestic market and its implications in guaranteeing a competitive edge in international markets to the country concerned. Eg. wine industry of France. His related and supporting industries argument parenthetically emphasizes the technology-related benefits (Rao, & Holt, 2005). The spill-over effects of main industries lead to the creation of supporting industries and next the cyclical effect goes on and on to bring about a very positive outcome in competitive advantage, Eg. Italy's leather shoe industry. Finally his firm strategy, structure and rivalry related posture focuses on capital markets, individuals' career choices, management structures and strategic competitive environment in domestic markets. AnalysisOutline of Porter's Diamond of national competitiveness Competitive advantage in international trade is defined as "the nation's capacity to entice firms (both local and foreign) to use the country as a platform from which to conduct business" (Paulson, & Wilber, 2002). The sectoral strength /weakness analysis of a nation's economy to determine competitive advantage in international trade by Porter is a revolutionary idea which gathered some more drive during the post 1998 period. Whereas many economists have doubted the efficacy of Porter's conceptual framework of the "diamond of national competitiveness" basically owing to its many shortcomings in structural consistency, others agree that its theoretical underpinnings have stronger relevance to modern international trade context. Factor conditions, as Porter defined them, not only refer to mere physical resources such as land, labor and capital but also to some key or specialized factors which are being continuously created as against being inherited (Murmann, 2003). For example the firm continuously innovates and produces a specialized set of resources such as capital, skilled labor and infrastructure. After all such specialized resources cannot be copied by rivals - the resource-based view of the firm and leadership.Porter also discusses non-key or non-specialized resources such as unskilled labor. According to him they fail to create a permanent competitive advantage because they are not endowed with those difficult-to-duplicate characteristics that are inherent in specialized

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Exclusionary Rule Essay Example for Free

Exclusionary Rule Essay Constitutional Law pertains to the account of fundamental laws of nation-states and other political associations. Thus, constitutions refer to the foundation and structure for government and could limit or characterize the power and system of political institutions to carry out new laws and policies (Chemerinsky, 2003). The constitution sets the boundaries of new laws, thus, the entire state is subjected to the constitution. The Fourteenth amendment of the United States which covers citizenship and civil rights is where the Fourth Amendment sprouted from. In recognition of equality among citizens discarding race, ethnicity and religion, the fourth amendment was made to protect the rights of the citizens and those are the right to due process and to privacy and security of his properties. This fourth amendment was created in 1914 was at the federal level and was only adapted by all states of America. The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution (Search and Seizure) includes the Exclusionary Rule which protects citizens of the United States from illegal searches of their private properties (Sundberg). Any unwarranted intrusions made by the police force to the privacy of an individual are prohibited by law. For a search to be valid the warrant to search should be able to describe in detail the items to be searched, the location and facilities to be confiscated (Roberts, 2007). This lets the people enjoy their right to feel secure of their houses, documents, papers and other properties that are considered private. The rule also gives the citizen a right to due process as the police force cannot just confiscate and search them without the needed papers. Furthermore, this law also abides by the philosophy of deontology wherein the action is judged to be right or wrong if the root of the action itself is based upon the duty and obligation of a person (Darwall, 12). Thus, the means upon which evidence is acquired is more important than the value of the evidence gathered. Since this rule encompass criminal cases only, even if the police found a gun or any evidence that points out that the man who owns the property upon which the evidence was found is indeed the perpetrator, this evidence will be considered invalid in court and will not make any impact on the courts decision given that the police did not have the warrant to search the individuals property. In addition to that, a search that is made in areas that is not specified by the warrant is not allowed even if evidences are found within the parameters of the facility that was searched. The positive side of this law is that it protects the rights of every citizen against illegal searches by the police, thus securing their privacy. This also discourages illegal searches and bounds the police to their duty by following the law. However, the downside of this rule is that if evidence is found in illegally searched areas, even if it can very well summarize the outcome of the case will be put to waste for the simple reason that there was no warrant of arrest or it was not indicated in the warrant that such place is included in the search. The absence of that piece of paper means a lot in the proceedings, and such important evidences are discarded. For example, a weapon that is found in the car of a murderer with his finger print on it would still be useless in court since it was searched illegally. Which is more important then, the evidence or how the evidence was obtained? Perhaps for us to fully assess the situation it is a need for us to analyze a certain scenario. For the purpose of further understanding the gravity of the situation let us assume that a bomb explosion took place in a residential neighborhood rendering 10 people killed and 20 other wounded. Right after the explosion operatives responded in just 3 minutes given that the place is in close proximity to the police station. The initial assumption was for it to be a terroristic act. Since the neighborhood was closely knit almost everyone knew something about everybody. They denied that such ruthless murderer could be one of their residents but a policeman guided by his instinct was convinced that a prominent resident of the neighborhood did the bombing. The resident was bound to leave the place the day after but since it was a Sunday, the court was close and cannot issue a warrant plus the fact that they cannot link him to the bomb explosion. The policemen decided to search the house of the resident without the warrant and found evidence. Materials of making a bomb were found at his residence. They arrested him but after years the case was dismissed because of the exclusion rule. First and foremost, there was no warrant and second they filed motion to suppress the evidence. The law supports the defendants claim and sets him free. This issue is a philosophical debate of the deontological and consequentialist groups (Philip, 2002). Deontological perspective would argue that the fault was in the part of the officials since they did not do their duty. To act from duty is to do the right thing and it is more important that catching the perpetrator before he leaves the town. The obedience of duty is placed in higher value as the result of their act. Even if they found the evidence and arrested the man responsible for the bombing that killed 10 people, it is still not valid. They did not abide to their duty. â€Å"A human action is morally good if and only if it is done from duty† (Kant, 397–399). Consequential or Utilitarianism would say that the act of searching without a warrant is the right thing to do since they found who did the bombing. The measures upon which the police undertook to get to the perpetrator is not important as long as the greater good for the most number of people was realized, and that is justice. It does not matter if there is no warrant and the police invaded the house of a private citizen as long as the truth was discovered and the person responsible was caught. The evidence was clear, therefore is compensates for the policeman’s inability to adhere to the Fourth Amendment. Both philosophies have their reasons that are enough to justify their claims, but I believe that we should keep the Fourth Amendment as it is. It is in our law that we should respect the privacy and rights of a citizen. In the scenario above the policemen caught the perpetrator because they found evidence in his household. The search was illegal but either way, they got what they were looking for. However, what if they saw nothing, would it not be invasion of privacy on grounds as weak as instinct? Then the basic right to privacy and security of the citizen would have been violated. There is no need to change the exclusionary rule, policemen should abide by their duty and help to protect the rights of the people. We cannot compromise the basic rights of an individual for public safety. Though it is the duty of the police to go after the perpetrator and give justice to the crimes he has committed, he also has rights whether he is a citizen of the United States or not. According to the fourth amendment the exclusionary rule covers even illegal aliens. We cannot strip a person with his rights even if the need arises for the simple reason that it is adherence to our duty that defines who we are. If the exclusionary rule is to be abolished then, warrantless arrests and rampant would be more prevalent in our nation. Even now that the rule takes effect there are still violations. Rampant searches especially to our brothers with colors are evident in our nation. Wire tapping is also an issue about the security of communication lines especially for public officials. The Bush administration wanted to allow the use of evidences that were illegally seized by the police given that it was in good faith and is useful in finding the person who is responsible for the crime. Plus they want to allow federal agents to arrest persons without a warrant of arrest regardless of nationality as long as it is done with the most honest intentions. Sure this can solves some crimes such as the scenario given above, but I want to point out that this only allows further suppression of a persons liberty. When the use of illegally searched evidences is allowed in court, this would only encourage the policeman to search anyone and any house or establishment that they want to search and if they find nothing, the person concerned can’t go after the policemen and ask for damages. They will be protected by law to barge into the homes of countless citizens and invade their privacy. If we take action just because we believe that it is for the best even if it is not in our duty, we have no guarantee that that action can be fruitful. It can’t be denied that there is a need to reduce crime in our nation and solve those that are still looking for justice, but giving justice for the price of a person’s liberty is a cost that’s too high for a nation who values autonomy of its citizens. The exclusionary rule has set standards for our policemen for them to abide too such that their level of professionalism and adherence to their duty is further raised higher. They are bounded by law to protect the citizens of this nation and they should do so while safeguarding the basic rights of every individual. Thus, there is a need for the exclusionary rule to uphold the liberty of this nation. Reference http://www.robertslaw.org/4thamend.htm

Monday, October 14, 2019

Interventions Against Burnout in Mental Health Nursing

Interventions Against Burnout in Mental Health Nursing Are educational interventions effective in reducing the incidence of burnout among mental health nurses? A critical review of the literature Abstract Background There is much evidence to link burnout with mental health nursing, but limited empirical evidence that examines the impact of educational interventions on the incidence of burnout in mental health nurses. Aim The aim of this literature review was to critically evaluate the literature relating to educational interventions associated with burnout in mental health nursing using selective and comparative analysis Method The search strategy involved the use of several electronic databases, and a library search to access relevant journals. Search terms and inclusion/ exclusion criteria are identified. Evaluative criteria (Price 2003) were applied to a critical analysis of the literature. Findings There is limited empirical research in this area; some of it is predictive rather than evaluative. Conclusions Despite the paucity of information, there are some strong arguments for the use of educational interventions to reduce the incidence of burnout in mental health nurses. There are implications for further research to be carried out in this area. Background Burnout is defined as a state of emotional exhaustion, accompanied by a sense of low self- worth (Peveler et al 2000), lack of motivation and a physical as well as emotional, sense of ill- health (Malach-Pines 2005). It tends to involve an insidious process of cumulative stress (Morrisette 2002a). Burnout is most often associated with human- service (helping) professions (Ekstedt and Fagerberg 2005) and frequently, it is those who have a high level of commitment to their work, who are most at risk (van Dierendonck D et al 2005). There is much evidence within the literature that links mental health nursing with burnout ( Barling 2001; Coffey 1999; Duquette et al 1994; Edwards et al 2000; Fagin et al 1995; Happell et al 2003; Harper and Minghella 1997; Kipping 2000; Prosser et al 1999a; Onyett 1997; Wykes et al 1997). Although burnout is associated with different types of nursing (Nolan and Smojkis 2003); mental health nurses in particular, are reported to be at high risk (Nolan et al 1999; Thomsen et al 1999a). Suggested reasons for this high level of vulnerability to stress and burnout are that the profession attracts people who have a predisposition to mental health difficulties themselves (Guppy and Gutteridge 1991) and that working with people with severe mental illness is so stressful that a degree of transference can occur between the patient and health professional (particularly if the latter is inexperienced) (McLeod 1997). The stressors associated with mental health nursing are further compounded if certain factors are present, such as low self- esteem; conflicting demands of home- life, inadequate coping mechanisms (Thomsen et al 1999b) and a lack of job satisfaction, which is especially associated with hospital, rather than community nurses (Prosser et al 1999b). Many sources propose that burnout is preventable (Burnard P 1999; Figley C 2002; Jones 2003 ; Morrisette 2002b; Taormina and Law 2000). It is important therefore, to raise awareness of prevention strategies. It is possible that these could be incorporated into educational programmes and it is suggested that failure to do so can result in informally learned negative behaviours leading to maladaptive coping strategies (Thompson 2003). Aim The aim of this literature review is to critically evaluate the literature relating to educational interventions associated with burnout in mental health nursing using selective and comparative analysis. Method The search strategy involved the use of the Athens Access Management System in order to access such databases as The British Nursing Index, CINAHL, the Cochrane library, Evidence- based medicine (EBM) reviews, Embase psychiatry, internurse.com, Medline, Ovid, PsycINFO, Pubmed, ScienceDirect and TRIP database. The University library was also used in order to conduct a hand search of such relevant journals as The Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing; The International Journal of Mental Health Nursing; Mental Health Nursing; Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, Journal of Advanced Nursing; International Journal of Nursing Studies; Nurse Researcher and Nursing Research. The search terms and keywords used were: ‘burnout’ and ‘stress’ in combination with ‘mental health nursing’; ‘mental health nurses’; ‘nurses’ ‘education’; ‘nurse education’; ‘training’ (as it was found that this word was used quite a lot within the literature) and ‘prevention’. The search process highlighted the search terms that were most effective in accessing the relevant information using trial and error; otherwise referred to as a process of screening (Fink 2005a) The inclusion criteria were: papers dating back to 1990, the rationale being that a lot of work on burnout was conducted during the 1990’s; some of it in relation to mental health nursing, which is still being cited by published authors; research articles addressing the concepts of ‘stress’ and ‘burnout’ as they relate to ‘mental health nursing’; research articles linking ‘burnout’ with ‘nursing’, ‘prevention’ and ‘education’ as there is limited specific information on educational interventions to prevent burnout in mental health nursing, therefore some transferable principles were applied. For the same reason (shortage of specific information) research articles from other countries were not excluded. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were included. Exclusion criteria were any papers published before 1990; any articles not written in the English language; any articles not specifically addressing stress and burnout and articles about stress and burnout that are not related to nursing. Evaluative criteria adapted from the framework developed by Price (2003) were broadly applied to a critical analysis of the literature. These criteria are: Do the papers address my question? Is the content accessible and comprehensible? Are the research results valid, reliable and authentic? Are there any gaps within the literature and Are there any competing perspectives/ contradictions within the literature? These criteria were supplemented by selective reference to sampling techniques used, strengths and weaknesses of the research designs, methods of data collection and analysis, ethical aspects and presentation issues (Fink 2005b). Findings A recurring theme that emerged from the literature in relation to burnout within the helping professions is the concept of emotional labour, and that education and training can help to make people more aware of this phenomenon and to develop strategies to manage it. Emotional labour is a form of dissonance when the practitioner feels under pressure not to display the emotions which are engendered by the nature of their work (Brotheridge and Grandey 2002). There are two levels of emotional labour; surface or deep acting (Ashkanasy et al 2006). Surface acting is when the practitioner adopts a behaviour that belies their true emotions whereas deep acting is when they struggle to feel the emotion that is expected of them. Mann and Cowburn (2005) conducted a study that aimed to increase understanding about the links between components of emotional labour and stress in mental health nursing. 35 mental health nurses completed questionnaires which yielded information relating to 122 nurse- patient interactions. Three different published research instruments were integrated into the questionnaire; the Emotional Labour Scale, the Emotional Labour Inventory (both of which related more directly to nurse- patient interactions) and the Daily Stress inventory which addressed more general areas of stress. The use of tried- and- tested research instruments helps to ensure validity and reliability of the findings. Published research tools have often been refined several times, with the need to have excellent reliability and validity (Giles 2002). The data was analysed by using Pearsons correlations and multiple regression techniques. The researchers concluded that emotional labour is positively correlated with both the stress that arises from interactions with patients, as well as other sources of stress; that the impact of emotional labour is dependent upon the intensity of the interaction and the range of emotions experienced throughout the interaction, and that surface acting is a more important predictor of emotional labour than deep acting. Only one psychiatric unit was involved in the study with a relatively low response rate of 29%; low response rates can introduce bias and uncertainty into a study (Smeeth 2002). What constitutes a satisfactory response rate varies according to the nature of the research, however a 60% response rate might be considered to be ‘good’, and a 50% response rate to be adequate (Sim and Wright 2000); although many researchers accept that any response rate over 40% can yield meaningful results. The authors acknowledge that generalisability of the results is limited. Interestingly it was the non- cooperation of the unit in general that adversely af fected the response rate because of a lack of flexibility regarding access to respondents which influenced the methodology, in that it was not possible to obtain qualitative data relating to the lived experiences of mental health nurses in relation to emotional labour which might have been more meaningful, and an unwillingness to allow the researchers to follow- up non- responders. There is an implication here for nurses to become more research aware and for healthcare organisations to promote and support research- mindedness. The discussion and conclusion are interesting and relevant to the link between education and burnout in relation to mental health nursing. While acknowledging the limitations of the study, the authors do however stress that the findings have important implications for nurse education in that skills training for performing emotional work should be given a higher priority; that an increased focus be placed on facilitating self- awareness skills to enable mental health nurses to become more introspective about their feelings, so that they can develop effective techniques for dealing with them. However this study does not have the scope to be able to empirically demonstrate that educational interventions are effective in preventing burnout. The value of developing new educational strategies in relation to addressing emotional labour (in addition to other issues) for student mental health nurses was more clearly demonstrated by Turner et al (2004). The purpose of the study was to evaluate a pilot client attachment scheme for student mental health nurses. The rationale for client attachment is that it enables students to form therapeutic relationships with individual clients. This type of educational experience differs from the more traditional route of progressing through different placements. The methodology involved the use of semi- structured interviews to gain the perspectives of students (12), their supervisors (22) and clients (2). Although this is a small sample, the design was qualitative and a depth of meaningful information was obtainable, particularly from the students and the supervisors. The data was organised using thematic analysis, although this was not possible with the client data as there were only two clients and although they gave very positive feedback, the amount of information was very limited. Service user involvement in mental health research is a relatively new and developing concept (Telford and Faulkner 2004). This study is relevant to the discussion because it highlighted that different educational approaches can more effectively promote reflective skills among mental health nurses, which in turn can provide a tool for dealing with emotional labour. The researcher’s literature review revealed that many mental health student nurses report sources of stress as including not feeling part of a team, and dealing with distressing incidents involving clients. These factors lead to emotional containment, causing reduced motivation and increased stress. The client attachment scheme goes some way to addressing these issues by providing more continuity and increased supervision for mental health student nurses. Although the scope and generalisability of this study is limit ed, it flags up important indicators for changes to be made to the student nurse curriculum that will provide students with the skills to recognise and deal with, emotional labour, which should impact upon more effective stress management and prevention of burnout. Another study which concludes that changes should be made to the mental health student nurse curriculum in relation to stress management was conducted by Kilfedder et al (2001). They contend that previous studies on burnout in nursing contain several methodological inadequacies, and so set out to design a more theoretical study. The study sample was drawn from nurses employed in a Scottish National Health Service (NHS) Trust which provided both acute and continuing care mental health services in both hospital and community settings. 510 nurses returned questionnaires (a response rate of 48.8%). A total of 12 published measures were used, together with one purpose- designed measure which related to non- occupational stressors. The others related to such aspects as social support, occupational stress, burnout and coping strategies. As previously highlighted, the use of published measures can enhance reliability and validity. A range of statistical tests were used to analyse the data. H igh levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and burnout were reported and low levels of personal accomplishment. The researchers concluded that not only should a core part of the nursing curriculum be devoted to stress management and coping skills, but also that management training should incorporate leadership skills that facilitate stress management and that all nurses should be provided with training that equips them to develop coping mechanisms. Education is very much seen by the researchers as an essential part of a comprehensive approach to prevention, which should be emphasised more than the current tendency towards ‘picking up the pieces’ after the event. This study is quite complex which tends to affect its accessibility, however its findings have important implications for stress management in mental health nurses. Sharkey and Sharples (2003) evaluated a learning pack on risk management, developed for use with clinical mental health teams with emphasis on the impact the pack had on team members’ stress. The learning pack was made up of six sections, each one corresponding with a facilitator- led workshop. Participants were expected to carry out some reading and learning activities between workshops. Interestingly the authors identify two aspects of risk management that are potential stressors; the potential risks of the job such as dealing with violence and having to get to grips with the concept of risk management as a relatively new concept, and the systems involved. The researchers adopted a quasi- experimental approach, using pre and post measures, taken eight weeks before and after the learning intervention, in order to be able to measure any change in relation to work- related stress among the participants, as a result of following the educational programme. The researchers highlig hted difficulties with not being able to conduct a controlled experiment which might have affected the outcome, as it was not possible to be certain that any change was attributable to the educational intervention, as opposed to other factors. Sampling was self- selective which might also have affected the findings, as having volunteered; the participants indicated a level of motivation which could have impacted on the effectiveness of the learning programme. The sample (42) was drawn from two mental health locality teams, which included mental health nurses. The pre and post measures used were the Occupational Stress Indicator and the Healthcare- related Work Pressure Scale. Again, these are tried and tested published instruments, the use of which should contribute to the validity and reliability of the findings. These yield quantitative data which was analysed using descriptive statistics, the paired t -test and the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Once again, it might have been of valu e to combine qualitative with quantitative measures, in order to gain an understanding of the participants’ experience of stress; qualitative methods allow researchers to overcome the assumptions inherent in fixed- choice questionnaires, although these also have their value for example, in relation to information about prevalence (Cummings and Galambos 2004). All 42 participants completed the pre measures( although only 32 started the programme and 27 completed it) together with the post measures. It would have been interesting to identify why almost half of the original sample did not complete the programme; whether workload and/ or stress issues contributed to this level of attrition. However it was suggested that quite intensive time commitment was required to complete the programme which might have been an inhibitory factor and there could be implications for redesigning the programme so that it can be accessed more flexibly by participants. Responses were not broken down into professional groups- this also might have yielded some important differences. In relation to the Occupational Stress Indicator, comparing pre and post scores indicated that there was a general decrease in many sources of stress. Interestingly lower means at post measures were observed for the ‘job satisfaction’ subscale which indicated reduced satisfaction. The researchers suggest that this could be due to increased knowledge and expectations as a result of the learning intervention; whether this development could be a source of stress in itself is not speculated upon even though different studies have reported a relationship between stress and reduced job satisfaction (Koslowsky 1998). Scores for the Healthcare- related work pressure scale all show a lowering of item means at post measure. Overall the researchers concluded that the learning intervention brought about positive changes in relation to the work- related stress of the participants; in some cases the i mpact was significant. It is suggested that the ways in which educational interventions can bring about change is by enabling participants to gain knowledge and skills within the ‘safe’ environment of the classroom. A positive outcome of this study is that the learning pack has been modified, following feedback from the pre and post measures together with evaluations from the participants, and is now in use. Ewers et al (2002) evaluated the effect of Psychosocial Intervention Training (PSI), using a controlled experiment, in reducing burnout rates in mental health nurses working in secure units, having identified that this group is particularly at risk of developing clinical burnout syndrome. The hypothesis was that if nurses gained a better understanding of clients’ illnesses and develop more skills to be able to help clients, then they would experience lower levels of burnout within their clinical roles. A self- selecting sample of 20 volunteered to do the PSI course, but these met pre- set inclusion criteria and represented all grades of staff and all wards. 10 subjects were allocated to the experimental PSI group and 10 to the waiting list control group. Baseline measures of knowledge were taken, using a 30- item multiple choice questionnaire which had been used in previous studies; of attitudes, using a measure developed by one of the researchers and of burnout, using the Mas lach Burnout Inventory. It was not clarified whether the attitude measure had been tested for reliability and validity, whereas the other two measures are tried and tested. The experimental group received 20 days of PSI training. On completion of the course all subjects were asked to complete the measure of knowledge, attitudes and burnout. The facilitator had previously received advanced training in PSIs. The course includes both practical and theoretical assessment components and a minimum attendance of 80% was required. The data was analysed using Fisher Exact tests and t tests. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the knowledge scores for each group, with an increase in the knowledge of the experimental group. The same applied to the measurement of attitudes, which it is assumed (although not made clear by the authors) refers to an increase in positive attitudes for the experimental group. Again, the same applied to the burnout measure; this time the res ults are expressed more clearly in that the experimental group had moved in a positive direction along the subscales measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The limitations of this study are that the results might not be generalisable to other units; as only one unit was involved in the study wherein specific factors might exist that contribute to the development of burnout. As with the previous study, the self- selecting nature of the participants might indicate that they were more highly motivated and more responsive to change. However, while acknowledging the methodological weaknesses, the researchers conclude that the significantly positive changes in knowledge, attitudes and burnout measures of participants within the experimental group are indicative of the value of educational interventions in reducing the incidence of burnout among mental health nurses working within secure units. Ho (2007) describes a study which explored the value and meaning of a psychodynamic work discussion for mental health nurses, which is described as a method of working, learning and development in professional practice. A work discussion group can enable psychological and emotional containment for mental health nurses which can impact upon the prevention of burnout. While the work discussion group is a means of learning in itself, education about the psychodynamic processes involved is also necessary in order to unlock the potential of the group. A qualitative design was used in order to be able to explore the feelings, experiences and perceptions of the participants, which seems highly appropriate within a study of this kind. Data was collected from a focus group of 6 mental health nurses ranging from staff nurse to ward manager level. This is quite a small sample, however this is often more acceptable within qualitative research as depth rather than breadth of information is being sought. It is generally considered that the ideal composition of a focus group is between 6-12 people, however when the nature of the subject could be emotionally charged or sensitive, it is preferable to limit the size of the group to 5 or 6 (Polit and Beck 2004). The data was analysed using Bulmer’s framework, a technique derived from grounded theory in order to define meaning through focus groups. This article is quite complex but comprehension has been facilitated by the presentation, in tables and boxes, of the categories and themes within which the discussion was structured. The purpose of the focus group (which was not immediately made clear) was not to act as a work discussion group but to explore the potential for its value with mental health nurses, and the group appeared to be generally responsive to the concept. The author concludes that mental health nurses could benefit from this approach, but would need encouragement and education and that the use of the work d iscussion group could be integrated into nurse education. The researcher acknowledges that the potential use of this approach needs to be explored further, with larger samples from a wider area. Lee (2005) evaluated the effectiveness of a stress management training intervention for care assistants working in a residential home for the elderly; many of whom had dementia, having cited research which links caring for people with dementia with work- related stress. The study took place within one residential home. The training consisted of a three- day programme that aimed to create and maintain an effective work environment by managing stress and stressful situations. The researcher provides an outline of the course content but does not state how many participants there were or how she measured the effectiveness of the programme, despite including sections headed ‘methods’ and ‘findings’. She reports that the stress management training reduced the care assistants’ levels of stress and improved their ability to cope with potentially stressful situations. She also concluded that the age or experience of the care assistants did not have an impact o n their stress levels or coping ability, which did not concur with the findings of a different study. This is a poorly written research article; the lack of detail reduces its value. However given the paucity of research related to educational interventions for mental health workers, it still adds to the existing body of knowledge. An interesting development is that the researcher subsequently contacted 21 residential homes and found that only 3 provided training interventions related to stress management. Conclusions An extensive review of the literature has revealed that there are gaps in the literature relating to educational interventions to reduce the incidence of burnout in mental health nurses; this finding is supported in a review by Edwards and Burnard (2003), who concluded that while there is evidence that stress is a problem for mental health nurses, research on interventions to address this, is insufficient. Many articles on this subject are literature reviews, drawing on broad- based research in related areas, with a definite lack of empirical studies, and these reviews have not been included here. It has been necessary to include studies which predict that educational interventions will reduce the incidence of burnout in mental health nurses as well as those which evaluate existing interventions (which are very few). There are implications for further research into this important area. However there are some interesting and valuable conclusions that can be drawn from the existing lit erature. A synthesis of this review of the literature yields the following outcomes: There is a link between emotional labour and burnout, and adopting strategies (including educational) to enable mental health nurses to recognise and deal with emotional labour (including self- awareness and reflective skills) should impact upon the prevention of burnout. Educational interventions aimed at reducing the incidence of burnout should take place both within pre registration programmes and as part of continuing professional development (CPD). Educational interventions are an important part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the incidence of burnout among mental health nurses. As well as focussing on stress management, educational interventions can also be used to enhance knowledge and skills (relating to for example, risk management and helping skills) which in turn, positively impact upon stress levels and coping skills. A range of educational approaches should be explored in relation to stress management, allowing for innovation and flexibility, to facilitate access for mental health nurses, who may feel inhibited by such factors as shift patterns, workload or lack of resources References Ashkanasy N, Zerbe W and Hartel E. Emotions in the Work Place: Research, Theory, and Practice. Quorum/ Greenwood. 2000. p. 16 Barling J. Drowning not waving: burnout and mental health nursing. Contemporary Nurse. 11(2-3) 2001 pp. 247-59. Brotheridge C and Grandey Emotional Labour and Burnout: comparing two perspectives of ‘people work’. Journal of Vocational Behaviour. 60 pp. 17-39. Burnard P Practical counselling and helping. Routledge. 1999. p. 115 Coffey M . 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